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Our five-part season preview wraps up today with Class 4A.

Four questions to answer
What can Natrona do with six returning first-team all-state selections? Whatever it wants. Consider this: Last season, there were only three returning first-team all-state selections in ALL of Class 4A. This year, Natrona alone has six, including Dan Reese, a Casper Star-Tribune Super 25 first-team selection last fall, and Ryan Anaya, who’s already committed to play at Wyoming. Linemen Colter Bentley and Adam Britton, running back/punter Josh Flanigan and wideout/defensive back/quarterback Brecken Biggs give the Mustangs a good mix of returning talent and make NC the favorite to win it all in 4A this year.

Was Cheyenne East’s run to the title game last year a fluke? No. East’s 24-19 upset of Natrona in last year’s 4A semifinals was an upset. But it was not a fluke. (And, yes, there is a difference.) The Thunderbirds had one of the most gifted teams in 4A last year, and with three returning first-team all-state picks — Tod Wenger, Austen Motily and Joe Ash — East has to be in the title discussion again this year.

Can Sheridan make it four trips in a row to Laramie? The short answer is a qualified yes. This year, maybe more than the past three, the Broncs have some rebuilding to do. The bulk of key players on last year’s championship team were seniors. Although it looks like the line will come together pretty well, the players outside the trenches have some work to do to prove themselves.

Who is this year’s surprise team? Rock Springs. I saw the Tigers at what was probably their lowest point last season — the loss to Kelly Walsh in Casper — and I still came away impressed. Running back Tanner McQuillan and receiver Zach Legerski are going to make a solid 1-2 offensive combination for what I think could be an explosive team this fall.

Four players to watch
Ryan Anaya, Natrona. He’s already committed to play at Wyoming. That alone should speak volumes. His numbers last year did not blow anyone away, but his presence and his ability will force teams to account for him. That should free up some opportunities for his teammates, too.

Collin Eisenman, Sheridan. The reigning Class 4A defensive player of the year, Eisenman was always around the ball last season. His numbers might actually dip this year as teams do a better job of accounting for him, but he will also be a stronger, better player this fall and will play a huge role as one of the centerpieces of the Broncs’ defense.

Tanner McQuillan, Rock Springs. Last year was the “Year of the Running Back” in 4A, and McQuillan was lost a bit in the shuffle. However, he will make sure he’s not ignored this year. He is the top returning rusher in the classification this year — he ran for 1,132 yards last year, trailing the “Big Four” of Roberts, Woods, Eddington and Bazemore — and could improve on those numbers this year.

Dani Fischer, Gillette. Fischer, the Camels’ only returning first-team all-state choice, is an explosive triple threat as a receiver, defensive back and returner. He racked up an unusually high 23.4 yards per catch last fall, led the team with five interceptions and was the Camels’ go-to kick and punt returner. His explosiveness will help keep Gillette in every game — and may help the Camels win a few, too.

Four key games
Gillette at Evanston, Aug. 24: Finally, the Red Devils get to play the Camels in Uinta County. The past two years, Evanston has had to trek to Gillette for its season openers; this year, the Camels have to make the trip. And, of course, Evanston wants revenge for last year, when Gillette pulled out a 40-36 victory late in the fourth quarter.

Natrona at Sheridan, Aug. 31: The longtime rivals are playing for the 100th time in a series that dates back to 1921. Add on the fact that the winner will likely be considered the early favorite for the 4A state title this year, and you can see why this one will be a big one.

Cheyenne East at Cheyenne Central, Sept. 14: The East-Central showdown is always for bragging rights and occasionally for more. It will be interesting to see if this one is for bragging rights, or for more.

Gillette at Natrona, Oct. 19: The last four regular-season meetings have finished 15-13, 21-20, 47-32 and 41-34. If nothing else, the Camels and Mustangs put on a good show when they get together; that alone should be worth the price of admission.

Predicted order of finish
Natrona, Sheridan, Gillette, Cheyenne East, Evanston, Rock Springs, Cheyenne Central, Laramie, Kelly Walsh, Cheyenne South.

Completely outlandish, way-too-early title game score prediction
Natrona 31, Sheridan 21

Trivia
Numerous extensive series exist between Class 4A schools. Laramie and Central have played each other 127 times; Natrona and Sheridan will play for the 100th time this year, while Natrona and Central will play for the 99th. But — EXCLUDING Cheyenne South from the discussion — what is the least-played series between two current Class 4A schools? And how many times have they played? And what is the series record entering 2012? Post your guesses below — but feel free to add anything else you’re looking forward to seeing in the 2012 4A season.

–patrick

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The fourth in a five-part season preview continues today with a look at Class 3A.

Four questions to answer
Can Powell repeat? Yes. The talent that Powell returns is second to none in 3A this fall — five all-state choices, including two seniors and three juniors, will help anchor the Panthers’ repeat chances. The better question might be: Who can stop Powell from repeating?

Is Green River still in a post-Powell hangover? We’ll see, although I doubt it. The Wolves again have the potential to be one of the best teams in 3A, but the way last season ended — by giving up a 45-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds to go — can’t help but affect a team’s psyche. For their part, the Wolves are still the defending West Conference champs, and the title still goes through Green River. That reality alone should help bring the Wolves back from that tough loss to finish last season.

Is this Riverton’s breakthrough year? Probably. The Wolverines have been pointing to this season for at least two years now as their possible breakout season. The combo of Xavier Webb and T.J. Galey, both returning all-state choices, gives the Riverton offense a tandem option that no team in 3A can match. And with Douglas rebuilding/reloading, Lander going through a transition and Buffalo refocusing with a new coach, this might be Riverton’s best shot to win the East.

How will Buffalo do with a new coach? The answer is much more long and complicated than I have room for here. Any time a program goes through the tumult the Buffalo program did last year, there will be some unforeseen repercussions. How new coach Rob Hammond and his staff handle those unanticipated changes — good or bad — will help define the Bison’s success on the scoreboard.

Four players to watch
Vince Sleep, Powell. He made this list last year. He’ll make it again this year. As a junior, he led Powell in both solo tackles and tackles for loss. Already a two-time all-state selection, opposing coaches know Sleep will be a handful as the anchor of the Panthers’ defense.

Ty Etchemendy, Douglas. Even on a team full of seniors, it was hard to overlook the junior Etchemendy last year. He was Douglas’ leading receiver last year, but also played running back and defensive back and returned a few kicks, as well, and his efforts earned him an all-state nod. He’ll be asked to take on even more as a senior.

Xavier Webb, Riverton. If this really is Riverton’s breakthrough year, it’ll be on Webb to prove it. The Wolverines’ quarterback was an all-state choice last fall, completing 55 percent of his passes (99 of 181) for 1,241 yards and 12 touchdowns; he’ll need a similar, or maybe even slightly better, effort this year to help the Wolverines get over the top.

Aaron Fenner, Buffalo. Few players combine offense and defense as well as Fenner. He led Buffalo in rushing yards, receiving yards and defensive points as a junior last season. It’s hard to ask for an encore of that performance, but Fenner will likely need to be just as integral a part of the Bison’s effort to help his team back into the playoff hunt this season.

Four key games
Green River at Douglas, Aug. 31: This is probably the most highly anticipated nonconference game of the season in any classification. And it just so happens to pop up in Week 1. Both teams are eager to show they are the true favorites in 3A this fall; a victory here will go a long way to proving that point.

Star Valley at Powell, Sept. 28: One of the teams lost in the 3A mix is Star Valley — a team that had a tremendous 2011 season and returns enough players to be a threat in the West again this year. A victory here over the defending champs would be nice, but the Panthers remember what happened last year in Afton and are probably eager for a bit of payback.

Buffalo at Riverton, Sept. 28: The Wolverines have the good fortune of drawing the Bison at home this year. And if they want to prove they belong in title-game talk, this is the game they have to win.

Green River at Powell, Oct. 19: After not playing since 1982, these two teams played each other twice last season, building up enough familiarity with each other to make up for a lot of lost time. This one could again decide home-field advantage in the playoffs — although last year helped prove that home field isn’t everything.

Predicted order of finish
East: Douglas, Riverton, Buffalo, Lander, Torrington, Rawlins.
West: Powell, Green River, Star Valley, Worland, Cody, Jackson.

