Sheridan, Laramie both bid for football championships (Casper Star-Tribune).
In sum, Sheridan has submitted a bid to host the football championships in 2011 and 2012. Laramie’s bid is to host in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The WHSAA can accept one bid or the other, or reject both and go back to having title games at host sites.
–patrick
Quality, not quantity, has often been Cokeville’s calling card.
Only 18 players in uniform? No problem — if those 18 are quality 18.
Only two pass completions in a game? No problem — if those two completions are important.
Seven years without a championship? No problem — because, now, that’s where the streak stops.
And for the Panthers, their 18th state football championship was proof that it’s truly quality that counts.
With more players on the field than on the bench, the Panthers ran over, around and through the Lusk Tigers. Maybe even more critically, the Panthers stopped the Tigers from doing the same to them.
The effort on both offense and defense was exactly what Cokeville needed to break its long championship drought. Well, long for Cokeville. The Panthers had won 17 championships since 1978, but the Panthers had not hoisted the championship trophy since 2003 — an eternity in Cokeville. “Too long,” according to Cokeville coach Todd Dayton.
The mix of consistent offense and overpowering defense was too much for Lusk. It was too much for all of the Panthers’ opponents this season, actually.
The reward is a championship “too long” in the making.
Second mad props to Thermopolis, which blasted any memories of their regular-season meeting with Big Horn — a 42-7 loss — by beating the Rams 13-9 in the Laramie rematch. It’s the Bobcats’ second consecutive championship, and it came courtesy of just enough offense and a whole lot of defense.
The Rams kept threatening to break the game open, but instead had to settle for three Colby Wollenman field goals. But while the field goals gave the Rams the lead, they alone were not enough to keep that lead secure. And Thermopolis took advantage of the crack in the door and on their last drive, a 16-play, 75-yard drive that took almost six minutes to complete.
The difference is that Thermopolis completed the drive. Big Horn couldn’t do that all day long. Thermopolis only did twice, but that was enough to earn another championship trophy.
As for the other three teams to earn state championships this weekend in Laramie — Douglas, Natrona and Snake River — they all demonstrated exactly why their programs were the ones that each team in their respective classifications were trying to emulate all fall.
Douglas won its 31st consecutive game and third consecutive state title by rallying from an early 14-0 deficit to beat rival Buffalo 26-14. The Bearcats were calm and efficient even after falling behind early, and the defense put the clamps down hard on the Bison offense after giving up the two quick scores early. Field position came up big for the Bearcats’ two third-quarter scores, and from there the Bearcats just did what they had to do, what they always do, what is becoming tradition in Converse County.
Natrona capped the weekend of games by breaking open a tight game with Sheridan, scoring the game’s final 20 points in a 34-14 victory. What stuck out to me most in this game was Natrona’s third score, the one that broke the 14-14 tie. The Broncs had just made a long drive down the field and capped it with a touchdown. Then, on the first play from scrimmage on the Mustangs’ subsequent drive, Cole Montgomery found a seam in the pass defense, hauled in a pass from Jimmy Shellenberger and raced almost 70 yards. You could just see Sheridan sag after that; they had done all that work to get into a tie game, and then in one play the orange wave destroyed all that work. The game from that point on was all Mustangs.
And let’s not forget Snake River. The Rattlers capped an undefeated season by bowling over county rival Hanna 67-12 with surprising efficiency. After poking and prodding the Miners for the game’s first 10 minutes, the Rattlers exploded in the second and third quarters, scoring 49 points in those 20 minutes. Even in the world of six-man football, that sort of explosion just is not what you expect to see in a championship game. Hanna definitely didn’t expect it…. especially since the first game between these two teams was only decided by 16 points (50-34). The title game was different, though, and because of that efficiency, the Rattlers wrapped up their first state football championship in just the second year of the program’s resurrection.
So what were your favorite moments of the weekend? Or of this season? Post some of your thoughts below as we put the cap on the 2010 season.
This week: 3-2 (60 percent). This season: 241-54 (82 percent — my best in six years!). Six-year total: 1,342-398 (77 percent)
–patrick
With Natrona and Sheridan facing off for the 4A title, I figured it would be appropriate that the trivia for this game would look back at the last time these two teams played each other for the title — 1996.
That year, Natrona beat Sheridan 7-0. The only score of the game came in the second quarter on a pass from one Natrona player to another. Can you tell me who scored Natrona’s touchdown? And, for a bonus point, can you tell me who threw the pass?
Guesses as comments, hints, etc., you know how this is done by now…
–patrick
Cokeville and Lusk are squaring off for the 1A 11-man championship, so that must mean it’s time for some more trivia! Let’s stay on coaches.
OK, so if you follow the site at all, you know that Cokeville coach Todd Dayton is the winningest coach in Wyoming football history, with 252 victories entering today’s title game. My question: Which coach, since 1933, has piled up more LOSSES than any other coach in state history?
