Category Archives: Picks

Normally, in this space every week, I spend some time discussing what appear to be the best games in the state for that week.

Not this week.

Instead, I want to look at the weirdest conference in the state — so far — the 2A East.

Through the first half of the season, all seven teams in the 2A East have all secured at least one conference victory. That’s incredibly strange for this early in the season.

So how did we get here? Well…

Starting this week, Buffalo stands alone undefeated in conference pay at 3-0, with victories against Thermopolis, Burns and Glenrock.

Next is Wheatland at 2-1, which beat Newcastle and Glenrock but lost to Burns.

Then it’s Thermopolis at 1-1; the Bobcats lost to Buffalo but beat Moorcroft.

Then it’s four teams at 1-2: Burns, Glenrock, Moorcroft and Newcastle. Burns beat Wheatland but lost to Moorcroft and Buffalo; Glenrock beat Newcastle but lost to Wheatland and Buffalo; Moorcroft beat Burns but lost to Thermopolis and Newcastle; Newcastle beat Moorcroft but lost to Wheatland and Glenrock.

Whew.

Now, take a breath, and then try to follow this logic train as it leaves the station. … Newcastle beat Moorcroft; Moorcroft beat Burns; Burns beat Wheatland; Wheatland beat Glenrock; Glenrock beat Newcastle. At least one of those was an upset. The problem is, right now, we can’t tell which.

That leaves the 2A East with conference standings it has now, and we’re not even halfway through the conference season.

And while Buffalo and Thermopolis have seemed to separate themselves as the top two teams in the conference (at least for now, but who knows?), that leaves five others fighting it out for the conference’s final two playoff spots. This week, Glenrock and Burns face each other in an opportunity for clarity. Or more confusion.

September is barely over, and I’m already looking at the WHSAA’s tiebreaker scenarios.

If this kind of stuff keeps up, we’ll need them.

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Here’s the other games drawing my attention in Week 5:

Natrona’s game at Thunder Basin is the marquee matchup in 4A this week. Natrona’s star rose significantly last week after a double-OT victory against Cheyenne East that was accomplished without star running back Dante Wallace in the lineup. Thunder Basin, meanwhile, is still unbeaten and wants to stay that way. Who wouldn’t? …

Powell’s fast rise back to the upper echelon of 3A has been one of the most emotional stories of the season. There isn’t anyone in the state who isn’t rooting for the Panthers’ success this fall — unless Powell is on the opposite sideline. The Panthers’ potential will be put to the ultimate test this week with a trip to Afton to face top-ranked and defending champ Star Valley. A good showing in Lincoln County, even if it doesn’t translate into a victory, could keep Powell pointed in the right direction. …

Don’t overlook the Fremont County rivalry game this week between Riverton and Lander. It just got big. Both teams won their conference openers last week, and one of them will be 2-0 and in control of their own destiny after this game. …

When did Lovell-Big Piney become a HUGE game? Because that’s what it is in the 2A West this week. That conference has developed three distinct tiers — Mountain View at the top, four teams in the middle, and winless Greybull and Kemmerer now in spoiler roles — and both Lovell and Big Piney are in that middle tier right now. This is a great opportunity for both teams to prove they belong in the race for a home playoff game. …

Don’t look now, but Southeast is 2-0 in the 1A 11-man East and has a huge opportunity with its trip to Dayton to play Tongue River, which is 0-3. But the East Conference has proven unpredictable, too. …

The six-man game that looks like the most intriguing one to me is Hulett at Kaycee. Given how the conference is shaping up, the loser here will have a really hard time staying in contention for a home playoff game. …

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On to the picks. If a team is bolded, that means I think they’ll win. Sixty percent of the time, I’m right every time.

Thursday
Interclass
Cokeville vs. Natrona JV (at Green River)
Lyman at Star Valley JV
Friday
Class 4A
Cheyenne Central at Kelly Walsh
Cheyenne East at Laramie
Cheyenne South at Sheridan
Gillette at Rock Springs
Natrona at Thunder Basin
Class 3A
Cody at Evanston
Green River at Jackson
Powell at Star Valley
Rawlins at Worland
Riverton at Lander
Torrington at Douglas
Class 2A
Buffalo at Moorcroft
Glenrock at Burns
Kemmerer at Greybull
Lovell at Big Piney
Pinedale at Mountain View
Thermopolis at Wheatland
Class 1A 11-man
Pine Bluffs at Big Horn
Shoshoni at Rocky Mountain
Southeast at Tongue River
Wright at Upton-Sundance
Wyoming Indian at Wind River
Class 1A six-man
Burlington at Dubois
Farson at Meeteetse
Guernsey-Sunrise at Saratoga
Hanna at NSI
Hulett at Kaycee
Riverside at Snake River
Interclass
Newcastle at Lusk
Interstate
Encampment vs. Fleming, Colo. (at Briggsdale, Colo.)
Open: St. Stephens.

This week’s game between Lingle and Midwest is now a forfeit victory for the Doggers.

