McSpadden named head coach at Rawlins

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Clayton McSpadden will be the new football coach at Rawlins.

Rawlins AD Sandy Jebens confirmed via email to wyoming-football.com on Monday that McSpadden — a 2009 Rawlins High graduate — will be the program’s head coach. McSpadden’s hiring was confirmed by the Carbon County School District No. 1 board on Thursday.

McSpadden was also hired to teach PE at Rawlins High School, the board meeting agenda showed.

McSpadden was a Shrine Bowl selection for Rawlins and played football collegiately at Black Hills State.

He replaces Corey Wheeler, who resigned in May after four seasons as the Outlaws’ head coach. Rawlins finished 7-3 last season, its first winning season since 2000.

Other Wyoming schools with new head coaches, or with vacant head coaching spots, include Class 4A Cheyenne Central and Sheridan, Class 3A Green River, Lander and Powell, Class 2A Burns, Greybull, Lovell, Moorcroft and Wheatland and Class 1A 11-man Big Horn. If you know of other coaching hirings or resignations statewide, please email me at pschmiedt@yahoo.com.

–patrick

North wins sixth consecutive Wyoming Shrine Bowl, takes down South 13-7

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The North continued its recent streak of dominance in the Wyoming Shrine Bowl, using two second-half touchdowns to beat the South 13-7 Saturday in the 45th annual all-star football game in Casper.

Aaron Sessions of Sheridan, whose 84-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter gave the North its first points, was named the game’s defensive MVP.

Riley Hill of Greybull, who scored the game-winning touchdown with a 1-yard quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter, was the offensive MVP. He completed six of eight passes for 72 yards and also ran for 22 yards.

Star Valley’s Josh Dawson scored the lone touchdown for the South on an 8-yard run in the first quarter.

The North won the Shrine Bowl for the sixth consecutive year. The North leads the all-time series 24-18-3.

–patrick

2018 Wyoming Shrine Bowl set for Saturday

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The wait is over for the Shrine Bowl annual all-star football game.

The 45th annual game between Wyoming’s best graduating high school football players, organized into North and South teams, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Cheney Alumni Field in Casper.

The North has won five consecutive Shrine Bowls and won last year’s game 49-7. The North leads the all-time series 23-18-3. Scores of previous Shrine Bowl games are available here.

Players and coaches involved in this year’s game include:

SOUTH
BIG PINEY: Chancy Hunt; Jake Pape.
CHEYENNE CENTRAL: Riley Boltz; Niko Bostic; Adarius Gallon.
CHEYENNE EAST: Ethan Ashworth; Gunner Bartlett; Noah James; Mat Semler.
COKEVILLE: Rick Nate; Antheny Petersen.
DOUGLAS: Michael Yeaman.
EVANSTON: Blake Overy.
GLENROCK: Richard Harris; Jadon Williams.
GREEN RIVER: Candon Croft; Chance Hofer; Devin Love; Cole White.
LARAMIE: Frank Crum; Garrett Worden.
LYMAN: Beaudee Bluemel.
MOUNTAIN VIEW: Jonathan Anderson; Trevon Peterson; Jason Stoddard.
PINE BLUFFS: Haize Fornstrom; Wyatt Fornstrom.
RAWLINS: Bryce Jerome.
ROCK SPRINGS: Bryan Mattinson.
SNAKE RIVER: J.D. Corson.
STAR VALLEY: Hunter Cranney; Josh Dawson; Payton Erickson; Ronnie Kaye.
TORRINGTON: Nathan Stitt; Jacob Wamboldt.
Coaches: McKay Young, Star Valley (head coach); Nicc Crosby, Star Valley; Jesse Blunn, Cheyenne East; Cody Peacock, Lyman; Brian Anderson, Pine Bluffs; Jack Cobb, Snake River.

NORTH
BUFFALO: Devin Matthews; Ray Rabou.
CODY: Ian Crawford; Jacob Deardorff; Matt Skinner.
GREYBULL: Brayan Castro; Riley Hill.
KAYCEE: Mark Largent; Danny Ramirez.
KELLY WALSH: Joey Geil; Caige McComb; Logan Neuroth.
LOVELL: Porter Nichols.
MOORCROFT: Solomon Petz.
NATRONA: Brett Brenton; Jesse Harshman; Wes Rice; Riley Shepperson; Danny Slack.
NEWCASTLE: Cameron Quigley.
POWELL: Brooks Asher; Max Gallagher.
RIVERTON: Jaren Draper; Brodie Roden.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN: Tristan Jewell.
SHERIDAN: Blayne Baker; Kyle Custis; Conner Jorgenson; Aaron Sessions.
THERMOPOLIS: Noah Schwalbe.
THUNDER BASIN: Austin Clemetson; Keaton Wilkerson; Coleman Worsley.
WORLAND: JR Hofmann; Matthew Sanchez.
WRIGHT: Steven Monson.
Coaches: Marty Wrage, Greybull (head coach); Jeff Hunt, Greybull; Steve Harshman, Natrona; Matt McFadden, Cody; Larry Yeradi, Wright; Boz Backen, Hulett.