Completely outlandish, way-too-early title game score prediction
Powell 19, Green River 16

Trivia
Every current Class 3A team has played every other current 3A team at least twice in the past 90 years — except for these two schools, who have never played each other. Which two current 3A schools am I talking about? Post your guesses as a comment below.

What do you think? Does 3A have more parity than the rest of the classifications in Wyoming? What game are you most looking forward to? What players are poised for breakout seasons? Post some thoughts below and let’s talk 3A football.

–patrick

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The third in a five-part series of weekly season previews, released every Wednesday, our season preview continues today with Class 2A.

Four questions to answer
Can Lovell keep on winning? Probably. I mean, after all, the Bulldogs return their top thrower in quarterback Dylan Hultgren, their top rusher in back Dino Collins, their top receiver in wideout Cody Savage and their top defensive points man in Dillon Pickett. How many defending state champions have ever been able to say that?

What team has the best chance of challenging Lovell for the state title? Newcastle. In case you didn’t notice, the Dogies are building a solid program. They finished just three points away from making it to the state title game, nearly knocking off Lovell in the semifinals a year ago. And they’ve got three returning all-staters — more than any other team in 2A and equal only to Lyman.

Which new coach in the 2A West has the best chance of immediate success? Dale Anderson, Lyman. Anderson — one of four new coaches in the 2A West, joining Justin Bernhardt in Greybull, Brent Walk in Mountain View and Aaron Makelky in Big Piney — comes into a good situation at Lyman. He has three returning all-state players, including returning first-team Casper Star-Tribune Super 25 player Cisco Taylor, and inherits players who know how to win. With all the turnover in the conference, Anderson is the one set up for the most immediate success.

Are you psyched for the return of the Thunder Bowl? Definitely. The annual rivalry game between Tongue River and Big Horn is back — with a twist. Two new coaches, John Scott at Tongue River and Michael McGuire at Big Horn, have both proven they know how to win. This season will also mark the first time since 1961 that the Eagles and Rams are meeting on the field in a year when both schools have first-year head coaches. That game finished as a 6-6 tie…. and neither team won a game in 1961. I’m anticipating better in 2012.

Four players to watch
Dino Collins, Lovell. As I mentioned before, Collins was a big piece of Lovell’s state championship run in 2011 and will likely have a similar role in 2012. He ran for 1,202 yards and 17 touchdowns last season; if he can come close to duplicating those numbers this season, the Bulldogs will again be tough to stop.

Cisco Taylor, Lyman. Don’t expect Taylor’s numbers to be as gaudy as the were last year — 57 catches, 939 yards, 12 touchdowns. But do expect Taylor to have a bigger impact, as his catches will mean more in an offense that looks to focus more on the running game.

J.T. Harper, Newcastle. Harper fulfilled a dual-threat role with the Dogies last year, as he was the team’s leading rusher (110 carries, 698 yards, nine touchdowns) and one of the team’s top defenders (third on team with 98 defensive points, team-high four interceptions). The returning all-state choice will likely have an even bigger role this season as a senior.

Colton Wright, Burns. Wright is Burns’ most explosive player on both offense and defense. Already a two-time all-state selection, Wright led Burns’ outside attacks on both sides of the ball, finishing by far as the team’s top receiver (33 catches, 638 yards) and narrowly as the team’s top defensive points man (11.9 per game, team-high four interceptions). Burns will need Wright’s consistency to keep pace in a deep East Conference.

Four key games
Glenrock at Tongue River, Sept. 7: In the first East Conference game of the year for both teams, I’m eager to see what happens in a game that looks like it’s between two programs in transition years. Can Glenrock reload and replace all the seniors that were key parts of last year’s conference championship team? Can Tongue River rebound and play competitive football after a year off and a coaching change?

Lovell at Lyman, Sept. 14: Rematch of last year’s title game. Full stop.

Thermopolis at Kemmerer, Sept. 22: Remember the mess in the middle of the 2A West standings last year — the one that led to the triangular playoff at the end of the season? Yeah, me too. The winner here takes a huge step forward to (1) avoiding such a mess this season and (2) keeping pace with the top dogs in the West.

Wheatland at Newcastle, Oct. 12: I haven’t mentioned Wheatland yet, but I’m big on the Bulldogs rebounding from last year’s disappointing season, and I think they could be one of the surprise teams in 2A this year. If all goes well, this Week 7 showdown at Schoonmaker Field could be for the East Conference championship.

Predicted order of finish
East: Newcastle, Burns, Wheatland, Glenrock, Big Horn, Moorcroft, Wright, Tongue River.
West: Lovell, Lyman, Thermopolis, Kemmerer, Greybull, Mountain View, Pinedale, Big Piney.

Completely outlandish, way-too-early title game score prediction
Lovell 27, Newcastle 20

Trivia
Despite all the coaching changes in 2A this year — a grand total of six — Class 2A also boasts more coaches than usual that have stayed for quite a while at their current stop. In fact, Class 2A has more coaches that have been the head coach at their current school for at least a decade than any other classification. The question: How many of those coaches exist in Class 2A? The bonus: What are their names, and how long has each one been at his current school?

I think 2A could be one of the most unpredictable classifications this year, in part because of a weird mix of returning talent, in part because of a huge amount of coach turnover, in part because of the already unsteady nature of these conferences already. What do you think? Post some thoughts below and let’s talk 2A.

–patrick

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Each Wednesday, we’ll preview a classification of Wyoming high school football. Today, we’ll look at the second of a five-part season preview with Class 1A 11-man.

Four questions to answer
Can Cokeville win it all again? Yep. And it all starts with defense. One of my favorite numbers I discovered this offseason was this one: In the past four seasons, a span of 42 games, only three of Cokeville’s opponents have broken into double digits. Although the Panthers lose four of their top six tacklers from a year ago, they return several key players from the title runs of the past two years and should be the early favorites to win it all in 1A 11-man again.

Who will win the East Conference title? In short, either Southeast or Lusk. The conversation out east the past two seasons has begun and ended with these two programs, who have a combined 19-1 record against the rest of the conference the past two years and have outscored their conference foes in those 20 games 862-113. For what it’s worth, this year’s Lusk-Southeast game is in Lusk, where the Cyclones haven’t won since 2005.

Will the West Conference have just as much parity as it did a year ago? Probably. Last year, every team won at least one conference game, and six of the eight teams entered the final week of the season with playoff berths possible. And it wasn’t just that parity existed — it’s that the scores were unpredictable. It was always hard to tell when a game would be close or when it would be a blowout. That type of unpredictability was the hallmark of the conference a year ago and should help make at least the early parts of the conference schedule this year quite interesting.

How will the new co-op agreement between Upton and Sundance go? Pretty well, probably. They’ve already figured out a nickname (Patriots), a schedule and a coaching staff. However, the biggest problem might be out of both schools’ control — enrollment. If the combined enrollment figure for the two schools (figured on Upton’s total enrollment and Sundance’s male enrollment) tops that of the smallest Class 2A school (Big Horn at 139), the Patriots will be ineligible for the playoffs no matter how well their season goes. Those final tallies may not be available until the first day of school.

Four players to watch
Brigham Teichert, Cokeville. Defense makes the Panther machine go, and Teichert is Cokeville’s best defender. Already a two-time all-state choice, Teichert has led the Panthers in defensive points each of the past two years. His leadership will be critical as Cokeville goes for a three-peat.

Colton Stees, Southeast. Stees, who was the East Conference defensive player of the year as a sophomore in 2011, will again have to play an important part on the Southeast defense for the Cyclones to get back into the championship game. Already bigger and stronger than a year ago, Stees led 1A 11-man with 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks a year ago. If he puts up similar numbers, Southeast should again be in the championship chase.

Clint Getzfreid, Riverside. Getzfreid was by far 1A’s most prolific wide receiver last year. He had 56 catches (26 more than anyone else in 1A) for 737 yards (311 more than anyone else in 1A) and eight receiving touchdowns (more than anyone else in 1A). And he was a junior.

Colter Larson, Lusk. Quite simply, Larson is a tackler. He led the Tigers in defensive points last year, mostly racking up tallies through tackles, as he had more solo tackles (36), assists (54) and tackles for loss (17.5) than any of his teammates. He’ll play a key role again this year as the Tigers try to make it to Laramie.

