Natrona County overcomes mistakes to top Thunder Basin in season opener (2024)

Kanei Olsen celebrated his 17th birthday in style.

The Natrona County junior scored on a 1-yard keeper and led the Mustangs down the field for the game-clinching field goal in a 17-7 victory over Thunder Basin in the season opener for both teams Friday night at Cheney Alumni Field.

After a scoreless first half, Olsen got NC on the scoreboard with 8 minutes, 32 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The Mustangs took advantage of a bad snap by Thunder Basin on a fourth-down punt that rolled all the way back to the Bolts' 12-yard line.

Olsen connected with senior Blaine Nelson for an 11-yard gain on the next play and then followed senior center Charlie Frausto and senior left guard Tays Turnbull into the end zone for the 7-0 advantage.

Thunder Basin answered with a nine-play, 68-yard touchdown drive capped by a 28-yard run by junior quarterback Hadley Hudson on a read-option play. Quinn Kalpin's extra point made it 7-all with 3:20 to play in the third quarter.

The tie didn't last long.

NC senior Gage Brooks fielded the ensuing kickoff at the 8-yard line, squeezed through a handful of defenders at the 20 and cut to the sideline. He side-stepped Kalpin near midfield and won a foot race to the end zone to make it 14-7.

That score held until early in the fourth quarter when the Mustangs took advantage of another miscue by the Thunder Basin punt team. NC junior Matthew Benton burst up the middle to block the punt and give the Mustangs the ball at the Bolts 30.

Senior running back Tyler Palermo took over from there, carrying the ball five times to get the ball to Thunder Basin 3. When the drive stalled, junior Gavin Patik split the uprights from 21 yards out to push the lead to 17-7 with 6:47 on the clock.

Thunder Basin picked up one first down on the next possession, but a 10-yard penalty and three incomplete passes forced the Bolts to punt.

NC was able to run out the clock with senior Gus Bertagnole powering his way for two first downs.

The first half was one of missed opportunities for both teams.

The Mustangs put together a 10-play drive on their opening possession that stalled at the Thunder Basin 11-yard line. NC was kept off the scoreboard when a 28-yard field goal attempt drifted wide left.

Natrona County got the ball right back on the next play from scrimmage when Bertagnole stepped in front of Hudson's pass to the flat and returned it to the Bolts 4. But the possession started with back-to-back penalties and ended when Bertagnole was tackles for a 1-yard loss at the 5.

Thunder Basin then drove to the NC 19, but Kalpin's 36-yard field goal attempt was off the mark.

The Mustangs play at Rock Springs, a 23-16 winner over Cheyenne Central, next week. The Bolts host three-time defending state champion Sheridan, which won its 32nd consecutive game with a 79-0 shutout of Cheyenne South. It was the 39th consecutive defeat for the Bison, which puts them in sole possession of the state's longest all-time losing streak.

In other games Friday, Gillette shut out Kelly Walsh 34-0 in Randy Roden's first game as head coach of the Trojans; and Cheyenne East rolled to a 37-6 victory over Laramie.

This story will be updated.