The Bearcats survived a tight affair with the western rival Braves of Star Valley Friday to earn a chance to fight for a berth in the state championship game this Friday against Jackson.

Four tries from the 20-yard-line. That’s all each team had to get on the scoreboard once the Bearcats and Riverton Wolverines moved into overtime tied 7–7. In the first overtime game of the year, the Wolverines had the ball first, moving ever closer to the end zone on first, second and third…

It wasn’t about football. Despite the fanfare and attention on the 46th Annual Shrine Bowl in Casper, the game itself was not the week’s highlight for the trio of Douglas participants.

Tears streamed down the faces of Douglas players as the clock hit zero and the Cody Broncs rejoiced an unlikely come-from-behind victory. Heath Hayes and Patrick French consoled teammate Kanyon Cecil as he buried his head in his lap, his eye black already smudged by tears. Dylon Case kept hi…

There’s a phrase that Douglas head coach Jay Rhoades said to his team before they stormed through the Bearcats helmet and onto the field Friday: Be real tonight.

After starting last season 5-0, the Douglas Bearcats lost three of their last four regular season games. In the first round of the 3A playoffs, they were outmatched by the Green River Wolves in a 28-7 defeat. But that late October loss on the road is ancient history.

The hopes for an undefeated season were put to rest Friday night in front of an amped up homecoming crowd. Now they are asking: how can they recover.