Class 4A season preview: The big four no more

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For almost a decade, the calling card of Class 4A football was its predictability.

No more.

The moniker afforded to the “Big Four” programs of Natrona, Cheyenne East, Sheridan and Campbell County/Thunder Basin is officially dead.

The chance for a team outside that group to win a 4A championship for the first time since 2004 is more than just blind optimism.

Cheyenne Central proved last year it can hang with anyone. Rock Springs has been slowly building a scary program. Kelly Walsh was a semifinalist last year.

If 2020 was the beginning of the end of the Big Four, 2021 may represent the start of a new paradigm. The Big Seven? Eight? Nine? TEN?

One 4A coach put it succinctly: “There are no bye weeks in 4A anymore.” Note the last word.

And thank goodness for that.

Four questions to answer

Let’s start simple: Who’s the 4A favorite? Simple?!?! This is by far one of the hardest questions to answer, statewide in any classification, heading into the 2021 season. With Class 4A’s turnover this year, the classification is as unpredictable as ever. This year’s preseason survey of coaches turned in a variety of different answers as to who 4A’s favorite is; it will suffice to say that there’s no consensus.

Why is this so difficult? Most of last year’s teams were heavy on seniors. Only six (out of 39) first-team all-state choices are back this year in the entire classification, and only 15 (of 76) first-team all-conference players return. This season more than any will likely be defined by the offseason — which teams and players put in the most work to improve between last year and this year. And that’s always a crapshoot.

So who’d the coaches say? Well, Rock Springs, Thunder Basin, Cheyenne East, Cheyenne Central, Natrona, Sheridan… each one of those teams got at least some indication of being a true threat for a title. Of the four teams outside that discussion (Kelly Walsh, Cheyenne South, Campbell County and Laramie), keep in mind that KW was a semifinalist last year, Campbell County returns more starters than any other 4A program (eight on each side of the ball) and Laramie is the wild card with a new coach.

Is this year a harbinger of things to come this decade? It’s likely. East, Natrona and Sheridan are the only programs to win 4A titles since 2009. However, the 2020s are likely to be defined by a bit more parity than the 2010s were, meaning the chances of a titleist coming from someone other than these three programs is better than it’s been in a long, long time.

Preseason class MVP

Isaac Schoenfeld, Rock Springs. In a word: versatility. The only returning player in 4A who was on the Casper Star-Tribune Super 25 first team a year ago, Schoenfeld, a University of Wyoming commit, has the size and skill to frustrate opponents. He does a bit of everything on defense — 26 tackles, three sacks, three fumble recoveries, two pass deflections last year — and was the Tigers’ top receiver last year with 37 catches, 610 yards and seven touchdowns. Oh, and he ran the ball a bit, too.

Presesason class breakout player

Carter McComb, Sheridan. McComb has been a two-time all-state choice at return specialist last year, and with good reason — last year, he only had 16 returns, but two went for touchdowns. Still, he has yet to find a consistent spot in Sheridan’s offense. That could change this year as the Broncs graduated a lot of receivers and need explosive players, like McComb, to give them a downfield threat.

Other players to watch

Cam Burkett, Kelly Walsh. KW’s lone all-state player last year will be the focus of every opponent’s defensive game plan. He carried for 1,090 yards and 17 TDs last year, and with the Trojans losing their next four top rushers to graduation, Burkett may have to do even more to keep KW in contention.

Ryan Baker, Thunder Basin. A successful junior year has turned up expectations on the ‘Bolts’ senior quarterback. He completed 159 of 271 passes for 2,084 yards and 19 touchdowns last year. In a season where several teams are changing quarterbacks, Baker’s return gives Thunder Basin some much-needed offensive stability.

Cadon Shaklee, Rock Springs. One of the top defensive players in the classification, no other player in 4A coming back this year can match Shaklee’s 101 tackles from a year ago. He also notched four sacks. He doesn’t have a big role on offense but still managed a pair of touchdown catches last year; that could grow as he grows.

Kaeden Wilcox, Natrona. Wilcox was Natrona’s statistical leader on defense last year, with an even 100 tackles, 40 solo tackles, six interceptions and seven pass break-ups. As the Mustangs rebuild their defense this year, Wilcox’s presence will give Natrona the necessary steadiness and consistency.

Four key games

Thunder Basin at Cheyenne East, Aug 27. The season starts with a bang as the ‘Bolts and Thunderbirds meet in a rematch of last year’s championship game. This game was the only game East lost all last year, so don’t read too much into how this game turns out either way — but you can bet both teams really want to win this one.

Cheyenne Central at Kelly Walsh, Sept. 3. Think the Indians won’t be hyped for this one? This is Central’s chance for revenge on the team that surprised it in the first round of last year’s playoffs. But Kelly will be ready, too, prepared to show last year’s upset was no fluke.

Natrona at Sheridan, Oct. 1. One of the most epic games of the 2020 season was the four-overtime breathtaker between the Mustangs and Broncs. But that’s no surprise — games between these two programs rarely disappoint. With both teams thinking about deep playoff runs this year, this one will be, as usual, critical to the 4A chase.

Rock Springs at Cheyenne East, Oct. 22. If the Tigers keep improving as they have been the past couple years, this game against defending champ East in the final week of the regular season could be the most critical game not only for the two teams involved but for all of 4A.

Predicted order of finish/preseason rankings

Rock Springs, Cheyenne East, Natrona, Sheridan, Thunder Basin, Cheyenne Central, Campbell County, Kelly Walsh, Laramie, Cheyenne South.

Way-too-early title game score prediction

Rock Springs 21, Cheyenne East 20. Realistically, though, any team that makes the playoffs will have a good shot at winning it all. Be ready for weirdness, upsets and a surprise champion — because, let’s be honest, anyone who wins it this year will be a surprise champion.

Which team do you think has the best chance to stake a claim to a title in a year full of transition? Leave a comment, or drop a line on Twitter or Facebook.

–patrick

The Wyo 100 — Wyoming’s top 100 high school football players of the past 100 years

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As part of the fun extra material I put together for “A Century of Fridays,” the book I put out last winter about Wyoming high school football, I chose the “Wyo 100.”