Four key games
Wind River at Shoshoni, Sept. 7: Remember, it was a come-from-behind victory over Wind River last year that propelled Shoshoni to its best season since 2001 — and sent Wind River into a slide from which it could not recover. Similar fates may await the winners and losers of this game in a parity-filled West Conference.

Southeast at Lusk, Sept. 14: Let’s strip away the facade and call this game what it is: the East Conference championship game. This game has decided the East champ each of the past two years and figures to do so again this year.

Burlington at Riverside, Sept. 21: Both teams had numerous key players lost to graduation. Will either one of them step up as a threat to Cokeville in the West? This game might help determine if either the Huskies or Rebels are up for that challenge — and the loser will have to fight and scrap and claw just to make it into the postseason.

Saratoga at Shoshoni, Oct. 12: There has been very little scuttlebutt about Saratoga this offseason, but don’t forget the Panthers were a tough team to beat last year and gave Lusk a bit of a tussle in the first round of the playoffs before bowing out. This Week 7 game might end up being for a home playoff game.

Predicted order of finish
East: Lusk, Southeast, Lingle, Pine Bluffs, Upton/Sundance, NSI.
West: Cokeville, Saratoga, Riverside, Shoshoni, Burlington, Wind River, Rocky Mountain, Wyoming Indian.

Completely outlandish, way-too-early title game score prediction
Cokeville 20, Lusk 14

Trivia
Cokeville’s Todd Dayton is entering his 33rd year as the head coach of the Panthers, the longest tenure of any active coach in the state. Of the other schools in Class 1A 11-man, since 1980, every school has changed coaches at least once; most schools have done it many times. Here’s the question: Of the current 1A 11-man schools, which one has changed head coaches the most times? And as a bonus: How many head coaches has that school had since 1980?

–patrick

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Every Wednesday for the next five weeks, we will preview each classification of Wyoming high school football. We will start the series today by taking a look at Class 1A six-man.

Four questions to answer
Can anybody stop Snake River? Probably not. Even with significant losses to graduation, the Rattlers are still the odds-on favorite to win the six-man championship again this fall. With a 21-game winning streak in tow, and with an expected nine seniors on this year’s roster, the Rattlers will once again set the pace for the rest of the six-man schools to match.

Can anybody stop Snake River? Maybe Dubois. Last year’s state runners-up return a significant number of players, including all-state picks Cody Flynn and Jesse Hawk. And don’t forget that in last year’s championship game, the Rams played the Rattlers even, 33-33, in the final three quarters after Snake built a 21-0 first-quarter lead.

Can anybody stop Snake River? A host of other teams on the Rattlers’ schedule have the potential to pull a regular-season upset and stop the streak — but the best chance of that happening is away from Baggs. Snake River has a tough road trip to Ten Sleep in the opening week of the season and also has to travel to play an always-tough Kaycee squad in Week 6.

Can anybody stop Snake River? The gap between the top and the bottom of six-man appears to be shrinking a bit — and that will make it tougher for Snake River to run the table for a third consecutive year. Most of the teams at the bottom of the six-man standings last year appear to be better this year — Farson, Guernsey, Hanna, Hulett and Meeteetse should all be improved over last year, which will make every week a challenge, not just for the Rattlers but for everyone.

Four players to watch
James Caro, Kaycee. Football came to Kaycee at the perfect time for Caro, who has been the Buckaroos’ quarterback since their first snap in 2009. Potentially a four-time all-state selection, Caro threw for 1,108 yards and ran for 481 more and also intercepted eight passes on defense last season. Caro’s role with Kaycee has always been important, but it’ll be magnified in his senior season.

Cole Gourlay, Snake River. Last year’s co-defensive player of the year in six-man, Gourlay is one of the big reasons why Snake River is expected to win it all again this year. Gourlay led Snake River with 113 tackles last fall and will have to be just as active this year as the Rattlers go for three in a row.

Friscoe Erdahl, Ten Sleep. Erdahl has been one of Ten Sleep’s biggest threats the past two years. The returning all-state player is the type that never comes off the field. His job as Ten Sleep’s offensive playmaker will be showcased that much more on a team that will have little depth.

Jesse Hawk, Dubois. If the Rams want to make it back to Laramie, it will most likely be on the ability of Hawk’s legs. Hawk was the Rams’ best rushing threat last fall, as he piled up 1,135 yards and 15 scores; he’ll need to put up similar numbers for the Rams to stay in the thick of it in the North Conference.

Four key games
Dubois at Snake River, Sept. 7: Rematch of last year’s title game. Snake River’s biggest early test. Dubois’ reality check. This game has everything going for it.

Hanna at Midwest, Sept. 14: The South Conference opener for both the Oilers and the Miners will help dictate both teams’ directions for 2012. A victory could mean a home playoff game; a loss means a lot of fighting to simply stay assured of a playoff berth.

Midwest at Snake River, Oct. 12: Midwest gave Snake River its biggest regular-season scare last fall. And don’t think the Rattlers aren’t aware of that.

Ten Sleep at Kaycee, Oct. 13: These two teams always play well against each other. The scores of the four Kaycee-Ten Sleep games the past three years? 71-67, 48-43, 63-62, 54-52. In short, it’s gonna be fun.

Predicted order of finish
North: Dubois, Kaycee, Ten Sleep, Hulett, Meeteetse.
South: Snake River, Hanna, Midwest, Guernsey, Farson.

Completely outlandish, way-too-early title game score prediction
Snake River 64, Dubois 50

Trivia
In the past three years, when two varsity six-man football teams from Wyoming have played each other, they have combined to match or break the 100-point barrier in 23 games, including 11 times last year. However, not all six-man games are shootouts. Some are defensive struggles. The question: In the past three years, when two varsity six-man football teams from Wyoming have played each other, how many times have they combined to score fewer than 50 points? And the bonus question to that: What common thread ties these games together? (That should give it away that there is more than one game….)

So what do YOU think about six-man this year? Will Snake River just run away with everything again and threaten the state record for longest winning streak? Or will someone else sneak into the mix and become the new favorite? Post your thoughts below and let’s start the conversation.

–patrick

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With state wrestling and state basketball dominating the high school sports discussions the past couple weeks, I can’t help but think about championships in football — and which teams might hoist the trophies in 2011.

Obviously, there is a ton of time between March and November. Players move in, move out, drop out, come back, develop, underdevelop, gain confidence; coaches quit, get fired, move on, change schemes. Then the season actually starts.

But I always enjoy looking ahead and thinking about what might be coming next fall. Based on what I know from last season, here are my choices for the top five in each classification in 2011 (realizing, of course, that it’s March):

4A (updated!)
1. Sheridan. I like the direction coach Don Julian has that program going. (Update: Just heard, right after posting this, that Gillette’s Jordan Roberts moved to Sheridan in January and will be playing for the Broncs this fall. That makes them the automatic favorites in my book.)
2. Cheyenne East. Trevon Hinker and Jeremy Woods are both back. Most of the role players, though, are gone. If the Thunderbirds find some others to step up and support their two studs….
3. Evanston. A couple first-team all-staters are back in Matt Eddington and Austin Wiggins.
4. Gillette. (Update: See Sheridan. Now Gillette’s rebuilding process just got a bit tougher, but not impossible.)
5. Cheyenne Central. Indians always seem to do a good job of reloading, but they have their work cut out for them in 2011.
Who I’m overlooking: Natrona. Didn’t the Mustangs just win the 4A state championship? How can I leave them off this list? Well, losing one of the most talented senior classes in history won’t help.

3A
1. Douglas. Three years without a loss? Yeah, the Bearcats have earned this spot until someone takes it from them.
2. Cody. The Broncs have one of the most exciting players in the state in Brady Gulde coming back.
3. Powell. Holy crud. The Panthers have five all-staters coming back.
4. Buffalo. The Bison never seem to rebuild.
5. Green River. The drop from 4A is no guarantee of success, but the Wolves’ experience playing with the big boys will give 3A teams fits.
Who I’m overlooking: Lander. All three of the Tigers’ all-state selections from last year are back. That experience is invaluable.

