PAVILLION – The Southeast Cyclones fell a two-point conversion short of tying Saturday’s 1A 9-Man semifinal contest against Wind River and fell to the Cougars, 32-30. 

The loss ended the Cyclones season at 7-3 overall. 

Wind River opened the contest with a 13-play drive, covering 53 yards and capped off by a Joaquin Stevens 13-yard touchdown run to put the Cougars up, 8-0. 

The Cyclones answered with a long drive of their own but stalled out at the Wind River 8-yard line. Southeast’s defense held, forcing a three-and-out, and eventually took possession back at the Wind River 21-yard line. 

After a 6-yard run from T.J. Moats, Ayden Desmond added an 8-yard run to set up a first and goal at the Wind River 8-yard line, and on the next play from scrimmage, Desmond hooked up with Cole Sauer on a touchdown pass. Moats added the 2-point conversion and the contest was tied at 8-8. 

The Cougars would respond on the next possession. 

Wind River took over at their own 42-yard-line and used the ground game again to move down the field, eventually setting up a first and goal at the Southeast 5-yard-line. Wind River’s Logan Jensen took the handoff and caught the edge against Southeast to reach the 1-yard-line and as he was being tackled the ball appeared to be fumbled and picked up by the Cyclones. After a brief meeting between officials, it was ruled Jensen was down by contact at the 1-yard-line prior to fumbling. 

Chris Burk punched the ball into the endzone for the Cougars one play later to push their lead to 16-8. 

Wind River added another touchdown as time expired in the first half, when Cooper Frederick hooked up with Burk on a 32-yard touchdown pass, and the Cougars took a 24-8 lead into intermission. 

Southeast quickly got back into the contest with a Moats touchdown run on the opening possession of the third quarter. The score cut the Cougars lead in half, 24-16. The big play of the drive came when Desmond found Ayden Shimic on a 25-yard strike to set the Cyclones up in Wind River territory. 

Southeast’s defense came up large on the Cougars ensuing possession, forcing a fumble on the very first play of the drive, giving the Cyclones the ball back at the Cougars 10-yard-line. 

Wind River’s defense responded, however, and didn’t allow Southeast to score, eventually forcing an incomplete pass on fourth and goal. 

Southeast was able to get the ball back after forcing a Wind River punt and quickly looked to tied the game when Desmond found Sauer on a 33-yard pass. The play gave Southeast a new set of downs at the Wind River 13-yard-line. Eventually on fourth down, Desmond found paydirt on a scamper and Moats added the two-point conversion to tie the game at 24-24. 

The Cougars answered right back.

On the second play from scrimmage on their ensuing possession, Frederick found an opening in the Southeast defense and went 54 yards for a touchdown, pushing the Cougars lead to 32-30 with 22 seconds left in the third period. 

Southeast responded with an 11-play drive, covering 59 yards, capped off by a Matthew Chapman touchdown reception from Desmond from five yards out. The Cyclones’ conversion after failed, and Wind River had a 32-30 advantage. 

The Cyclones defense managed to get a stop on the Cougars next possession, and Southeast looked to take the lead, but on first-and-10 at the Wind River 23-yard-line, Desmond’s pass was picked off at the 5-yard-line and the Cougars took over with 1:45 left in the contest. 

Desmond finished with 79 yards rushing on 16 carries  and a touchdown. He also completed 6-of-10 passes for 96 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Moats ended with 66 yards rushing on 12 carries and a score, while Chapman had 31 yards on 13 carries. Shimic had two catches for 54 yards, while Sauer had three receptions for 37 yards and a score. Chapman added one catch for five yards and a touchdown.