The book and the “Wyo 100” were released to roughly coincide with the 100th birthday of Wyoming high school football. The 1921 season represented the first real statewide effort at having football statewide. Wyoming went from seven high school football programs in 1920 to 18 in 1921. By the end of the 1920s, the number was in the mid-30s. With 100 years of play behind us heading into 2021, now seemed like a perfect time to tackle a project like this.

This list contains the top 100 Wyoming high school football players of the past 100 years. The list was formed with the help of fans across the state, who made their nominations to the wyoming-football.com Facebook page, to @wyomingfootball on Twitter and to the blog here on wyoming-football.com.

Nearly 200 players were informally nominated via social media and blog comments. However, the list contains both players who were and who were not officially nominated by readers.

The list represents a variety of schools, positions and eras. The list originally ran in “A Century of Fridays” upon its release in January.

Years listed below are the player’s final calendar year of play, not their graduation year. The table below is sortable on each column and searchable.

Wyo 100

PlayerSchoolFinal seasonNotes
Jack AstleCheyenne Central1923Two-way tackle was Wyoming's first three-time all-state selection.
Ralph CottrellWorland1925Diverse threat on both sides later became head coach at his alma mater.
Buster LongBuffalo1925A halfback for the Bison, Long later started at quarterback at Nebraska.
Vince SmithCheyenne Central1925Outstanding lineman was a three-time all-state player for the Indians.
Carl DirWorland1928Speedy back led Warriors to two state titles; later coached in the state.
Taft HarrisNatrona1928Two-time all-state end later became a part of the basketball team at UW.
Verle HarlowNatrona1929Tackle was Natrona's only three-time all-state selection of the 20th century.
Lee KizzireGreybull1932Played both fullback and linebacker at UW before joining the Detroit Lions; killed during WWII.
Pete SedarNatrona1934Twice all-state, the guard found success playing with St. Mary's in California.
Johnny WinterhollerLovell1934Bulldogs' all-around star made it big at UW; championed wheelchair sports after WWII.
Lucien MonciniSheridan1935Running back helped Sheridan to a title as a junior; starred in some lean years at UW.
Walter CookNatrona1937RB led Natrona to state title as a senior; was a contributor at Purdue as both an RB and DB.
Fred MarbleCheyenne Central1939One of only a handful of two-time all-staters in the 1930s; helped found KOA Kampgrounds.
Vic NiethammerNatrona1939Twice all-state and state champion; had a short college career due to WWII but played at Notre Dame.
Fred TaucherRock Springs1942A two-time all-state lineman, he became an all-conference center at UW.
Bob WildermuthRock Springs1942Guard was state player of the year as a senior; died of drowning at age 19.
Babe NomuraHeart Mountain1943Internment camp resident later became a valuable player at San Jose State.
Keith BloomPowell1944Was one of the last three-sport lettermen at UW; had a long career as a coach and AD.
Dick CampbellSheridan1944A QB in high school, he was captain of UW's undefeated 1950 Gator Bowl team as HB/DB.
Bill RoneyPowell1944A two-time all-stater, he was all-conference and team MVP at Montana State on the DL.
Ray HobbsSheridan1946Played FB at Washington State; later became a successful coach in Washington.
Dewey McConnellLaramie1947End blossomed into an all-America choice at UW; drafted by the LA Rams and played for Pittsburgh.
George BozanicLander1948After leading the Tigers to a state title, he played admirably for Southern Cal.
Jerry CampbellRawlins1950Two-time all-state running back (and 1950 POY) was a coach and AD in Buffalo for decades.
Jim CrawfordGreybull1952Led the NCAA in rushing in 1956 for UW; Greybull's field is named for him.
Homer ScottSheridan1952Broncs' backfield star, injured in college, became a business behemoth in Sheridan.
Larry ZowadaSheridan1953Helped Broncs win back-to-back state titles; became an all-conference QB for UW.
Howard CookWorland1954RB was an all-American as a senior; played for Colorado in college.
Boyd DowlerCheyenne Central1954Had a long NFL career, and won two Super Bowls, as a WR with the Packers after college at Colorado.
Jerry HillLingle1956Running back starred for UW and played for 10 years with the Colts.
Bud SpicerDouglas1957Bearcats star later played at UW and saw some time with the San Diego Chargers, BC Lions.
Mack BallsStar Valley1959Became a team captain and all-WAC end while playing at UW.
Tom WilkinsonGreybull1960Parlayed success at Wyoming into a long and illustrious career as a QB in the CFL.
Mel OlsonStar Valley1962A fullback in high school, he went on to be an all-WAC center for BYU.
Jim HouseLaramie1964An all-state halfback, House became a star linebacker and later a coach at UW.
Lew RoneyLaramie19651965 player of the year is regarded as one of the state's top all-around athletes; played end at Yale.
Dennis HavigPowell1966After CU, played six years as an offensive lineman in the NFL; made the 1972 all-rookie team.
Nick BeboutShoshoni1967Really took off at UW on the offensive line; spent eight years with three NFL teams.
Frosty FranklinPowell1967Running back helped Powell win two titles, became a record-setter while at Wyoming.
Jerry GadlinCheyenne Central1967Twice all-state at QB and state POY in 1967, Gadlin moved to wideout at UW.
Steve CockrehamLusk1968Tigers' do-it-all QB later led the wishbone attack and was a team captain at UW.
Keith NateCokeville1969Earned all-America honors as a senior; helped Panthers to an unbeaten season.
Don WestbrookCheyenne Central1969Halfback at Central converted to wide receiver; played at Nebraska and five seasons in NFL.
John KormyloThermopolis1971Wyoming's only ever Parade all-America selection played OL at both Colorado and BYU.
Gerry GeldienKelly Walsh1972Running back/defensive back started at SS at Arizona State as a freshman.
Kelly SittnerTorrington1972Two-time all-stater worked his way into the starting offensive line at UW.
Dirk BushRiverton1974Star running back played at Nebraska, but injury limited college career.
Steve DoverKemmerer1974Wyoming's first 2,000-yard back played for high-powered Notre Dame in college.
