Updates: Cowley, Deaver-Frannie, Tongue River, Hulett, 1968 AA all-state, 1969 all state

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A few updates I’ve recently made to the site:

Coaches

Added Deaver-Frannie’s coach for 1951: It was Dale Dragich.

Games

Added Cowley’s victory over Deaver-Frannie on Oct. 26, 1951. (Added to the missing games list because the game is missing a score and a location.)

Added Tongue River’s 21-19 loss to the Sheridan JV on Oct. 17, 1957. (This game was originally listed as canceled. It was actually played.)

Added Hulett’s 27-0 loss to Vale, South Dakota, on Sept. 13, 1957. (Added to the missing games list because the game is missing the location.)

All-state

As has been the case for the past couple months, Jim Craig has been a huge help with all-state lists. Info for the updates below were provided by him. Thanks again!

Added Dave Eisenman from Sheridan to the 1968 Class AA honorable mention all-state list. I had him noted, but in the original list I had, only his last name — not his first name or school — was provided.

Also added John Klecker from Cheyenne Central to the same list. Again, I had him noted, but the original list provided an illegible name and had the player listed for Cheyenne East. That’s been fixed.

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I also updated the 1969 all-state teams with the Wyoming Coaches Association teams, replacing teams picked by the UPI and AP pollsters. The WCA teams are listed on the all-state page; the teams formerly on that page but removed are put here for reference:

CLASS AA-A
As chosen by UPI panel

First team
BUFFALO: Randy Ziemer, E.
CHEYENNE CENTRAL: Don Westbrook, RB; Lynn O’Neal, DB.
CHEYENNE EAST: Bob Ward, DT; Dan Rushing, DB.
KELLY WALSH: Dan Doyle, DE; Rany Walling, DB.
LARAMIE: Mike Kanaly, OG; Bill Bonger, C/LB; Bart Parham, RB; Greg Hardin, NG; Greg Kipper, DB.
NATRONA: Bill Heck, OT; Steve Milliken, OG; Mike Mundell, LB.
POWELL: Rex Bennett, E.
SHERIDAN: Ken Madia, FB.
STAR VALLEY: Bill Clines, DE.
WORLAND: Charlie Patterson, OT; Steve Bradshaw, QB; Mark Burton, DT.

Second team
CHEYENNE CENTRAL: Steve Furtney, LB; Don Westbrook, DB.
CHEYENNE EAST: Bob Ward, OT.
KELLY WALSH: Dan Doyle, E; Dan Geldien, DB.
LARAMIE: Dave Wilson, E; Greg Hardin, OG; Greg Kipper, RB; Bob Eberhart, DE; Terry Miller, DE.
NATRONA: Bill Heck, DT.
POWELL: Gary Bunett, QB.
ROCK SPRINGS: Ray Foianini, FB; Walt Scarletti, NG; Stuart Delaney, LB.
SHERIDAN: Phil King, OG.
STAR VALLEY: Curt Stock, DB.
TORRINGTON: Charles Gulley, OT; Mike Jay, DB.
WORLAND: Jim Bake, C; Dan Winzer, RB; Charlie Patterson, DT.

CLASS B
As chosen by Associated Press

First team

HULETT: Ed Wilson, G; Wayne Aaberg, B.
MIDWEST: Dave Harshman, E; Dale Miller, C; Randy Macy, B.
SUNDANCE: Jim Viergets, T; Perry Livingston, G; Gary Roadifer, B.
TONGUE RIVER: Jim Sobotka, E.
UPTON: Terry Wham, T; Bimbo Rankin, B.

Second team

BIG HORN: Jim Mackey, E.
COKEVILLE: Keith Nate, B; Todd Dayton, B.
LINGLE: Jim Hill, C.
MIDWEST: Bob Eldridge, E; Brad Chapman, B.
MOORCROFT: Jim Klentz, T.
SUNDANCE: Alan Harper, B.
TONGUE RIVER: Anton Bocek, T; J.C. Gupton, G.
UPTON: Tom Barritt, G.