2A
1. Lovell. In what should be a wide-open classification, the Bulldogs probably have the most raw talent coming back.
2. Wheatland. The experience playing up will come in handy in a wide-open conference.
3. Lyman. This program is growing by leaps and bounds. This might be the Eagles’ breakthrough year.
4. Thermopolis. Banners don’t lie.
5. Greybull. Lost a lot. Have a lot coming back.
Who I’m overlooking: Burns. I think the Broncs are close to a breakthrough thanks to a pair of returning all-state players.

1A 11-man
1. Cokeville. After the way the Panthers mowed through the rest of the 1A classification last year, how can you NOT like Cokeville to win it again?
2. Southeast. Not too many programs would consider an appearance in the state semifinals a down year.
3. Rocky Mountain. This team came darn close to going on the road to Yoder and pulling the upset; I think they’ll be better this year.
4. Lingle. I like the grit the Doggers showed in the playoffs. The program is slowly gaining consistency.
5. Burlington. I could put just about anyone in 1A here, but I think Anson George could be the difference for the Huskies.
Who I’m overlooking: Lusk. Rebuilding? Or is the JV ready for the Friday night lights?

1A six-man
1. Snake River. Gotta like the defending champs, especially because of the key roles underclassmen played for them in the title run.
2. Dubois. The Rams came out of nowhere last year in 11-man; in six-man, they’ll be contenders right away.
3. Kaycee. Sure, Shawn Straub is gone, but the Buckaroos are more than just one player.
4. Midwest. I wonder what would have happened last year if the Oilers had not lost that tight regular-season game at Hanna….
5. Hanna. Last year’s runners-up lost a lot of talent, but there are enough returners for the Miners to contend.
Who I’m overlooking: Farson. The Pronghorns are getting stronger — and this year might be the year they prove it.

What do you think? Which teams do you think should be the odds-on favorites to win it all in 2011? Who will be some of the most explosive players and teams in the state next fall? Post your thoughts below and let’s talk about it.

–patrick

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After some time, scores of championship games take on a life of their own.

The score gives us a definitive marking of which team is superior — and by what sort of margin.

Of course, from 1962-68 for every classification and from 1969-74 in the smaller school divisions, we didn’t have championship games in Wyoming. Instead, we had polls decide champions. Those are just as definitive, but much less legendary — most are forgotten.

That’s why I’m posting these today. These are the final statewide polls for the championship “dead era” from 1962-74. Most are UPI or AP polls, although I have also included the Casper Star-Tribune’s final polls when they have conducted them as well, for added reference.

Take a look and take a trip back to remember some of the state’s most anonymous champions.

1974 UPI polls
Class AA
1. Cheyenne East, 9-1, 50 points
2. Rawlins, 9-1, 38 points
3. Natrona, 7-2, 32 points
4. Worland, 7-1, 20 points
5. Riverton, 5-3, 10 points
Class A
1. Torrington, 9-0, 48 points
2. Kemmerer, 8-0, 40 points
3. Lovell, 7-1, 26 points
4. Jackson, 5-4, 10 points
5. Glenrock, 5-3, 8 points
Class B
1. Tongue River, 9-0, 48 points
2. Saratoga, 8-0, 40 points
3. Cokeville, 7-0-1, 18 points
4. Basin, 6-1-1, 10 points
5. Deaver-Frannie, 8-0, 8 points

1974 Casper Star-Tribune polls
Class A
1t. Torrington, 9-0-0, 54 points
1t. Kemmerer, 9-0-0, 54 points
3. Lovell, 7-1-0, 43 points
4. Glenrock, 5-3-0, 35 points
5t. Newcastle, 5-4-0, 33 points
5t. Star Valley, 4-4-0, 33 points
Class B
1t. Saratoga, 8-0-0, 61 points
1t. Tongue River, 9-0-0, 61 points
3. Cokeville, 9-0-1, 57 points
4. Basin, 7-1-1, 55 points
5. Guernsey-Sunrise, 7-2-0, 49 points
Eight-man
1. Deaver-Frannie, 9-0-0, 39 points
2. Cowley, 8-1-0, 34 points

1973 UPI polls
Class AA
1. Laramie, 9-1, 50 points
2. Riverton, 7-3, 35 points
3. Natrona, 6-3, 22 points
4. Cheyenne East, 6-2-1, 14 points
5. Worland, 6-2-1, 12 points
Class A
1. Green River, 8-1, 56 points
2. Buffalo, 8-1, 46 points
3. Kemmerer, 8-2, 42 points
4. Torrington, 7-2, 16 points
5. Lovell, 6-2, 14 points
Class B-C
1. Tongue River, 9-0, 50 points
2. Byron, 9-0, 46 points
3. Cowley, 9-0, 40 points
4. Pinedale, 7-2, 25 points
5. Upton, 7-1-1, 14 points

1973 Casper Star-Tribune polls
Class A
1t. Buffalo (3), 8-1, 78 points
1t. Green River (3), 8-1, 78 points
3. Kemmerer (1), 8-2, 74 points
4. Torrington, 7-2, 59 points
5. Lovell, 5-2, 58 points
Class B-C
1. Tongue River (4), 9-0, 87 points
2. Cowley (2), 9-0, 85 points
3. Byron (1), 9-0, 84 points
4. Guernsey-Sunrise, 7-2, 70 points
5. Pinedale, 7-2, 68 points

1972 UPI polls
Class A
1. Star Valley (8-1-1)
2. Torrington (8-1)
3. Kemmerer (6-2-1)
4. Buffalo (5-2-2)
5. Thermopolis (5-4)
Class B-C
1. St. Mary’s (10-0)
2. Glenrock (9-0)
3. Tongue River (8-1)
4. Basin (9-0)
5. Cokeville (8-1)

1972 Casper Star-Tribune polls
Class AA
1. Torrington (7-1)
2. Star Valley (8-1-1)
3t. Kemmerer (6-2-1)
3t. Buffalo (5-2-2)
5. Thermopolis (5-4)
6. Green River (7-3)
7t. Wheatland (4-4)
7t. Douglas (4-5)
9. Lovell (3-5)
10. Evanston (2-7)
Class B-C
1. Glenrock (9-0)
2. St. Mary’s (10-0)
3. Tongue River (8-1)
4t. Pinedale (8-1)
4t. Cokeville (8-1)
6. Basin (9-0)
7. Upton (7-2)
8. Cowley (8-1)
9t. Lingle (6-3)
9t. Dubois (7-2)

1971 UPI polls
Class AA-A
1. Natrona, 90 points
2. Laramie, 88 points
3. Rock Springs, 82 points
4. Cheyenne East, 63 points
5. Sheridan
6. Torrington, 43 points (unbeaten)
7. Cheyenne Central, 37 points
8. Star Valley, 27 points
9. Powell, 22 points
10t. Buffalo, 18 points
10t. Riverton, 18 points
Class B-C
1. Glenrock, 90 points (unbeaten)
2. Upton, 78 points (unbeaten)
3. Deaver-Frannie, 72 points (unbeaten)
4. Mountain View, 54 points (unbeaten)
5. Midwest, 51 points
6. Pine Bluffs, 48 points
7. Tongue River, 34 points
8. Byron, 32 points
9. Dubois, 24 points
10. Guernsey-Sunrise, 7 points

1970 UPI polls
Class AA-A (taken before state title game)
1. Cheyenne East, 7-2, 96 points
2. Thermopolis, 9-0, 90 points
3. Natrona County, 7-2, 79 points
4. Buffalo, 8-0, 72 points
5. Star Valley, 8-1, 64 points
6. Laramie, 8-1, 62 points
7. Cheyenne Central, 4-5, 53 points
8. Sheridan, 6-3, 48 points
9. Kelly Walsh, 5-3-1, 38 points
10. Gillette, 6-3, 35 points
Class B
1. Pinedale, 8-0-1, 96 points
2. Byron, 9-0, 93 points
3. Glenrock, 8-1, 85 points
4. Upton, 7-1-1, 73 points
5. Lingle, 7-2, 64 points
6. Mountain View, 7-1-1, 51 points
7. Pine Bluffs, 6-2, 47 points
8. Deaver, 7-1-1, 40 points
9. Moorcroft, 6-3, 38 points
10. Cowley, 5-3-1, 36 points