Post guesses as comments; each wrong guess earns a hint.
–patrick
With Big Horn and Thermopolis facing off in about an hour and a half for the 2A championship, I’m ready to pose another trivia question… and this one is about the Rams’ history.
The Big Horn football program started in 1939 with Lee Straley as the coach. Straley coach the Rams in their first three seasons, but in 1942, Marvin Nottingham was named the program’s mentor. But there’s something unique about Nottingham. So I want you to fill in the blank for me: Marvin Nottingham is the only coach in Wyoming history to _____________________.
Post your guesses as comments below. For every wrong answer, I give a hint. Good luck….
–patrick
OK, with Buffalo and Douglas playing right now… trivia time! Back in 2008, these two teams played for the title as well, and in that game — won by Douglas 34-21 — a certain Douglas player scored three touchdowns. Who was that player?
Post your guesses here…
–patrick
To keep you entertained while the football games keep ME entertained, I will be all over War Memorial Stadium this weekend. I’ll be joining the blog with my old employers at trib.com, so if you get a chance, stop by the live chat and say hi.
As for THIS blog, well… it’s trivia time. I’ll post one trivia question per game; winner(s) get bragging rights. Post your answers as comments to this post; for every wrong guess, I give a hint.
We’re about an hour and 45 minutes away from our first championship game of the weekend, the six-man title game between Hanna and Snake River. Both teams are from Carbon County, marking the fifth championship game in state history that has pitted two teams from the same county. My question: Name the other four games — the year, the classification and the two teams that played each other.
Let the guessing begin.
–patrick
The second weekend in November is almost here. That means five football games in Laramie. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready. Let’s take a quick look at this weekend’s matchups:
Class 4A
Natrona (10-1) vs. Sheridan (9-2)
Any previous meetings? Sheridan beat Natrona 18-17 on Oct. 22 in Sheridan.
Any common opponents? Of course. This is 4A. Eight. Central (Natrona beat 31-9; Sheridan lost 28-21); East (Natrona beat 53-3; Sheridan beat 46-20 and 46-12); Evanston (Natrona beat 34-10; Sheridan beat 45-23); Gillette (Natrona beat 47-32 and 30-10; Sheridan lost 27-24, OT); Green River (Natrona beat 51-12 and 45-0; Sheridan beat 10-7); Kelly Walsh (Natrona beat 45-0; Sheridan beat 35-0 and 10-3); Laramie (Natrona beat 52-0; Sheridan beat 35-0); Rock Springs (Natrona beat 43-14; Sheridan beat 15-6).
Recently? Since losing to Sheridan in the regular-season finale for its only loss of the season, Natrona has thumped Green River (45-0) and Gillette (30-10) in the playoffs to earn the rematch. … Sheridan has won three in a row since losing to Central in Cheyenne in Week 7, beating Natrona by one, then struggling past Kelly Walsh in the first round before blasting East in the semis.
The pick? Natrona. The Mustangs’ loss to Sheridan earlier in the season was in part due to the loss of quarterback Jim Shellenberger to an arm injury. Shellenberger is back now, and so should be the Mustangs.
Why I could be wrong: Because Sheridan has already beaten Natrona and won’t be intimidated. Also, in case you forgot, it’s Sheridan that is the defending state champion — the Broncs are the only team in 4A that has had the experience of going to The War and winning a state title.
Kickoff: 4 p.m. Saturday.
Class 3A
Buffalo (9-1) vs. Douglas (10-0)
Any previous meetings? Douglas beat Buffalo 22-7 on Sept. 24 in Douglas.
Any common opponents? They play in the same conference, so yes. Four. Riverton (Buffalo beat 49-22; Douglas beat 27-9 and 23-2); Wheatland (Buffalo beat 63-7; Douglas beat 21-13); Torrington (Buffalo beat 60-10; Douglas beat 45-8); Rawlins (Buffalo beat 68-0; Douglas beat 64-0).
Recently? Since losing to Douglas in September, the Bison are 6-0 and have beaten their opponents by a combined 315-67. … Douglas is unbeaten and has relied on its defense to win some close games (the 22-7 win over Buffalo; 27-9 and 23-2 wins over Riverton and 21-13 over Wheatland).
The pick? Douglas. The Bearcats have won 30 games and two state championships in a row for a reason — and let’s not forget that Douglas handled Buffalo with workmanlike precision in their meeting earlier this season.
Why I could be wrong: Because Buffalo has been straight up thumping on teams since losing to Douglas. The Bison have been downright scary for the rest of the classification. And because the Bison come in off the emotional high of winning an overtime playoff game the week before. Big mo is definitely being kind to the Bison right now.
Kickoff: 3 p.m. Friday.