–patrick

Green River’s Croft added to South Shrine Bowl roster

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Green River’s Candon Croft will play in this year’s Shrine Bowl for the South squad.

Executive director John Cundall announced late Wednesday via email that Croft will play in the annual all-star football game, replacing Star Valley’s Noah Hutchinson.

The game is June 9 in Casper.

–patrick

Worland’s Hofmann joins North Shrine team

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Worland’s JR Hofmann will join the North squad for this year’s Shrine Bowl.

Executive director John Cundall said Saturday via email that Hofmann will replace Dawson Butts of Upton-Sundance on the North roster.

The annual all-star football game is June 9 in Casper.

–patrick

KW’s McComb joins North Shrine Bowl squad

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Kelly Walsh’s Caige McComb has joined the North Shrine Bowl team.

Executive director John Cundall announced Tuesday that McComb will be a part of the annual all-star football game. McComb replaces Tevita Palepale, also of KW, on the North team.

The game is June 9 in Casper.

–patrick

Cheyenne Central hires alumnus, title-winning coach Apodaca to fill head coaching vacancy

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Cheyenne Central will hire Mike Apodaca — a Central alumnus who won a state title while coaching at Silver Creek High School in Colorado — to be its new head football coach.

The announcement was made on Twitter on Friday by Central AD Chad Whitworth.

As a coach, Apodaca has been with Silver Creek as its head coach the past 15 seasons. He led that program to seven playoff appearances, three title-game appearances and a 2012 Class 3A championship.

As a player, Apodaca helped the Indians win the 1988 Class 4A championship before playing at the University of Sioux Falls and the University of Wyoming.

He takes over for Drew Severn, who resigned at the end of last season after four seasons as Central’s head coach. Central went 10-28 those four years.

Other Wyoming schools with new head coaches, or with vacant head coaching spots, include Class 4A Sheridan, Class 3A Green River, Lander, Powell and Rawlins, Class 2A Burns, Greybull, Lovell, Moorcroft and Wheatland and Class 1A 11-man Big Horn. If you know of other coaching hirings or resignations statewide, please email me at pschmiedt@yahoo.com.

–patrick

Thunder Basin’s Wilkerson joins North Shrine Bowl team

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Keaton Wilkerson from Thunder Basin will join the North Shrine Bowl team.

Shrine Bowl executive director John Cundall announced via email Tuesday that Wilkerson will join the North team, replacing teammate Trenten Johnson on the squad.

The annual all-star football game is June 9 in Casper.

–patrick

Burns hires Brad Morrison to be new head football coach

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Brad Morrison will be Burns’ new football coach, Burns AD Barry Ward announced on Twitter on Tuesday.

Morrison said via text message Tuesday that he was an assistant coach at Thermopolis from 2012-16, including a run as defensive coordinator from 2013-16. He also coached basketball and track in Thermopolis at various levels. Originally from Lamar, Colorado, Morrison said he took the Burns job in part to be closer to family, as well as to take an opportunity to become a head coach.

He replaces Marv Mirich, who was the head coach for seven seasons with the Broncs. Under Mirich, the Broncs went 21-37, qualifying for the Class 2A playoffs in 2011 and 2013. Burns went 1-7 last season.

Other Wyoming schools with new head coaches, or with vacant head coaching spots, include Class 4A Cheyenne Central and Sheridan, Class 3A Green River, Lander, Powell and Rawlins, Class 2A Greybull, Lovell, Moorcroft and Wheatland and Class 1A 11-man Big Horn. If you know of other coaching hirings or resignations statewide, please email me at pschmiedt@yahoo.com.

–patrick

Lovell assistant coach Gardner promoted to top spot

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Lovell line coach Jeny Gardner was approved Monday as the new head coach for the Bulldogs.

Lovell’s school board approved Gardner as the school’s new head coach during its meeting Monday night, AD Joe Koritnik said via email to wyoming-football.com.

Gardner has been the line coach at Lovell for the past three years, Koritnik said. She also teaches math at Lovell.

She replaces Doug Hazen, who resigned in November after nine years as head coach; he finished 62-26 and won the 2011 Class 2A title while coaching the Bulldogs. Lovell finished 4-5 last season, reaching the 2A playoffs but losing in the first round.

Based on records available at this site, Gardner is believed to be the first female head football coach in Wyoming.

Other Wyoming schools with new head coaches, or with vacant head coaching spots, include Class 4A Cheyenne Central and Sheridan, Class 3A Green River, Lander, Powell and Rawlins, Class 2A Greybull, Moorcroft and Wheatland and Class 1A 11-man Big Horn. If you know of other coaching hirings or resignations statewide, please email me at pschmiedt@yahoo.com.

–patrick