1969 UPI polls
Class AA-A (taken before state title game)
1. Laramie, 8-0-1, 80 points
2. Worland, 9-0-1, 73 points
3. Torrington, 8-0, 61 points
4. Sheridan, 6-2-1, 53 points
5. Cheyenne East, 6-2-1, 49 points
6. Cheyenne Central, 6-2-1, 42 points
7. Star Valley, 8-1, 41 points
8. Powell, 6-3, 33 points
9. Kelly Walsh, 6-3-1, 31 points
10. Thermopolis, 5-4, 20 points
Class B
1. Cokeville, 8-0, 80 points
2. Lingle, 9-0-1, 73 points
3. Basin, 7-0-1, 64 points
4. Upton, 7-2, 54 points
5. Glenrock, 7-1-1, 52 points
6. Sundance, 8-1, 37 points
7. Pinedale, 5-2-1, 31 points
8. Byron, 7-2, 30 points
9. Pine Bluffs, 8-2, 29 points
10. Glendo, 6-3, 23 points

1968 UPI polls
Class AA-A (taken before state title game)
1. Laramie, 9-1, 36 points
2. Worland, 8-1, 31 points
3. Riverton, 8-1, 30 points
4. Cheyenne Central, 8-1, 23 points
5. Lusk, 6-3, 17 points
6. Powell, 7-1, 14 points
7. Gillette, 9-2, 10 points
8t. Evanston, 7-2, 9 points
8t. Sheridan, 7-3, 9 points
Class B-C
1t. Byron, 9-0, 36 points
1t. Glenrock, 9-0, 36 points
3. Cokeville, 7-1, 34 points
4. Basin, 7-2, 23 points
5. Big Piney 8-1, 20 points
6. Lingle, 8-1, 15 points
7. Sundance, 8-1, 14 points
8t. Goshen Hole, 7-2, 13 points
8t. Burlington, 7-2, 13 points
10. Midwest, 6-2, 8 points

1968 Casper Star-Tribune rankings
Class AA: 1. Laramie; 2. Worland; 3. Riverton; 4. Cheyenne Central; 5. Natrona County.
Class A: 1t. Gillette, Lusk; 3. Evanston; 4. Star Valley; 5. Torrington.
Class B: 1. Glenrock; 2. Sundance; 3t. Goshen Hole, Lingle; 5. Midwest.
Eight-man: 1. Byron; 2. Cokeville; 3. Basin; 4. Burlington; 5t. Big Piney, Pinedale.

1967 UPI polls
Class AA-A
1. Powell (5), 9-0, 68 points
2. Star Valley (3), 10-0, 61 points
3. Cody, 7-2, 53 points
4. Cheyenne Central, 6-4, 42 points
5. Lusk, 8-1, 41 points
6t. Laramie, 7-3, 35 points
6t. Cheyenne East, record unknown, 35 points
8. Natrona County, 6-4, 21 points
9. Sheridan, 6-4, 11 points
10. Gillette, record unknown, 7 points
Class B-C
1. Tongue River (6), 10-0, 60 points
2. Byron, 7-0-1, 47 points
3. Cokeville, 8-0, 42 points
4t. Glenrock, 9-0, 40 points
4t. Basin, 7-2, 40 points
6. Hanna, 8-1, 31 points
7. Mountain View, 7-1, 27 points
8t. Sundance, 6-3, 20 points
8t. Pine Bluffs, 6-3, 20 points
10. Hulett, 5-4, 6 points

1966 UPI polls
Class AA-A
1. Powell, 8-1-1, 94 points
2. Cody, 8-1, 92 points
3. Cheyenne Central, 8-2, 84 points
4. Star Valley, 8-0, 68 points
5. Riverton, 7-1, 56 points
6. Rawlins, 8-2, 54 points
7. Wheatland, 8-1, 36 points
8. Torrington, 7-2, 24 points
9. Kelly Walsh, 6-4, 18 points
10. Worland, 6-3, 10 points
Class B-C
1. Tongue River, 8-1, 98 points
2. Mountain View, 8-0, 88 points
3. Basin, 7-1, 83 points
4. Byron, 7-1, 66 points
5. Glenrock, 8-1, 59 points
6. Big Piney, 5-3, 43 points
7. Cowley, 7-2, 29 points
8. Midwest, 3-4, 18 points
9. Pine Bluffs, 5-4, 16 points
10. Upton, 4-5, 15 points

1965 UPI polls
Class AA-A
1. Cheyenne Central, 9-0-1, 97 points
2. Worland, 9-0, 88 points
3. Laramie, 7-1, 83 points
4. Powell, 8-2, 67 points
5. Star Valley, 8-0-1, 57 points
6. Lander, 5-4, 51 points
7. Cheyenne East, 5-4, 45 points
8. Thermopolis, 5-3-1, 24 points
9. Cody, 4-4-1, 15 points
10t. Riverton, 4-3-2, 10 points
10t. Rock Springs, 4-5, 10 points
Class B
1. Byron, 7-1, 98 points
2. Midwest, 7-1, 84 points
3. Morton, 5-1-1, 73 points
4. Hanna, 51, 70 points
5. Glenrock, 6-2, 54 points
6. Cowley, record unknown, points unknown
7. Mountain View, 6-1, 50 points
8. Saratoga, 52, 24 points
9. Deaver, 6-2, 18 points
10. Tongue River, 7-2, 14 points

1964 UPI poll
Class AA-A (no B-C poll)
1. Laramie, 9-0, 100 points
2. Sheridan, 6-3, 77 points
3. Gillette, 9-0, 75 points
4. Natrona, 8-2, 64 points
5. Evanston, 9-0, 62 points
6. Cody, 7-1, 51 points
7t. Lander, 6-2, 38 points
7t. Cheyenne Central, 6-4, 38 points
9. Cheyenne East, 3-6, 17 points
10. Buffalo, 6-2-1, 14 points

1964 Casper Tribune rankings
Class AA-A
1. Laramie, 9-0
2. Gillette, 9-0
3. Sheridan, 5-3
4. Natrona, 7-2
5. Lander, 6-2
6. Evanston, 9-0
7. Cody, 7-1
8. Cheyenne Central, 5-4
9. Lusk, 5-2
10. Buffalo, 6-2-1
Class B-C
1. Byron, 7-1
2. Glenrock, 7-1-1
3. Huntley, 6-2
4. Morton, 6-2
5. Mountain View, 6-0-1
6. Pavillion, 6-1-1
7. Tongue River, NA
8. Upton, 6-4
9. Deaver, 6-2
10. Lingle, 5-2-2

1963 UPI poll
Class AA-A (no B-C poll)
1. Natrona, 9-0, 99 points
2. Riverton, 8-0-1 75 points
3. Laramie, 7-2, 69 points
4. Lander, 7-1-1, 60 points
5. Cheyenne Central, 6-2, 59 points
6. Green River, 10-0, 54 points
7. Cheyenne East, 5-4, 47 points
8. Lusk, 9-0-1, 30 points
9. Rock Springs, 4-3-1, 21 points
10. Torrington, 4-5, 9 points

1963 Casper Tribune rankings
Class AA-A (no B-C rankings)
1. Natrona, 9-0
2. Green River, 10-0
3. Laramie, 7-2
4. Riverton, 8-0-1
5. Lander, 7-1-1
6. Cheyenne Central, 7-2
7. Lusk, 8-0-1
8. Cheyenne East, 5-5
9. Star Valley, 5-4-1
10. Rock Springs, 3-3-2

1962 AP poll
Class AA-A (no B-C poll)
1. Laramie, 9-0, 97 points
2. Greybull, 8-0, 91 points
3. Natrona, 7-1-1, 73 points
4. Star Valley, 9-0, 71 points
5. Lusk, 9-0, 51 points
6. Powell, 5-4, 42 points
7. Sheridan, 5-4-1, 36 points
8. Riverton, 6-3-1, 32 points
9. Thermopolis, 6-3, 20 points
10. Cheyenne East, 4-5, 16 points

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Three preseason Wyoming football rankings are now out: the Massey Ratings (via highschoolsports.net), the Maxpreps.com ratings and the Wyopreps.com coaches and media poll. Massey and Maxpreps use computers to rank their teams regardless of classification, while Wyopreps uses votes from coaches and media (including me) to put together a top five in each class.

The Cliff Notes version: Both Massey and Maxpreps have Douglas in the top spot. Massey has Sheridan, Glenrock, Cheyenne Central and Gillette (in that order) rounding out the top five, while Maxpreps has Sheridan, Gillette, Thermopolis and Cheyenne Central in spots 2-5, respectively.