Mike McLeodCheyenne East1974Played DB for Montana State; won three Grey Cups in CFL and played two seasons with the Packers.
Chuck WilsonNatrona1974Twice all-state, he started at linebacker at Wyoming despite several injuries.
Jesse JohnsonCheyenne East1975Highly recruited out of East as a RB/DB, he played DB at Colorado and in four seasons with the Jets.
Jim EliopulosCheyenne Central1976A lineman at Central, he walked on at UW, became an all-WAC linebacker, and played in the NFL.
Mike MeesCody1977Recruited to play QB at BYU after stellar HS career, he became the Cougars’ punter.
Gil WintersPinedale1977Two-time all-stater worked his way into the starting lineup as a linebacker at UW.
Don BrackenThermopolis1979All-state DE found his calling as a punter at Michigan and in the NFL.
Allyn GriffinKelly Walsh1980WR helped lead KW to two titles; a big part of the passing game at UW; drafted by Detroit.
Steve HarshmanMidwest1980Helped Oilers win 17 consecutive games; a four-year starter, team captain at C at Black Hills St.
Bruce MowryKemmerer1980Two-time all-stater for the Rangers became a captain at UW while playing linebacker.
Rock MirichMoorcroft1982Dominant senior season as QB/LB earned him a spot at UW; started at LB for the Cowboys.
John McDougallCody1985QB was a three-time all-state choice for the Broncs.
Ty MumaTorrington1986Made big plays from the QB spot; grew into a solid DB at Wyoming before a knee injury.
Mike RooksJackson1986Three-time all-state, Gatorade POY RB/LB led Jackson to championship.
Terry JacksonKelly Walsh1987KW's first two-time all-state pick was the state's player of the year as a senior.
John GodinaCheyenne Central1989Olympian in throws (silver and bronze medalist in shot put) was a star lineman in high school.
Troy DumasCheyenne East1990Running back at East developed into an NFL-caliber LB at Nebraska.
Blaine PhillipsSheridan1991Quarterbacked the Broncs to back-to-back state titles; Milward Simpson Award winner.
Kyle SmithTorrington1991Started for Colorado's offensive line and led the way for a Heisman winner.
Je'Ney JacksonGuernsey-Sunrise1992Vikings' Mr. Everything was a return dynamo and DB while at UW.
Jim TalichPine Bluffs1992Twice an all-state selection, he grew into an all-conference linebacker at UW.
Lee VaughnCheyenne East1992Thunderbirds' DB/KR excelled at UW in similar roles.
Kevin HomerNatrona1993One of the best LBs in Chadron St. history; played in NFL Europe.
Ben PhillipsSheridan1993Two-time 4A Back of the Year quarterbacked Broncs to back-to-back titles; drafted by the Yankees.
Jason SandersonStar Valley1993Defensive back and punt returner started for three years at Air Force.
Mike FackrellEvanston1994Two-time Super 25 RB is part of the Chadron St. athletics hall of fame despite injury.
Corte McGuffeyRiverton1994QB helped lead Northern Colorado to two Division II national titles.
Brett KeiselGreybull1996DL played for a decade with the Steelers; Super Bowl champion.
Brady PoppingaEvanston1997Linebacker enjoyed a long NFL career after playing at BYU.
Casey BramletWheatland1998Was a star QB and longtime starter at UW; still has several Cowboy records.
Ryan McGuffeyRiverton1998WR led Riverton to two state titles and later broke out at UW.
John ChickGillette2000Starred in the CFL for years and also had a stint with the Jaguars.
Casey FosherLusk2000The only three-time Super 25 selection walked on at Nebraska, played at Chadron St.
Scott MuirRawlins2000Simpson Award winner, two-time all-stater led Rawlins to undefeated season as a senior.
Mike VomhofGillette2000Unanimous 4A back of the year for unbeaten Camels, he played at CSU before injury slowed him.
Clint OldenburgGillette2001A tight end in high school, he started on the OL at CSU and played briefly in the NFL.
John WendlingRock Springs2001Defensive back was a star at UW and played for Buffalo and Detroit in the NFL.
Erick PauleyGreen River2004Two-time Super 25 OL/DL was the last lineman to win Gatorade POY honors.
Chris ProsinskiBuffalo2005Bison star went from safety at UW to a seven-year NFL career.
Tom EarlNatrona2008Mustangs' featured back had numerous big-yardage games; opted for basketball in college.
Austin WoodwardSheridan2009Broncs' do-everything quarterback was a handful under center; won Milward Simpson Award.
Jordan RobertsGillette/Sheridan2011Holds the state 11-man record for rushing yards in a season (2,688).
Taven BryanNatrona2013DL left Florida early to enter NFL; was a first-round draft pick of Jacksonville.
Austin FortGillette2013Converted from QB in high school to TE in college; on the roster for Denver despite injury.
Tevis BartlettCheyenne East2014Dual threat quarterback/linebacker was a starter at Washington.
Logan WilsonNatrona2014LB blossomed at UW and became a third-round draft pick of Cincinnati in 2020.
Theo DawsonJackson2015Had 2,283 rushing yards as a senior; has been on the roster for both UW and BYU.
Logan HarrisTorrington2016Offensive lineman (and shot putting dynamo) went on to start at UW.
Garrett CoonSheridan2019Sheridan's only three-time all-state selection was also the Gatorade POY.
Jeydon CoxJackson2019RB rewrote the record books as Wyoming’s only two-time 2,000-yard season rusher.
Graedyn BuellCheyenne East2020QB overcame injury as a sophomore to have two high-yardage passing seasons.
Andrew JohnsonCheyenne Central2020First Wyoming WR to break 1,000 yard barrier in two seasons in a high school career.

Class 3A season preview: Get your popcorn ready, because this is gonna be good

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One statistic reveals just how good Class 3A football will be in 2021.

As a classification, Class 3A has more than half (23 of 45) of its first-team all-state players coming back this year.

Usually, about two-thirds of all-state players are seniors, so for a classification to have more than half of its all-state selections returning is almost unheard of.

The returners are concentrated in some specific programs, most notably in Jackson and Cody, last year’s opponents in the 3A championship. Douglas, Powell, Green River and Star Valley also return their fair share of talent.

Although Cody and Jackson have the most returning talent on paper, a title game rematch is no guarantee, especially in a classification known for plenty of regular-season upsets and the occasional semifinal surprise.