 

–patrick

All-state updates: 1963, 1966, 1968, 1969, plus a Byron update

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With big thanks again extended to Jim Craig — who’s been doing yeoman’s work with digging up all-state teams from the 1960s — the 1966 Class AA and Class A all-state teams, the 1968 Class A and Class B all-state teams and the 1969 Class B all-state teams have been added to the site.

I also updated the 1963 all-state teams to include the Class AA and Class A all-state teams as chosen by the Associated Press, which I feel was more representative of both classifications. In the process, I removed the 1963 UPI Class AA/A combined all-state team. That team was as follows:

First team

CHEYENNE CENTRAL: Dick Gish, QB; Allen Russell, E; Dave Coulson, T.
CHEYENNE EAST: Brent Fabian, HB; Dan Madrid, G.
LANDER: Tom McKinney, HB.
LARAMIE: John Godbe, E; Pinky Johnson, G.
NATRONA: Dave Schilling, T; Diemer True, C; Herb Mapp, FB.
RIVERTON: Roger Campbell, T; Everett Befus, HB.

Second team
CHEYENNE EAST: Keith Beckwith, G.
LARAMIE: Wes Ackerson, HB.
LUSK: Tommy Thompson, FB; Jack Butler, E.
NATRONA: Dick Phillips, QB; Don Wilcox, T; Bob Phillips, E.
RAWLINS: Tom McCulloch, G.
SHERIDAN: Jim Wilson, C.

You can see all of the 1960s all-state updates here.

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Thanks to Jim’s help, I also added Byron’s 61-13 victory over the Cody JV on Aug. 30, 1963.

This victory increased Byron’s consecutive scoring streak for that stretch to 97 games, still fifth-best all-time.

The changes are reflected on all the relevant pages.

–patrick

Hiibel ties Wyoming Shrine Bowl record for TD passes; North beats South 41-26

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One individual record was tied during the North’s 41-26 victory against the South in Saturday’s Shrine Bowl all-star football game in Casper, and a few other performances earned top-three spots on the Wyoming Shrine Bowl records list:

Individual records

Star Valley’s Reese Hiibel tied the Shrine Bowl record for touchdown passes with four; that mark has been reached three other times.

Dontae Crow of Sheridan finished tied for third all-time in receiving yards (133) and touchdown catches (two).

Southeast’s Jeff Burroughs matched Crow with two touchdown catches to also tie for third all-time.

Natrona’s Cody Wilkinson is No. 2 in the record books for made PATs in a game with five.

Team records

The North team matched the second-best offensive scoring output with five offensive touchdowns.

The South’s combined 25 completions is second-best all time, and its 287 passing yards is third-best all-time.

The North’s 41 points tied for second-most all-time.

The North now leads the all-time series 22-18-3; the North has won four Shrine Bowls in a row and six of the past seven. For more on this year’s game, check out the trib.com, wyosports.net and video highlights from wyopreps.com. The box score at Wyosports.net was used as the basis for the records outlined above; thanks to that crew for their help!

–patrick

Shrine Bowl ready to roll

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The 43rd annual Shrine Bowl all-star football game will kick off at 2 p.m. today (Saturday) at Cheney Alumni Field in Casper.

The North leads the all-time series 21-18-3. North teams have won five of the last six Shrine Bowls and won last year’s game 40-14. Last year’s game raised $35,000 for the Shrine Hospitals for Children.

The rosters for the teams are as follows:

SOUTH
Big Piney: J.D. Fear, William Shafer.
Cheyenne Central: Jake Brownell, Jacob Carbaugh.
Cheyenne East: Jack Danni, Quinn Happold, Baylor Hayes.
Cheyenne South: Marquez Jefferson.
Cokeville: Jackson Linford.
Douglas: Cody Hooker.
Evanston: Tucker Leland, Brett Lowham.
Glenrock: Alec Arnold, Elijah Stewart.
Green River: Brendan Hopkins, Gage Hunt, Tyler Vendetti.
Lingle: Colten Wunder.
Mountain View: Dusty Iorg.
Pine Bluffs: Kyle Jeffres.
Pinedale: Caleb Raney.
Rawlins: Brett Penman.
Rock Springs: Collin Chivers, Carter Rosette.
Snake River: Braden Duncan.
Southeast: Jeff Burroughs.
Star Valley: Kyler Battleson, Reese Hiibel, Sean Pittman.
Torrington: Jace Canaday, Skyler Miller, Branton Samson.
Wheatland: Justis Borton, Josh Calvert, Daniel Chesser, Nathan Willis.
Managers: Ang Back, Douglas; McKenna Worden, Laramie.
Certified trainer: Alan Hill, Cheyenne East.
Head coach: Mark Lenhardt, Torrington.
Assistant coaches: Russell Steinmetz, Torrington; Drew Severn, Cheyenne Central; Aaron Makelky, Big Piney; Will Gray, Pine Bluffs; Michael Bates, Snake River.

NORTH
Big Horn: Brice Beisher, Collin Powers.
Buffalo: Tommy Fieldgrove.
Cody: Ethan Acton, Cameron Myers.
Gillette: Lane Barbour, Dalton Holst, Derek Hooker, Zack Taylor.
Greybull: Jordan Jackson, Lane Nielson.
Jackson: Theo Dawson, Dillon Hartranft, Gabe Walls.
Kaycee: Hayden Fauber.
Kelly Walsh: Jacob Kostal.
Lovell: Beau Green.
Meeteetse: Carter Johnson.
Natrona: Caleb Hett, Wes Richner, Cody Wilkinson.
Powell: Teagan Cordes.
Riverside: Ethan Sherburne.
Riverton: Baylor Beers, Brayden Draper.
Sheridan: Davis Alden, Zach Campbell, Evan Coon, Dontae Crow, Riley Sessions.
Shoshoni: Patrick Forster, Connor Wilkinson.
Thermopolis: Tyler Cornwell.
Tongue River: Dillon Lyons.
Upton-Sundance: Rourke McPeters.
Worland: Mauricio Caballero.
Managers: KinDale Andreen, Thermopolis; Sierra Force, Natrona.
Certified trainer: Joanne Brewster, Sheridan.
Head coach: Jon Vance, Kelly Walsh.
Assistant coaches: Ryan Meyers, Kelly Walsh; Rob Hammond, Buffalo; Marty Wrage, Greybull; Tony Truempler, Shoshoni; Andy Ray, Ten Sleep.

–patrick

Wheatland starts repeat 2A title bid with new head coach

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Defending Class 2A champion Wheatland will have a new coach leading its title defense this fall.

Tom Waring, who has previously coached in Rawlins and Hanna, will take over as head coach of the Bulldogs this fall. He takes over for Dusty Hudson, who made a big impression in two years in Platte County.

Waring and Wheatland AD Josh Sandlian verified the hiring via emails to wyoming-football.com.

In 2015, Hudson led Wheatland to a program-record 10 victories and a Class 2A championship, the program’s second state championship and first since 1984. In his two years as head coach, Wheatland went 17-4. He left Wheatland to take a teaching position in Casper, Sandlian said.

Waring was the head coach at Hanna from 2009-12 and at Rawlins in 2013. He compiled a 16-22 record at Hanna and was 1-7 in his only year at Rawlins. More recently, he has been the principal at the K-12 school in Chugwater. Waring said he plans on remaining at Chugwater while he coaches at Wheatland.

Wheatland is the second defending state champion that will take the field in 2016 with a new coach. Class 3A champ Star Valley hired McKay Young as its new head coach in March.

–patrick

Pinedale names new head coach

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Mitch Espeland will be the new head football coach in Pinedale.

He replaces Allen Johnson, who coached the Wranglers for five seasons. Both Espeland and Johnson verified the change in emails to wyoming-football.com this week.

Espeland is a native of Douglas and teaches social studies in Pinedale. He was an assistant coach for the Wranglers last year.

Johnson said via email went 14-26 in his five seasons as coach. The Wranglers went 3-5 in each of the past three seasons; Pinedale last made the postseason in 2008.