The top five in each 11-man class, in order, from Massey:

4A: Sheridan, Cheyenne Central, Gillette, Kelly Walsh, Green River
3A: Douglas, Buffalo, Cody, Lander, Worland
2A: Glenrock, Thermopolis, Kemmerer, Big Horn, Greybull
1A 11-man: Southeast, Lingle, Cokeville, Lusk, Wind River

Now the same from Maxpreps:

4A: Sheridan, Gillette, Cheyenne Central, Kelly Walsh, Green River
3A: Douglas, Buffalo, Cody, Worland, Torrington
2A: Thermopolis, Glenrock, Greybull, Kemmerer, Big Horn
1A 11-man: Southeast, Lingle, Cokeville, Wind River, Lusk

Obviously, last year’s final finishes have a lot to do with where a team starts ranked in the preseason, especially when a computer is involved. The humans involved in the Wyopreps poll had this to say:

4A: Natrona, Sheridan, Cheyenne East, Gillette, Cheyenne Central
3A: Douglas, Buffalo, Cody, Star Valley, Powell
2A: Thermopolis, Glenrock, Greybull, Big Horn, Kemmerer
1A 11-man: Southeast and Cokeville (tie), Lusk, Lingle, Wind River
1A six-man: Kaycee, Guernsey, Hanna, Midwest, Ten Sleep

Of course, I already made my choices.

Granted, these preseason rankings don’t mean much. They’re either based too much in the past (most computer rankings) or based too much in speculation (most human rankings). But these rankings are also part of what makes it so much fun to actually strap on the pads and prove just how good your team really is. That’s why I get a kick out of these rankings — they’re fun to talk about because we haven’t actually had anyone put their hands in the dirt just yet and truly figure out who is the best.

Can’t wait for Aug. 27! Fewer than 10 days now until that first whistle sounds….

–patrick

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No need for superfluous introductions: Here are some predictions for the 2010 football season.

Class 4A

The overview: It’s not very often that two teams that finished with four combined victories the previous season are the odds-on favorites. But that’s the case this year with Natrona and East. The Mustangs were 2-8 last year and the Thunderbirds 2-7, but both teams relied heavily on underclass players to fill key roles on the varsity. That means this year, seemingly everyone is picking one of these two teams as a preseason Cinderella. And what a fairy-tale story it would be if these two teams could end up playing each other in Laramie in November.

But let’s slow down. There are eight other teams in this classification, including defending champ Sheridan, defending runner-up Central, fast-rising Kelly Walsh, scary Green River and always tough Gillette. Those are teams that finished with winning records last season, and while all five lost some talented players, all five also have enough talent returning to give any team a fight.

The picks: Right now, Cinderella is too pretty to ignore. You can’t deny that, on paper, Natrona and East have the most talented teams. Remember, East beat Central in the Capital Bowl last year, and Natrona lost six of its eight games by seven points or less. Despite the final records, these two teams were close to the top teams in the classification. Look for one of these two teams to turn it all around and win the title in November — and look for the other to come up a few points short. For now, I like East with its dangerous aerial combination of QB Trevon Hinker and WR Jeremiah Hunter.

The wyoming-football.com preseason top five: 1. East; 2. Natrona; 3. Central; 4. Gillette; 5. Sheridan.

Class 3A

The overview: In a word: Douglas. Winners of state titles in 2008 and 2009, the Bearcats are loaded again for 2010. Everyone else is chasing them. That’s really all you need to know. (Although 3A gets all kinds of fun after that, as Buffalo, Cody, Star Valley, Powell, Wheatland and Worland all appear to have the ability to be the team to face Douglas in Laramie in November.)

The picks: With the tradition behind them and the talent in the locker room, Douglas has to be the favorite in 3A. Behind them, teams are lining up for their chance. That’s the tough part about being on top — everyone is gunning for you every time you step on the field. Of course, the Bearcats have taken everyone’s best shot for the past 20 games and haven’t lost yet…. So the question now becomes who Douglas will play in the title game. In August, I can’t help but look to Buffalo; the Bison have some tradition, too, and some talented players return from last year’s semifinal team.

The wyoming-football.com preseason top five: 1. Douglas; 2. Buffalo; 3. Cody; 4. Star Valley; 5. Powell.

Class 2A

The overview: For the first time since 1999, a team not named “Big Piney,” “Glenrock” or “Kemmerer” won the state’s third division, as Thermopolis basically came out of nowhere with a wide-open offense (well, as wide open as you can be in 2A) and an underrated but incredibly tough defense to win it all. This year, Thermopolis has its QB back in Mitch Syverson, which helps give the Bobcats an early edge in what is — for the first time in years — a wide-open classification.

That’s not to say that the Bobcats will just walk down to Laramie and win it all again. Thermopolis lost a ton of talented players and needs some of last year’s reserves to step up quickly. If they don’t, several teams — including Greybull, Glenrock and Big Horn — have the capability to knock them off and be this year’s out-of-nowhere team.

The picks: This isn’t as easy as it used to be. For the past few years, all I’ve had to do here is say “Kemmerer vs. Glenrock,” and chances are that I’d be pretty safe. Actually, that’s not a bad pick this year, either, but it’s no certainty, either. I think Thermopolis and Greybull have, on paper, the most talent. I think Glenrock is always tough and always seems to find players to fit its unique offense. I think Big Horn could be incredibly tough to stop. I think Kemmerer is being overlooked. I think Big Piney, Lovell and Wright are all worthy of preseason mention. I think I don’t know who to pick….

For now, let’s say Thermopolis vs. Greybull in the title game. Just let me adjust my picks every week between now and then.

The wyoming-football.com preseason top five: 1. Thermopolis; 2. Greybull; 3. Glenrock; 4. Big Horn; 5. Kemmerer.

Class 1A 11-man

The overview: You can’t mention this division without mentioning Southeast. The Cyclones have won four consecutive state championships. But, man, oh, man, will they have a tough time making it five. Cokeville, Lusk and Lingle will make sure of that.

If the boys from Yoder want to make it five straight, they will need to put together their best effort to do so, as this classification is STACKED on the top side. Cokeville has some amazing talent coming back. Lusk has been pointing to 2010 for a long time and is poised for a playoff breakthrough. Lingle has some solid returners on both sides of the ball and now has experience and confidence going for it, too.

The picks: My goodness, the playoffs are going to be fun. For now, I think Cokeville — on paper — has 1A’s most talent, including RB Chance Maddock. I think Southeast has earned the title of perennial favorite. For now, I’ll go with those two teams. But, wow, Lusk and Lingle… how can you NOT like either of those teams to win it all, as well? I can’t wait for the first weekend in November and the semifinals.

The wyoming-football.com preseason top five: 1. Cokeville; 2. Southeast; 3. Lusk; 4. Lingle; 5. Ummm….. Burlington? Why not.

Class 1A six-man

The overview: No team will dominate the division the way Guernsey did last fall — and that’s a good thing. Teams like Ten Sleep, Midwest, Kaycee and Hanna all have to be considered in the preseason discussion. As the playoffs proved last year, six-man is anything but predictable, especially with the wide-open play and the loads of talent that seemingly each team carries. With the division moving to a one-conference format for playoff seeding this year, every game in weeks 1-7 will be a conference game, so that should create some interesting matchups in the postseason.

The picks: Although you have to respect Guernsey and what the Vikings accomplished last fall, I also think you have to realize that this division is no longer a one-team show. Kaycee and Ten Sleep, especially, have the talent and athleticism to make a run at the title this fall. I think this classification is the least predictable of them all, as teams are still working to establish their identities, but I also think that makes it fun. Right now, I’ll lean toward another Guernsey-Kaycee title game, with Kaycee winning it this time thanks to an athletic group led by back Shawn Straub.

But don’t be surprised to see some other teams step up and challenge that. And don’t be surprised if the team that wins it all come November has two or three losses along the way. I think there’s that much parity at the top.

The wyoming-football.com preseason top five: 1. Kaycee; 2. Guernsey; 3. Ten Sleep; 4. Hanna; 5. Midwest.

So, what do you think? Which teams will still be standing in November? Who are some of the top players? Which teams have the ability to come out of nowhere and win a title? Which favorites will capitalize on their expectations? Leave a comment below and let’s get this discussion started!