Four questions to answer

Broncs-Broncs again? Broncs-Broncs again. Cody and Jackson are both absolutely loaded with talent this year, and they start as the frontrunners to meet in the Class 3A championship game for the second year in a row. Jackson returns six all-state players and Cody returns four, two totals higher than any other teams in 3A. That’s a good place to start.

Can anyone else infiltrate the top tier? With as talent-filled as 3A is this year, absolutely. Douglas and Powell return three all-staters apiece, while Green River and Star Valley have two each. The Bearcats are the favorites in the East, and the road to the title will eventually go through Converse County one way or another, while the West — as usual — is full of teams ready to play spoiler.

Anyone else outside that group we should watch for? Maybe Worland. Maybe. The Warriors, at least on paper, have the potential to be a spoiler this year. They have an offense capable of quick strikes and also have 3A’s top returning tackler (see below).

How many Division I players might come out of 3A this year? More than usual. Lucas Chappell of Star Valley (Air Force) was one of the first Division I commitments of the state’s 2021 seniors. Colter Dawson of Jackson also picked up an offer from Air Force, and Bronc teammate QB Sadler Smith had several D-I official visits over the summer. How many times do we need to say it? 3A is loaded this year.

Preseason class MVP

Lucas Chappell, Star Valley. The two-time all-state lineman has already verbally committed to Air Force, so he’ll be a marked man for opposing teams. His defensive numbers don’t leap off the page — 30 tackles, three sacks a year ago — but he’s constantly fighting other teams’ specific plans to limit him. And his aggressive work on the offensive line speaks for itself.

Presesason class breakout player

Jackson Schroeder, Cody. If you’re not aware of Schroeder, it’s OK; his contributions to Cody’s title run last year were easy to miss among a sea of Bronc stars. But know this: He’s Cody’s top returning rusher AND top returning tackler. And he’s only a junior.

Other players to watch

Colter Dawson, Jackson. A tight end/linebacker combination that hearkens back to football’s forgone days, Dawson is an athletic multi-tool threat. He led the Broncs in defensive points as both a sophomore and a junior, and his play on offense makes him a threat as a pass-catcher and a blocker.

Sadler Smith and Brody Hasenack, Jackson. With 2,093 yards, Hasenack led all 11-man teams in rushing last year; with 1,973 yards, Smith led Class 3A in passing. Success in their senior year together will be reliant on the versatility and balance both showed last year.

Keltan Ewing and Rylan Wehr, Douglas. The dynamic pair of running back (Ewing) and wideout (Wehr) gives Douglas’ offense balance; they also both have key roles on defense. Ewing was the 3A East offensive player of the year; Wehr was a first-team Casper Star-Tribune Super 25 player. Combine it, and it’s easy to see why Douglas is the early favorite in the East Conference.

Aaron Carver, Worland. The Warriors could be 3A’s surprise team, and Carver — 3A’s leading returning tackler — is a big reason why. With 98 tackles last year, Carver left an impression on every opponent. His experience will help an experienced Warrior defense keep growing.

Four key games

Star Valley at Cody, Oct. 8. One bugaboo for Cody has been Star Valley, especially when they play at Spike Vannoy field. Star Valley has won its last 12 games in Cody; the Broncs haven’t beaten the Braves at home since 1991. Moreover, Cody has lost seven of its past eight against Star Valley. A win here, and Cody can shake off a lot of history.

Riverton at Lander, Oct. 8. The Fremont County rivalry game always provides some interesting twists, and with both teams trying to keep pace with Douglas — which plays Riverton two weeks prior to this game and Lander the week before — this could be a make-or-break for either the Wolverines or Tigers for 2021.

Douglas at Worland, Oct. 22. The Bearcats’ path to an East Conference title comes through Washakie County in Week 8. And a developing Warriors team could be a surprise, even for a loaded Douglas squad, in this regular-season finale.

Jackson at Cody, Oct. 22. Broncs vs. Broncs in Week 8 is by far 3A’s most anticipated game of the season. Last year’s title game aside, both teams return loads of talent, and both teams have high aspirations for this year. You can bet that more than pride will be on the line here.

Predicted order of finish

East Conference: Douglas, Worland, Lander, Riverton, Buffalo, Rawlins.

West Conference: Jackson, Cody, Powell, Star Valley, Green River, Evanston.

Preseason top five: 1. Jackson, 2. Cody, 3. Douglas; 4. Powell; 5. Star Valley.

Way-too-early title game score prediction

Jackson 28, Cody 27. Last year’s top two teams are also this year’s top two teams, and anything could happen with teams as deep and experienced as these. The early nod, though, goes to the team from Teton County.

Is it possible to stop time and just play this 3A season over and over again? No, but wouldn’t it be fun if we could? And how do you see the only time we’re going to see the 2021 3A season coming together this year? Leave a comment, or drop a line on Twitter or Facebook.

Next Thursday: Class 4A.

–patrick

Unexpected finds of researching Wyoming’s sports history

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Part of why I continue to run wyoming-football.com — for which I started the research in 2004 and have since expanded to basketball and, well, everything else with Champlists — is that I keep learning new things.

The past year in particular, I hit the researching hard, thanks to a subscription to newspapers.com (a bonus made possible by those who provided a sponsorship!). I found some interesting things about coaches, players and others — some cool, some sad, some disturbing.

Of the myriad tidbits I’ve encountered, here are some of the more interesting ones — stories I wouldn’t have know about if I hadn’t been putting together research for my sites.

The cool:

The sad:

  • Sheridan coach O.E. “Oc” Erickson was a highly successful football coach, but he left the head coaching spotlight his early 30s. He moved to his hometown of Cheyenne and was an assistant for the Cheyenne High team for a few years. He should have been around much longer; he died at 41 after he fell in a hotel lobby the night after a UW football game and fractured his skull.
  • Then there’s the story of the high school basketball coach who coached his daughter in the state tournament; the team lost two and went home. The next day, his daughter died in a car crash; a moment of silence was held before the championship games that Saturday night.