Johnson said the death of his mother in February reorganized his priorities, and he will spend the summer with family in Colorado. He said he plans on staying in Pinedale and continuing to teach math there.

–patrick

Rocky Mountain hires new head coach

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Rocky Mountain will have a new football coach this fall.

Richard Despain will be Rocky Mountain’s head coach this fall. He will replace David Hayes, who was not retained after six seasons as head coach.

Despain’s hiring was approved by the Big Horn County School District No. 1 board during its meeting April 14, meeting minutes show.

Despain has been an assistant coach at both Powell and Rocky Mountain; he has spent the past two years with the Grizzlies. He was an assistant coach on the 2012 North Shrine Bowl team while at Powell.

Hayes posted a 30-23 record in his six seasons with the Grizzlies. He took the team to the playoffs five times in six seasons but never went past the quarterfinals. The Grizzlies went 5-4 last season and lost to eventual Class 1A 11-man champion Upton-Sundance in the quarterfinals.

Hayes said via email to wyoming-football.com he expected to return as head coach for 2016.

“For whatever reason, the school wanted to go a different direction,” Hayes wrote. “I don’t have a whole lot to say other than I was very disappointed to lose the head coaching job. I was looking forward to working with a very talented group!”

However, Hayes said Despain is a solid coach who comes from a winning tradition.

–patrick

Lingle hires new head football coach

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Matthew Cornelius will be the head football coach at Lingle this fall.

His job will be to replace the coach with more victories than any other in program history.

Cornelius will replace Kevin Derby, who resigned after nine seasons as head coach, Derby said via email to wyoming-football.com Wednesday.

Cornelius is also Lingle’s girls basketball coach, leading the team to a state title in 2014, and teaches science at the school.

Derby went 50-37 in his nine seasons as coach and leaves with more victories than any other coach in program history. He led Lingle to eight consecutive playoff appearances and a state runner-up finish in 2009.

Derby said he took a different job in the district and will stay in the area. He also said having three small children and that he “just needed some time to be a dad without all of the stresses of coaching.”

“I’m sure that I will miss it when fall rolls around,” he wrote.

Lingle finished 7-3 and reached the Class 1A 11-man semifinals last year. The Doggers will join Class 1A six-man this fall.

–patrick

Updates: All-state teams from 1965, 1966, 1967

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The following all-state teams have been added to the site, with thanks again going to Stat Rat Jim Craig for finding them at the State Archives:

1965 Class B

1966 Class B

1967 Class AA

1967 Class B-UPI (AP all East; UPI all but two from the West)

The 1967 Class B all-state teams were bizarre, and I’ve included both the AP and UPI all-state listings on the site. The AP all-state listings only listed players from the east side of the state; the UPI all-state team had 13 players on it, but 11 were from the west and only two were from the east. They’re both included here, as I feel to only list one or the other would not be truly representative of the state as a whole.

(I have yet to see the Class B all-state teams from 1968, 1969 or 1970, but I’m guessing they’re doozies. In 1971, a Class B all-state team wasn’t chosen; the coaches cited continuous regional bloc voting as the reason, noting that coaches would consistently vote for players only from their region and no others, thus ruining the integrity of the teams selected. Can’t wait to see those teams and piece together the rest of the story.)

The 1965 Class A all-state team was also completed; it had a couple missing names.

The available all-state teams from the 1960s are here. Thanks again to Jim for his help!

–patrick

Link resigns as head coach at Guernsey-Sunrise

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Chris Link has resigned after five seasons as head coach at Guernsey-Sunrise.

Guernsey-Sunrise AD Glenn Freeburg confirmed Link’s resignation via email to wyoming-football.com. Link did not reply to an email sent to his Guernsey school address.

Link went 28-19 in his five years with the Vikings, including an 11-0 season and a Class 1A six-man state championship in 2014. The Vikings went 5-4 last season and were the only team to beat eventual state champion Kaycee.

Link will leave Guernsey, as his wife took another job outside the area, Freeburg said. A replacement has not yet been named.

Link is the fourth head coach in Wyoming to step aside this offseason and the second in Class 1A six-man with Ten Sleep.

–patrick