Class 2A
Thermopolis (10-1) vs. Big Horn (10-0)
Any previous meetings? Big Horn beat Thermopolis 42-7 on Oct. 1 in Sheridan.
Any common opponents? Again, as conference foes, yes. Six. Burns (Big Horn beat 45-14; Thermopolis beat 55-20); Glenrock (Big Horn beat 46-0; Thermopolis beat 42-16); Moorcroft (Big Horn beat 58-6; Thermopolis beat 42-14); Newcastle (Big Horn beat 35-13; Thermopolis beat 47-34); Tongue River (Big Horn beat 37-8; Thermopolis beat 42-17); Wright (Big Horn beat 32-6; Thermopolis beat 53-13).
Recently? Big Horn has been scary consistent on its way to 10 consecutive victories, scoring 43 points per game, and have put up two easy-only-in-the-eyes-of-the-final-score victories in the playoffs, 62-6 on Big Piney and 37-7 on Greybull. … Thermopolis, since its lone loss, has been on a similar offensive tear, scoring 236 points in its past five games — an average of 47 per game.
The pick? Big Horn, and for one reason: defense. The Rams’ offense gets the attention, but the defense hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in any game this season and has allowed only 81 points this year. Thermopolis, conversely, has allowed 208 points in its 11 games this year.
Why I could be wrong: Offense is a scary thing, and both teams have it. This could turn into a shootout, and the Bobcats know how to win shootouts.
Kickoff: 10 a.m. Saturday.
Class 1A 11-man
Lusk (9-0) vs. Cokeville (10-0)
Any previous meetings? Only once — and that was in 1994.
Any common opponents? Two. Southeast (Lusk beat 46-6; Cokeville beat 24-7); Pine Bluffs (Lusk beat 52-7; Cokeville beat 49-0).
Recently? Cokeville has been destroying teams but finally got tested last week against Southeast — one of two games for the Panthers this year that was decided by fewer than 40 points. Lusk, meanwhile, hasn’t been in a close game since beating 2A playoff qualifier Burns 26-20 in Week 1.
The pick? Lusk, and the only reason I’m picking one team over the other is because I have to. These two teams look incredibly evenly matched, but I give the edge to the Tigers because of their dominating performance in the playoffs thus far (113-15 scoring advantage).
Why I could be wrong: Because Cokeville is no slouch. The Panthers’ defense has given up just 33 points this season — never more than eight points in any one game — and know what it takes to win. (By the way, combined this season, Lusk and Cokeville have outscored their opponents 894-93. That is unreal. These two teams have obviously been the two best teams in the classification this fall and it’s only fitting they get to play each other in the title game.)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday.
Class 1A six-man
Hanna (7-2) vs. Snake River (9-0)
Any previous meetings? Snake River beat Hanna 50-34 on Oct. 8 in Hanna.
Any common opponents? Of course. This is six-man. Six. Farson (Snake River beat 79-0 and 64-0; Hanna beat 58-6); Guernsey (Snake River beat 59-6; Hanna beat 64-24 and 51-0); Kaycee (Snake River beat 68-44 and 42-12; Hanna lost 47-33); Meeteetse (Snake River beat 58-12; Hanna beat 56-20); Midwest (Snake River beat 68-19; Hanna beat 45-37); Ten Sleep (Snake River beat 52-13; Hanna beat 34-32 and 33-32).
Recently? Snake River hasn’t had any trouble all season and has won its two playoff games by a combined 106-12. … Hanna has won three in a row, beating Meeteetse at the end of the regular season before pulling off home wins against Guernsey and Ten Sleep in the playoffs.
The pick? Snake River. The Rattlers have six-man’s best offense (540 points) and its best defense (140 points allowed) and are unbeaten. Oh, and they’ve beaten Hanna once already this season.
Why I could be wrong: Because if anyone can hang with Snake River, it’s probably Hanna. The Rattlers’ closest game this year was the 16-point victory they had over the Miners earlier this season, and if Hanna can keep it close in the fourth quarter, the Miners have the type of passing game that can make up points in a hurry.
Kickoff: Noon Friday.
There are my thoughts and my picks. What are yours? Which game do you most want to watch in Laramie this weekend? Post a comment below and we’ll talk about the best weekend of the year.
–patrick
State championship games
At Laramie
Friday, Nov. 12
Class 1A six-man, Snake River vs. Hanna, noon
Class 3A, Buffalo vs. Douglas, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 13
Class 2A, Big Horn vs. Thermopolis, 10 a.m.
Class 1A 11-man, Cokeville vs. Lusk, 1 p.m.
Class 4A, Sheridan vs. Natrona, 4 p.m.
Whatcha think?
–patrick
WHSAA opens football title games to bids (Casper Star-Tribune). … WHSAA made the right decision (Wyoming Tribune Eagle).
–patrick