The disturbing (with names removed):

  • The girls basketball coach who was convicted of having sex with players on his team — and who in his court testimony struggled to show remorse.
  • The basketball coach who traveled separately from his team to the state tournament — and then got pulled over and tagged with a DUI and speeding while on the way. By all accounts, he coached at state, but he didn’t keep his job much longer.
  • The coach who left education to get into law enforcement, became police chief of a major Wyoming city — and was convicted of soliciting bribes while police chief.
  • The driver of the “other” car in the crash that killed Byron and Lovell coach Wilford Mower, the guy for whom the big award handed out to high school athletes in Wyoming’s northwest corner — he died several years later in another car crash that also took the life of one of his own children.

These are just a few of the hundreds of tidbits I’ve found while researching Wyoming’s high school sports. I think it’s important to remember all of it — good, sad, disturbing and more — to understand the totality of how sports, community and culture intermingle. I’m hoping to bring some of the more interesting stories to this site in the future thanks to the details I’ve picked up in researching for Champlists.

–patrick

Class 2A season preview: Parity rules, again, in a competitive classification

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For the second year in a row, Class 2A looks like the most unpredictable classification in Wyoming.

Most of last year’s top teams lost a lot of their best players; most of last year’s also-rans have significant numbers of returners. Anything’s possible.

Lyman won last year’s championship despite not having a winning season since 2013. Will 2A give us another surprise in 2021?

Four questions to answer

OK, out with it — who’s the favorite? Torrington. The Trailblazers were 2A runners-up last year and were junior-loaded, so it makes sense for Torrington to be a preseason No. 1. The ‘Blazers have three all-state players coming back, more than any other 2A team, and have good depth and experience on both sides of the ball.

Who’s Torrington’s biggest threat? Probably Wheatland. The Bulldogs have a passing game that can’t be topped in the 2A ranks, and with Kade Preuit calling the signals, Wheatland will be tough to slow down.

What about the West? Look for parity. Last year’s West race was defined by it, and this year is shaping up similarly on paper. Similar to 2020, Lovell, Lyman, Cokeville, Mountain View, Big Piney and Thermopolis are all threats, capable of causing chaos in the standings with some well-timed victories.

Isn’t that last answer a cop-out? No. In talking with 2A coaches this summer, they, too, were flummoxed as to who might win it all this year. In addition to the parity in the West, the East, too, should be competitive from top to bottom. This year’s 2A champ may end up being a lot like Lyman was last year — overlooked at the start of the season but undeniable by season’s end. Upton-Sundance, Tongue River, Burns and Big Horn from the East all fall into that category entering 2021.

Preseason class MVP

Jake Hicks, Wheatland. A two-time all-state pick, Hicks led 2A in receiving yards per game last year (86.4), finishing with 42 catches for 778 yards; that was after a sophomore campaign when he was second in 2A with 562 yards on 21 catches. Oh, and he has an experienced quarterback throwing to him. Oh, and he’s Wheatland’s top returning tackler and had four interceptions last year.

Presesason class breakout player

Slade Roberson, Newcastle. Roberson’s 2020 season lasted barely more than one series, as an ACL/MCL injury in Zero Week ended the season for the Dogies’ quarterback early. But he’s healthy now, and he’s bigger and stronger than he was pre-injury. Newcastle may not be a title contender, but Roberson will keep the Dogies competitive.

Other players to watch

Connor Micheli, Mountain View. The Buffalos will lean a lot on Micheli, their only returning all-state player. He led Mountain View in passing and rushing last year (1,160 passing yards; 404 rushing yards) and he’s the only one of Mountain View’s top eight defensive players coming back this year.

Kade Preuit, Wheatland. Class 2A’s top returning quarterback threw for 1,474 yards and 16 touchdowns last year, thanks in part to looking deep. His accuracy wasn’t great last year (46.6%), but he’s a risk taker, with his 18.2 yards per completion leading Class 2A in 2020.

Beau Bivens, Torrington. Another returning starting quarterback? Yep… but Bivens is looking for redemption after dislocating his ankle in the semifinals last year and missing the title game. Prior to the injury, Bivens had thrown for 1,339 yards and 18 touchdowns in leading the Trailblazers to the brink of a championship.

Rho Mecham, Lyman. The Eagles’ defense was rock solid last year’s title run, and Mecham was a big reason why. His 10 sacks led Class 2A, and his 86 total tackles was one short of the team lead. On a defense that will need younger players to step up to maintain its success, Mecham’s presence will be huge.

Four key games

Lovell at Mountain View, Sept. 10. Two teams with a ton to prove this year meet in the West Conference opener, with the winner putting a big stamp of validity on its claims to a title run. A victory here means wonders; a loss isn’t the end of hopes, but it makes the rest of the season a lot more stressful.

Upton-Sundance at Wheatland, Sept. 17. The Patriots are 3-0 against the Bulldogs the past three seasons, so if Wheatland wants to make a run at the East Conference title, the first task is to overcome that trend. The Bulldogs do draw home-field advantage, but if history is any indicator, the Patriots won’t be an easy team to topple.

Big Piney at Lyman, Sept. 23. The Eagles’ only loss last year came to the Punchers, odd considering Lyman went on to win the 2A title and Big Piney missed the playoffs. The Eagles will certainly be motivated here, as will the Punchers as both teams try to keep their postseason dreams going in a tight West race.

Big Horn at Torrington, Oct. 1. Another lost moment in the 2020 season was the Rams’ victory against the Trailblazers in the programs’ first game against each other. The rematch in Week 5 will help dictate the direction of the East Conference for the rest of the regular season.

Predicted order of finish

East Conference: Torrington, Wheatland, Upton-Sundance, Burns, Tongue River, Big Horn, Newcastle, Glenrock.

West Conference: Lyman, Mountain View, Lovell, Big Piney, Cokeville, Thermopolis, Kemmerer, Pinedale.

Preseason top five: 1. Torrington; 2. Wheatland; 3. Lyman; 4. Upton-Sundance; 5. Mountain View.

Way-too-early title game score prediction

Torrington 34, Wheatland 27. Two longtime rivals in a championship game? You love to see it. Unless, well, you’re from one of the 14 other programs trying to prevent this kind of game from happening.

Would you be down for a southeastern Wyoming championship? If not, who’s going to mess up a pairing like that, for the better? Leave a comment, or drop a line on Twitter or Facebook.

