Rock Springs Tigers Football Preview 2021 [VIDEOS]

A new high school football season comes with higher expectations for the Rock Springs Tigers entering 2021.

After going 5-5 and falling to Sheridan in the first round of the 2020 playoffs, the Tigers will be looking to take the next step this fall.

Last year, Rock Springs averaged nearly 26 points per game but allowed just over 23 points per game. The Tigers finished fourth in total offense and sixth in total defense. They were also even in the turnover margin.

Two all-state players return in seniors Isaac Schoenfeld and Cadon Shaklee. They will anchor perhaps the most veteran team in the big-school division. WyoPreps had a chance to catch up with the duo before a recent practice. Neither guy can believe it’s their senior season. Both talked about how practice is going, dealing with higher expectations, the confidence the team has, and some fun parts of the game like the bus rides, being with friends, and more.

Schoenfeld was all-state on both sides of the ball. At tight end, he caught 37 passes for 610 yards and 7 TDs. Schoenfeld added four more scores with three on the ground and one on defense. Defensively, he was fourth on the Tigers squad with 66 defensive points. Schoenfeld had only 26 tackles, but three were tackles for loss, and three more were sacks. He also had three fumble recoveries and two pass breakups.

Shaklee was an all-state linebacker. He ranked No. 1 in Class 4A at 10.1 tackles per game and had 101 on the season. That was 36 more than No. 2. Shaklee finished with three tackles for loss, four sacks, a pass breakup, and one blocked kick. He contributed seven receptions for 52 yards and two TDs at tight end.

Head coach Mark Lenhardt enters his third season in Rock Springs. He feels confident his program is trending in the right direction. He described how their practice has gone, what they need to do to be ready for game No. 1, his two senior leaders, Schoenfeld and Shaklee, and more.

The Tigers begin the 2021 season at home versus Campbell County on Friday, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m.

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