–patrick

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Although they were posted a few weeks ago by the WHSAA, I have yet to mention the 2010 football schedules. There wasn’t much drama involved in them this year — for the most part, the 2009 schedule was simply flipped into the 2010 schedule, with only the locations of the games changing — so I didn’t really talk about them much when they came out. But now that we’re more than a month removed from the 2009 championships (and now that I’ve posted the update here!), I think we can officially start looking forward.

Here’s a little breakdown of each team’s 2010 season schedule outlook with a link to the full schedules:

4A Schedules

Gillette: One of the early favorites in 4A. The tough part of the season might come at the end. Road games at Sheridan and Natrona will probably be key for playoff seeds, but the Camels get Central, Kelly Walsh and Green River at home in the final four weeks of the season.
Central: Central has to replace a ton of seniors, and the Indians will be tested early. At Natrona to start, home against an improved Rock Springs teams, then at Evanston and at Laramie. Surviving that will be important.
East: Could be the turnaround story of ’10 and should be one of the early favorites. The schedule sets up favorably, too, but road games against Sheridan and Gillette the first two weeks will test the Thunderbirds’ mettle.
Evanston: A big question mark, the Red Devils still have a lot of rebuilding to do. Having Gillette, Natrona, Central and Green River the first four weeks will either be empowering or will be too much to overcome.
Green River: Will be underrated next season but should return enough talent to stay competitive. The Wolves look like they have a really balanced schedule, which helps, but starting with two road games the first two weeks (East and Kelly Walsh) won’t help.
Kelly Walsh: I’m thinking KW could be decent next fall, and the schedule shapes up beautifully. The rematch with Sheridan comes right off the bat (this time in Casper), which will help the team move past the loss. The only stumbling blocks appear to be road games with East and Gillette — and the Oil Bowl.
Laramie: It’s tough to get a read on the Plainsmen, who have to replace a ton of backfield talent. Unfortunately for Laramie, they’ll get some big tests the first four weeks: at Rock Springs, home against Gillette, at Natrona, home against Central. Survive that stretch, and Laramie will be dangerous.
Natrona: If the Mustangs find ways to win close games, they’ll be really good. The schedule appears to be bottom heavy, which might actually play into NC’s favor. Season ends with four toughies: at East, home against Gillette and Rock Springs, then at Sheridan.
Rock Springs: I’ve got high expectations for the Tigers. Weeks 2-7 (home vs. Gillette, at Sheridan, home vs. Kelly Walsh, at Green River in the Trona Bowl, home vs. East, then at Natrona) will be a grind, but it’ll also be a great way for a young team to prove itself.
Sheridan: Defending champs have a LOT of holes to fill and probably won’t start ’10 as the favorites. KW, East and Green River right off the bat will help the Broncs gauge where they’re at right away.

Half-educated made in December top 5 picks for 2010: 1. Gillette; 2. East; 3. Natrona; 4. Kelly Walsh; 5. Sheridan.

3A Schedules

Buffalo: Few schools consider a semifinal appearance a down year, but that’s how it is for the Bison, who have work to do but will start from a solid base of returners. Having its toughest three conference games (Douglas, Riverton, Torrington) on the road won’t help.
Cody: Could be a dangerous team if the pieces come together. The schedule shapes up well, too, with three home conference games, but drawing Star Valley and Worland for the road games will make it tough to go unbeaten in league play.
Douglas: The domination the Bearcats exhibited in 2009 makes them the early 2010 favorites. Back-to-back road trips to Jackson and Star Valley (the only change in the 3A schedule) in Weeks 2-3 will be a good early test. Douglas also gets Buffalo and Riverton at home.
Jackson: In a word: rebuilding. In two words: still rebuilding. On the plus side, the Broncs get their final two conference games, games that could be crucial to playoff seeding (or qualifying), at home, with Worland and Star Valley making the visits to Teton County in Weeks 7 and 8.
Lander: To steal a line from Dethklok, possibly awesome, possibly horrible. They’ll get to know the Bighorn Basin well, with trips to Worland, Powell AND Cody, which might be a good test but could also steal some of the Tigers’ thunder.
Powell: Should be better than they were in ’09 — and shouldn’t crater like the ’09 team. Then again… back-to-back road games against Worland and Cody in Weeks 6 and 7, plus a tough non-conference schedule, will make it tough on the Panthers.
Rawlins: Nowhere to go but up. The Outlaws’ schedule fits into that “tough but it could be worse” mold, but Rawlins definitely got the short end of the stick by being forced to finish the regular season with road games at Wheatland and Buffalo in Weeks 7 and 8.
Riverton: The Wolverines? No clue. Should be decent, could be bad. I don’t know. Rough non-conference schedule, and draw both Douglas and Torrington for road games, but get Buffalo at home.
Star Valley: Got high hopes for the Braves, who should be among 3A’s best. The schedule shapes up decent, too, as the Braves draw both of last year’s championship game participants (Cody and Douglas) to Afton. Two road games to end the conference slate (Lander and Jackson) isn’t exactly the funnest way to end the regular season, though.
Torrington: The Trailblazers should have more balance, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. As for the schedule, the start (at Chadron, Neb., then at Worland) and the end (at Douglas) don’t look fun, but the rest looks manageable.
Wheatland: Under the radar, the Bulldogs could be a dangerous team in 2010. They’ll have to learn to win on the road, though, as they draw three tough conference games (Buffalo, Riverton and Torrington) away from Platte County.
Worland: A rebuilding team draws a decent schedule. Manageable, but no cakewalk, especially with road games against Buffalo, Wheatland and Star Valley in the first four weeks of the season.

Half-educated made in December top 5 picks for 2010: 1. Douglas; 2. Star Valley; 3. Cody; 4. Buffalo; 5. Powell.

2A Schedules

Big Horn: Write it down: The Rams will be a breakthrough team in 2010. Big Horn gets both Glenrock and Thermopolis at home in Weeks 4-5, and if the Rams can win both of those, watch the —- out. The road games are winnable, and matching up with Greybull at Greybull in Week 1 will be a great start.
Big Piney: For the Punchers, who could be a tough team to beat, they’ll have to prove their worth in the second half of the season. They draw road games against Kemmerer, Pinedale and Lovell in Weeks 5, 6 and 8 respectively, all sandwiching a heckuva tough home game versus Greybull in Week 7.
Burns: Wow. The Broncs couldn’t do much worse than this. Three of their four conference road games come against Big Horn, Glenrock and Thermopolis. Good luck with that, Burns. Road warriors, you must become.
Glenrock: Perennial contenders, the Herders have to get good fast, as they get Kemmerer, Thermopolis and Big Horn in Weeks 1, 3 and 4. A soft second half of the season, including drawing an improving Wright team at home, won’t help Glenrock prepare for the playoffs, either.
Greybull: The early favorites to win the West in 2010 have their toughest stretch in the second half of the season, as road games with Lovell in Week 5 and Big Piney in Week 7 sandwich a home game against always-tough Kemmerer in Week 6. Drawing Big Horn out of the gate in Week 1 will be a fun test, too.
Kemmerer: Rangers need to rebuild a bit but should still be in the hunt. The schedule looks balanced, although the games do appear to get tougher toward the second half of the season, and the big showdown with Greybull is a road game.
Lovell: The Bulldogs should again be pretty good, in part thanks to a decent, balanced schedule. The final two weeks — at Kemmerer in Week 7 and at home against Big Piney in Week 8 — will be crucial for playoff qualifying/seeding, so being on point for those will be key.
Lyman: The Eagle rebuilding project gets tested early and often in 2010. Lyman’s first four opponents are Thermopolis, Kemmerer, Lovell and Big Piney. Whew. If nothing else, Lyman will figure out quickly where it stands and how much improvement it still needs to make.
Moorcroft: A crash-and-burn finish to ’09 might be repeated in ’10, especially with how the schedule shapes up. The Wolves have it kinda easy early but draw Big Horn, Wright and Glenrock in the final three weeks of the season.
Mountain View: Work to do in the Bridger Valley, and with a schedule that starts with Cokeville, Greybull, Big Piney and Lovell (with only Greybull at home), that work will be put to the test early. Fortunately, the showdown with Kemmerer waits until Week 8. How nice.
Newcastle: There just aren’t any soft spots for the young Dogies in 2010. However, with home games against Wright and Glenrock in Weeks 4 and 5 respectively, Newcastle is at least in the position to KO some unsuspecting teams and draw a little momentum for a late run.
Pinedale: The upside for the struggling Wranglers comes in the schedule in that most of the toughest games are at home. Kemmerer, Greybull and Big Piney all have to come to Pinedale — and it’s always easier to pull off upsets at home.
Thermopolis: The defending champs, and the early favorites to win it all in ’10, drew a decent-but-it-coulda-been-easier schedule…. The two games that will arguably be toughest, Glenrock in Week 3 and Big Horn in Week 5, are both on the road.
Tongue River: Rebuilding continues in Dayton, where, aside from a home game against Glenrock to kick off the conference season in Week 2, the tough side of the schedule comes at the end. The Thunder Bowl with Big Horn is Week 7, and a road game at defending champ Thermopolis comes in Week 8.
Wright: Could be the breakthrough team in 2A this year, but have the misfortune of sharing a conference with Thermop, Glenrock and Big Horn….. and Wright draws both the defending champ and the runner up on the road in Weeks 2 and 6. Big Horn does come to Wright in Week 3, though.
Wyoming Indian: The Chiefs caught no favors to start league play. After opening with Big Piney at home in Week 2, the Chiefs go to Greybull in Week 3, then to Kemmerer in Week 4…. Survive that stretch without a ton of injuries, and Wyoming Indian has a chance.