Next Thursday: Class 3A.

–patrick

Ned Turner: Wyoming’s forgotten Olympian

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Photo of Ned Turner posing in a starting position.
Edwin “Ned” Turner poses for a photo while at the University of Michigan in 1932. Turner, a graduate of Natrona County High School in Casper, ran in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, placing fifth in the 800-meter run. Photo courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan.

Exactly 89 years ago today, a Casper native took to the Olympic track at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and held his own with the best runners in the world.

Today, though, Ned Turner’s accomplishments are nearly forgotten.

Edwin T. “Ned” Turner finished fifth in the 800-meter run at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. He was one of the first, if not the first, Wyoming athletes to compete in the Olympics, a list that includes celebrated names like Rulon Gardner, John Godina, Lance Deal, Heather Moody, Jesseca Cross, Jennifer Nichols and a handful of others.

Turner was just 19 when he ran in the Olympics. A junior at the University of Michigan, Turner had made his mark with guts. A Casper Tribune-Herald article from 1952 noted that “Ned was not a sprint finisher, as are many middle distance runners, but he was noted for his strength, endurance, and untiring running ability.”

Ned Turner's yearbook photo
Edwin “Ned” Turner’s photo from the 1929 Natrona County High School yearbook.

Despite his world-class finish in the Olympics, Turner was never an NCAA champion at Michigan. Moreover, he was only once a Wyoming state track champion, winning the 440-yard run as a junior at Natrona in 1928. He had appendicitis as a senior and missed the entire track and field season while recovering.

But at Michigan, Turner grew and matured; after all, he was just 16 when he graduated from NCHS. He qualified for the Olympics by finishing third in the AAU championships, which doubled as the U.S. Olympic trials, in mid-July. Once at the Olympics, Turner finished third in his opening heat, good enough to make the final race.

The 800-meter final itself put Turner in a field that saw almost everyone, including Turner, run a time that was better than the gold-medal time from the 1928 Olympic 800-meter run. Great Britain’s Tommy Hampson ran a then-world record time of 1 minute, 49.7 seconds to win the race. Turner finished fifth in 1:52.5.

You can watch the race on YouTube here. Turner is wearing a white tank and white shorts and has dark hair, but it’s hard to make him out in the footage as that was the attire for several racers. See full race and heat results here.

Turner led a full, but short, life after his Olympic opportunity. He graduated from Michigan in 1933 and turned to business. In 1952, an article in the Casper Tribune-Herald described Turner as “a successful business executive” in Michigan. Turner worked in a variety of industries, including industrial machinery and paper, and lived in New York in addition to Michigan. Like many young men of his time, his career was interrupted during World War II, when he served in the Navy. Turner died Aug. 17, 1967, in Michigan, a month short of his 55th birthday.

As Wyomingites watch the Tokyo Summer Olympics this month, let’s make sure the name “Turner” stays in the conversation.

–patrick

Class 1A nine-man season preview: The rich get richer

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Somehow, in Class 1A nine-man this year, the rich get richer.

Southeast and Lusk, last year’s participants in the championship game, combining for seven returning all-state players. The rest of the classification combined also has seven returning all-state players.

The embarrassment of riches flowing from Lusk and Yoder makes it hard to see how any other teams could challenge either the defending champion Cyclones or last year’s runner-up Tigers.

However, the name “Shoshoni” popped up a lot in conversations with coaches this summer, and the Wranglers might be the best in the West.

And remember how I mentioned that the rest of the state had seven returning all-state players? Well, four of those are in Pine Bluffs, a team that could challenge Lusk and Southeast from within its own conference and prove to be a title contender, too.

Four questions to answer

Are we going to see another Southeast-Lusk championship game? Possibly. On paper, the defending champion Cyclones from Yoder and the last year’s runner-up Tigers from Lusk have the two strongest teams in Class 1A nine-man. Southeast was hit harder by graduation, giving Lusk an early edge in the chase for the 2021 title.

Is anyone else a threat? Not really. Shoshoni and Rocky Mountain are the two teams in the West with the highest preseason expectations, and Pine Bluffs will be improved as well. Those three teams are the most likely outside shots at a title, and on a good day they could give Southeast and Lusk true challenges — but they’re not the favorites.

Will another running back crack 3,000 yards this year? Don’t count on it. Drake Lamp did that for Lusk last year, rushing for 3,057 yards; no other player was above 1,300, showing just how much of an anomaly the record-setting year actually was. If any running back is capable of it, though, maybe it’ll be Lamp’s replacement in Lusk, as the Tigers return all of their starters on the offensive line.

Will we field a full set of teams this year? Thankfully, yes. Last year’s schedule was a bit wonky as both St. Stephens and Wyoming Indian had to cancel their seasons due to COVID-19 restrictions in their school districts. Both the Eagles and Chiefs are ready to return this fall, adding depth to nine-man as a whole and, more importantly, giving two more groups of high schoolers the opportunity to play high school football.

Preseason class MVP

Cord Herring, Southeast. A first-team Casper Star-Tribune Super 25 player last year, Herring will be key to the Cyclones’ title defense. He ran for 797 yards and 17 touchdowns last year and also led the Cyclones in defensive points. His role will be even bigger in 2021.

Presesason class breakout player

Dylan Molzahn, Lusk. On a team with a 3,000-yard rusher last year, Molzahn still managed 572 rushing yards and six TDs last season. His role should expand greatly in 2021 as opportunities for carries that weren’t there last year will be this year.

Other players to watch

Ryan Clapper, Southeast. Clapper is one of only two two-time all-state players playing in Class 1A nine-man this year. He’s made his mark most definitively as the leader of Southeast’s diverse backfield, averaging 10.6 yards per carry, finishing with 1,090 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns last season.

Pehton Truempler, Shoshoni. The junior will be at the forefront of the Wranglers’ offensive and defensive plans this fall. He leads all of the Wranglers’ returners in tackles with 98. He also ran for 537 yards and eight touchdowns last year. He’ll be asked to do even more in 2021.

Dayne Lamp, Lusk. As a sophomore, Lamp finished with more tackles (157) than any other player in Class 1A nine-man. He also helped clear the way on the Tiger offensive line. Watch for his game to expand this season as the Tigers mount a run at a title.

Stu Lerwick, Pine Bluffs. The Hornets had the top passing game in 1A nine-man last year, and Lerwick was the architect. As a sophomore, he led nine-man with 1,857 passing yards, completing more than 55% of his passes. No other returning quarterback in nine-man this year threw for more than 900 yards last year; Lerwick’s 2020 total more than doubles that.

Four key games

Shoshoni at Rocky Mountain, Sept. 10. Barring something unexpected, the Grizzlies and Wranglers are likely the top two teams in the West, and this conference opener for both teams will have big implications come season’s end.

Lusk at Pine Bluffs, Sept. 10. The Hornets have an opportunity to turn an entire classification on its ear if they can knock off the Tigers in the conference opener. Pine Bluffs has all four of its all-state selections coming back and could be a challenger in the East, but the Tigers will be a challenge right off the bat.

Wyoming Indian at St. Stephens, Oct. 14. After a year away, the Chiefs and Eagles get to return to the field this year. These two programs have a deep basketball rivalry but have only played each other in football once, in 2013. With Shoshoni and Wind River also in the West Conference, it will be fun to watch how these Fremont County rivalries develop now that everyone is back.

Southeast at Lusk, Oct. 15. The game that decided the 1A nine-man championship last year could also decide the East Conference champion this year. As noted, both the Cyclones and Tigers have lots of returning experience, making this one THE most anticipated game of the season.

Predicted order of finish

East Conference: Lusk, Southeast, Pine Bluffs, Moorcroft, Saratoga, Lingle, Wright.

West Conference: Shoshoni, Rocky Mountain, Riverside, Greybull, Wind River, St. Stephens, Wyoming Indian.

Preseason top five: 1. Lusk, 2. Southeast, 3. Pine Bluffs, 4. Shoshoni, 5. Rocky Mountain.

Way-too-early title game score prediction

Lusk 37, Southeast 24. On paper, the Tigers are nine-man’s most balanced and most talented team. But the East Conference is loaded this season, full of teams ready to capitalize if the Tigers slip.

Is a Lusk-Southeast rematch a nine-man inevitability? Or is there another team that we’re overlooking who will be hoisting the trophy in November? Leave a comment, or drop a line on Twitter or Facebook.

Next Thursday: Class 2A.

–patrick

2021’s dream Wyoming high school football road trip

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Fall is football time — and what better way to enjoy the season by attending as many games as possible?

That’s what this blog post intends to do: map out the most efficient possible way to see as many, and some of the best, Wyoming high school football games in the 2021 season.

When I’ve done this the past couple years (see 2020 and 2019‘s dream trips), I’ve always struggled to decide which Friday night game should get top billing. Sometimes I choose a game that I know I wouldn’t want to miss. Sometimes I choose a game because it’s near an afternoon game and I can catch two games instead of one. Sometimes I throw a dart at a map and see what fate wants for me.

With significant help from the 2021 schedule, here’s my dream trip, existing only in a world where I had every Friday and Saturday off and plenty of money for gas, grub and hotels:

Week 0
Friday, Aug. 27: Natrona sophs at Glenrock, noon; Thunder Basin at Cheyenne East, 6 p.m.

A host of scrimmages and other Zero Week shenanigans dot the schedule, so I decided a short trip down I-25 would work best. The chance to see the rematch of last year’s 4A title game is too much to pass up.

Week 1
Thursday, Sept. 2: Pine Bluffs at Riverside, 2 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 3: Hulett at Burlington, 2 p.m.; Worland at Powell, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 4: Hanna at Snake River, 2 p.m.

The Northwest corner has some really intriguing games, and I could catch three of them by hitting Basin, Burlington and Powell. It’s a long morning drive to Baggs to catch the Carbon County rivals go at it, but worth it.

Week 2
Friday, Sept. 10: Cokeville at Lyman, 11 a.m.; Lovell at Mountain View, 4 p.m.; Kelly Walsh at Rock Springs, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 11: Burlington at Farson, 1 p.m.

The schedule allows for a rare triple-header attempt in the Southwest, with two 2A West games in the Bridger Valley the essential viewing on this trip (and maybe the second half of Trojans-Tigers?). A six-man game on Saturday is a great capper to a week that will set the pace in a competitive 2A West for the rest of the season.

Week 3
Friday, Sept. 17: Lander at Evanston, 3 p.m.; Worland at Green River, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 18: Dubois at Meeteetse, noon.

Week 3’s schedule has great games all over it, but the Evanston-Green River 3A double-dip offered the most bang for the buck. From there, it’s a long but doable drive to catch the Rams and Longhorns in an intriguing six-man matchup.

Week 4
Thursday, Sept. 23: Riverside at Wyoming Indian, 5 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 24: Burns at Big Horn, 2 p.m.; Rawlins at Buffalo, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 25: Kaycee at Hulett, 1 p.m.

I was destined to head northeast this week, as Burns-Big Horn is the only non-six-man afternoon game. But, hey — three games, plus a bonus trip to Ethete, is all good.

Week 5
Friday, Oct. 1: Shoshoni at Pine Bluffs, 2 p.m.; Wheatland at Burns, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 2: Pinedale at Mountain View, 1 p.m.

Laramie County gets some love this week as the best two-for-one option is down in the southeast corner. A little bonus 2A ball on Saturday (and a long drive) makes for a good weekend.

Week 6
Thursday, Oct. 7: Wind River at St. Stephens, 4 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 8: Guernsey at Kaycee, 2 p.m.; Campbell County at Natrona, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 9: Encampment at Hanna, 2 p.m.

It’s a hodgepodge of games for Week 6, mostly based on convenient times and geography. But all four games are intriguing in their own ways, and that’ll make it fun.

Week 7
Friday, Oct. 15: Southeast at Lusk, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 16: Burlington at Guernsey, 1 p.m.

After last year, you’d have to be out of your mind to think I’d miss a game between Southeast and Lusk. I could have watched more games with a different schedule, but this was worth it — plus some six-man bonus ball on Saturday.

Week 8
Thursday, Oct. 21: St. Stephens at Rocky Mountain, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 22: Pinedale at Thermopolis, 3 p.m.; Jackson at Cody, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 23: Dubois vs. Hulett, at Ten Sleep, TBD.