Half-educated made in December top 5 picks for 2010: 1. Thermopolis; 2. Greybull; 3. Glenrock; 4. Kemmerer; 5. Big Horn.

1A 11-man Schedules

Burlington: The best team to not make the playoffs last year, the Huskies could be decent. The three toughest games of the season might come at the end, though, as the Huskies sandwich home games against Wind River in Week 6 and Cokeville in Week 8 with a trip to Byron to face Rocky Mountain in Week 7.
Cokeville: Could be the best of the bunch of 1A come 2010. The only trouble is that three of the toughest conference games are all road games: Riverside in Week 2, Wind River in Week 7 and Burlington in Week 8. It’s a tough schedule, but Cokeville is used to the long road trips and shouldn’t be fazed.
Dubois: No soft spots on the Rams’ schedule next fall, and the games against semifinalists Wind River (Week 3) and Cokeville (Week 6) are both road games. Dubois does draw some other key games at home, though: Rocky, Burlington, Riverside and Shoshoni all make the trip to Dubois.
Hulett: The Red Devils were senior-laden and have a lot of rebuilding to do. On the plus side, all the long trips to the southeast corner aren’t happening in 2010 as Pine Bluffs, Lingle and Southeast all have to come to Hulett. That’ll definitely help Hulett keep its legs.
Lingle: Lost a lot of talent but should still be strong next season. The Doggers get to face both Lusk and Southeast at home this season, so that should help them as they try to set the pace out East.
Lusk: It looks more and more like Lusk could break out in 2010, and we’ll know early in the season if that’s the case. Southeast comes to Lusk in Week 3, while the Tigers go to Lingle in Week 4, and Lusk could win both; everything outside that two-week stretch looks more than winnable.
Normative Services: The Wolves have plenty of work to do, but at least they’ll get to do a bunch of it closer to home this year. The long road trips to Lusk and Pine Bluffs are now home games, but the hellish stretch of Weeks 5-7 (Southeast, Lingle and Lusk in that order) still exists.
Pine Bluffs: The Hornets have potential, and if it wasn’t for a two-week stretch at the season’s midpoint, I’d be high on Pine Bluffs. As it is, road games in Weeks 4-5 against Southeast and Lusk respectively looks like a tough sore spot to overcome….
Riverside: To be honest, I’m not quite sure which direction the Rebels are headed. Even so, the conference schedule is bookended by a pair of key home games, vs. Cokeville in Week 2 and vs. Wind River in Week 8. In between are a bunch of winnable games.
Rocky Mountain: Not sure why, but I feel good about the Grizzlies next fall. They’ll need to make their hay early, though: three of the Grizzlies’ last four games are on the road, including LONG trips to Cokeville and Saratoga.
Saratoga: Another team that I can’t quite feel out yet… But the schedule doesn’t shape up very well. The Panthers start at home against Lingle, then have road trips to Burlington and Cokeville to start 1A West Conference play. Starting with those three games will certainly give Saratoga a test early.
Shoshoni: For a team that went winless in 2009, there’s nowhere to go but up. Unfortunately, the schedule provides no reprieve, as the Wranglers face six teams in the first six weeks that finished at .500 or better: Pine Bluffs, Wind River, Burlington, Cokeville, Riverside and Rocky Mountain, in that order.
Southeast: Five straight? Why not? Southeast has enough coming back to make it possible. The schedule, especially in conference, will be a test, though, as the first two and two of the last three league games for the Cyclones are on the road.
Sundance: The Bulldogs should be an improved team in 2010, but the schedule will test that improvement, especially on the road. Sundance has to go to Lusk, Pine Bluffs and Lingle (including Lusk and Lingle back to back in Weeks 5-6), three long trips to face three teams that were playoff qualifiers in 2009.
Upton: Improving on last year’s 2-6 record will take some work. The back end of the schedule does not shape up well for the Bobcats, either, who travel to Pine Bluffs and Southeast in back-to-back weeks, then face Lusk at home in the regular-season finale.
Wind River: The Cougars lose a bunch of talented seniors but should have enough back to stay in the thick of things. The schedule is definitely tougher in the second half than in the first, though, and WR has to make three tough trips into the Bighorn Basin (Riverside, Rocky Mountain and Burlington).

Half-educated made in December top 5 picks for 2010: 1. Cokeville; 2. Lusk; 3. Southeast; 4. Lingle; 5. Wind River.

1A 6-man schedules

(The six-man schedules see the most change in 2010, as Fort Washakie/the bye week is removed and a whole new schedule was developed. Each team will play a seven-game regular season, with a bye week in Week 8 before the playoffs.)
Farson: With a year under their belts, the Pronghorns should be more competitive next fall and should pull off a couple victories. Their best chances come early, with Meeteetse at home in Week 1 followed by road dates at Hanna and Snake River. But Farson only has three home games.
Guernsey: As reward for winning the state championships, the Vikings get maybe the kindest schedule in the division. Guernsey gets four of its first five games at home, but has to travel to Ten Sleep and Kaycee to close the season in Weeks 6-7, which will be tough.
Hanna: Five of the seven weeks of the 2010 season shape up really well for the Miners, who should be among the division’s best despite losing some talented players. The two not-so-fun weeks? Weeks 3-4, when the Miners have back-to-back road games against ’09 runner-up Kaycee and champ Guernsey.
Kaycee: Another year on the gridiron, plus a bunch of talent coming back, could put Kaycee right back in the championship game in 2010. The Buckaroos didn’t draw a great schedule with only three home games and with three of the first four on the road, but the entire season is manageable.
Snake River: The Rattlers draw a pretty balanced schedule and with more experience should be able to take advantage of it. Snake River is the only six-man team that gets a home-road alternating schedule all season, and they got a good mix of what’s at home and what’s not.
Meeteetse: The Longhorns have some work to do before they can challenge six-man’s top teams, and the 2010 schedule doesn’t shape up too well. There are only three home games, but on the plus side, the Longhorns get some of their toughest competition at home (Guernsey, Hanna and Snake River).
Midwest: With a decent number of returners, the Oilers should be good again this fall, but they’ll get tested right away. Midwest gets a road date with Guernsey and a home matchup with Kaycee the first two weeks of the season. After that, the rest of the schedule is tolerable.
Ten Sleep: Numbers are always the concern for Ten Sleep, but for 2010 the schedule is interesting, too. The Pioneers have early road games against Hanna and Midwest but get both Kaycee and Guernsey at home late in the season.

Half-educated made in December top 5 picks for 2010: 1. Guernsey; 2. Kaycee; 3. Midwest; 4. Ten Sleep; 5. Hanna.

So there it is, your first glance at the 2010 season. What do you think — either about how the schedules break down or who might rise to the top next season? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Post a comment below and we’ll talk about it.

Looking forward to 2010….

–patrick

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