Again: If you think I’d miss Jackson-Cody, you’ve got another think coming… I might have to leave Thermopolis a bit early to catch it all, though. Add in a couple six-man games and a nine-man, and it makes for a full week.

+++

I’d catch 44 of Wyoming’s 63 teams on this trip — six of the 10 4A teams, nine of 12 in 3A, 10 of 16 in 2A, nine of 14 in 1A nine-man and 10 of 11 in 1A six-man. I’d see Worland, Burns, Mountain View, Pine Bluffs, Riverside, St. Stephens, Dubois, Guernsey, Hanna and Kaycee twice; I’d see Burlington and Hulett three times. And I’d be broke, tired and totally happy.

–patrick

Class 1A six-man season preview: Who’s ready to go undefeated?

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Farson’s second undefeated season in three years was yet another demonstration of the high standards set in six-man.

I mentioned this stat in last season’s preview, but it’s worth repeating: The combined record of the 11 six-man champs since 2009 is 126-2. Kaycee’s 2015 team is the only champ who had an in-state loss in that time.

Seemingly the question in six-man isn’t who will win — it’s who will dominate.

Among the suitors are basically every team in the West Conference and a handful in the East. Any one of about six or seven teams could be the one to rise up this year. Moreover, six-man is slimmer this year, as both Ten Sleep and NSI Academy are gone for the year — Ten Sleep dropping temporarily due to low numbers, NSI Academy gone for good due to the closure of the school.

Six-man’s sleeker, but tougher, look for 2021 has many potential endings. But if history is any indicator, the result in November will be an undefeated season for someone.

Four questions to answer

Which is the stronger conference? The West, by far. All six of the returning all-state players in six-man are in the West Conference. The West has six teams this year to the East’s five, with no weaklings in the group. And three of last year’s final four came from the West. Watch for similar dominance this year.

Of those West teams, who’s looking the most like a champ? On paper, Meeteetse. The Longhorns had a huge breakthrough season in 2020 and finished as runners-up to Farson. They did lose some key players to graduation but return some of six-man’s best playmakers, and in six-man, that’s huge.

Who else is in the discussion? Everyone in the West. Snake River didn’t graduate anyone; Dubois was young but explosive; Encampment nearly dethroned Farson in the semis and gets back several important players; Burlington is always a tough draw; Farson is the defending champ. Be ready for parity and lots of it.

So the East is really that weak? This year, yes. Kaycee, despite losing all three of its all-state picks from last year, is the best of the bunch in early goings in the East, and Hulett and Guernsey-Sunrise could be competitive, too. Those teams are the favorites on that side of the state and are the conference’s best hopes for a playoff victory. However, every team in the East is chasing to catch up to the standard set in the West.

Preseason class MVP

Dace Bennett, Meeteetse. Bennett was the only player in 1A six-man last year to both run and throw for at least 1,000 yards. The Longhorns’ field general completed 89 of 187 passes for 1,406 yards and 28 touchdowns and also ran for 1,282 yards and 23 touchdowns. He led six-man in all-purpose yards. He also had 100 tackles and four interceptions on defense.

Presesason class breakout player

Vaun Pierson, Kaycee. The only returning player in the state to earn all-conference honors as a freshman, Pierson showed early on that he could hang with six-man’s top players. With Kaycee graduating three all-state players, Pierson will have more opportunities on both sides of the ball; with another year of growth and maturity, he could set the pace for others to follow.

Other players to watch

Zander Risner, Snake River. Risner is a two-time all-state selection already, and his defensive prowess has earned him those honors. He tied for the lead in six-man with 21 tackles for loss last year and was fourth overall in the classification with 121 total tackles. His leadership will be key on a Snake River team that’s still young.

Koye Gilbert, Encampment. Gilbert was one of six-man’s top receivers last year. He had 32 catches for 524 yards and nine touchdowns last year. He was also one of the classification’s top defensive players, finishing seventh in six-man in defensive points per game while notching 86 tackles, three sacks, four fumble recoveries and three blocked kicks.

Max Claar, Dubois. Claar is a senior on a team full of younger players, so his leadership will be just as important as his play. His play is clear, though: He led Dubois in scoring last season, was third in tackles and found success both running and receiving the ball.

Kalvin Erickson, Meeteetse. Erickson led six-man in receiving yards (695) and receiving touchdowns (15) and was second in the classification in catches (33). He also led the classification in total tackles with 153 for the season. If that isn’t an all-around player, who is?

Four key games

Encampment at Snake River, Sept. 10. The Carbon County adversaries meet in Week 2 in both teams’ West Conference openers. A loss here will be difficult to overcome for either team — stakes that seem almost unfair to have so early in the season.

Dubois at Meeteetse, Sept. 18. Dubois hung tight with Meeteetse last year, and with another year of experience, the young Rams could put themselves on everyone’s radar if they can finish the job they couldn’t in 2020. Meeteetse should be ready this time around, though.

Hulett at Guernsey, Oct. 1. After Kaycee, the Red Devils and Vikings return more key players than any other squads in the East. This game could end up deciding who’s at home in the first round of the playoffs, something that may end up being key if either wants to pull off that elusive first-round upset.

Farson at Meeteetse, Oct. 16. The rematch of the 2020 title game comes in Week 7, and chances are good that by the time this game rolls around, last year will be the furthest thing from anyone’s mind. Both teams have high hopes this year, and how they perform in this game could dictate each team’s postseason direction.

Predicted order of finish

East Conference: Kaycee, Hulett, Guernsey, Hanna, Midwest.

West Conference: Meeteetse, Snake River, Encampment, Farson, Dubois, Burlington.

Preseason top five: 1. Meeteetse; 2. Snake River; 3. Encampment; 4. Kaycee; 5. Farson.

Way-too-early title game score prediction

Meeteetse 48, Snake River 40. The Longhorns have the playmakers and the experience to do big things this season. The biggest question mark will be surviving a rugged West Conference loaded with capable teams.

What do you think? Who’s ready for that unbeaten season that has become six-man’s standard? Leave a comment, or drop a line on Twitter or Facebook.

Next Thursday: Class 1A nine-man.

–patrick