For a full schedule including kickoff times, as well as results from past weeks, go here. Click on “Week 5” on the top of the page for this week’s schedule.

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Here are the results of my picks from last week and this season:

Last week: 24-8 (75 percent). This season: 111-37 (75 percent). 

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Is the 2A East the biggest mess of conference standings you’ve ever seen through half a season? Leave a comment here, or hit me up on the Facebook page or on Twitter.

If you like what you see here, consider a page sponsorship. 

–patrick

Two of my biggest questions of the 2019 offseason will be answered on Friday:

1. Which Class 3A team is the biggest threat to defending champ Star Valley — Jackson or Cody?
2. Can anyone threaten Big Horn in Class 1A 11-man?

Week 4 gives us two absolutely massive games with Jackson traveling to Cody for a nutty 3A West game, which helps us with the answer to the first question.

Since November, Star Valley has been the clear No. 1 team in Class 3A. However, both Jackson and Cody have proven to be completely capable of making a championship run themselves.

Throughout the offseason, I flip-flopped these two teams in my projected 3A West standings so many times that after awhile, I gave up. These two teams were both proven contenders with proven returners and proven coaches. They both deserved championship consideration. I flipped a coin.

Four weeks into the regular season, both Bronc squads have proven to be worthy of their preseason adulation — as well as my consternation about having to choose between the two of them for the No. 2 spot in the West. Cody is 3-0, Jackson 3-1, with both playing so well that neither one has separated themselves from the other.

Now, the day of reckoning has come, and I have to actually choose one of these teams to win the game between them.

Uh… where’s that dime?

Meanwhile, in Class 1A 11-man, the big game of the week — my top-ranked team, Big Horn, heading east to play at my No. 2 team, Upton-Sundance — has just as much intrigue around it.

Big Horn hasn’t lost since 2017, having won 14 in a row. The Rams of 2018 were one of the most dominant groups in state history, and the Rams of 2019 — while not quite as dominant — are completely capable of running the table again.

But Upton-Sundance is always hanging around. This year, the Patriots have started 4-0 and have looked sharp in those four victories, outscoring their opponents by a combined 175-29.

If anyone in 1A 11-man is going to threaten Big Horn, it’s Upton-Sundance.

And yet, the past two years, Big Horn has owned the series, beating U-S 53-13 two years ago and 55-14 last year.

At least on Friday, the Patriots’ and Rams’ effort, and by proxy the final score, will answer one of my biggest questions about Wyoming high school football this season.

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Every game is special in its own right. But some games are more special than others. These are those:

In the mishmash that is the top of Class 4A, Friday’s game between Cheyenne East and Natrona could end up being for one of the top two seeds — of course, Sheridan still has something to say about that. But I love what East is doing this year, and I’m on the T-Bird bandwagon after being in the opposite camp to start the season. Y’all won me over. …

How crazy would the Energy Capital of the World be on Friday night if the Camels somehow beat the ‘Bolts in the Coal Bowl? …

Rawlins showed me something in the nonconference season and could give Douglas fits, especially at home in Rawlins. I still like the Bearcats to win it, but don’t be surprised to see the Outlaws hang tough. …

Lyman-Lovell might be the most interesting game on the 2A schedule. They’re both at 2-2, and both will need this game in what appears to be a competitive 2A West (after Mountain View, of course). And I got reminded this week that I’ve picked against Lyman in both the Eagles’ victories, so Lovell… sorry, either way? …

In addition to the Big Horn/Upton-Sundance game, another Week 4 game is a battle of unbeatens, with Riverside traveling to Farson in the 1A six-man West. After this week, there’s only two more potential opportunities for regular-season games between unbeaten teams. Cody and Star Valley are both unbeaten (for now) in the 3A West and meet in Week 7; also, the winner of this game potentially could make an unbeaten run before meeting also-potentially-unbeaten Snake River. (Snake plays Riverside in Week 5 and Farson in Week 6.) …

I have no idea what to make of the six-man showdown between Meeteetse and Burlington. They’ve both had flashes of brilliance and moments of head-shaking frustration. This one will be key in the 1A six-man West playoff chase, and neither one wants to play from behind the rest of the season — not in a conference that still has three unbeaten teams (see above). …

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Now it’s time for choices! I think the teams in bold will win. But, to be honest, I kind of like this sport more when the unexpected happens.

Thursday
Interclass
Natrona JV at Rocky Mountain
Friday
Class 4A
Cheyenne East at Natrona
Kelly Walsh at Sheridan
Laramie at Cheyenne Central
Rock Springs at Cheyenne South
Thunder Basin at Gillette
Class 3A
Douglas at Rawlins
Evanston at Powell
Jackson at Cody
Lander at Torrington
Star Valley at Green River
Worland at Riverton
Class 2A
Big Piney at Kemmerer
Burns at Wheatland
Glenrock at Buffalo
Greybull at Pinedale
Lyman at Lovell
Moorcroft at Newcastle
Mountain View at Thermopolis
Class 1A 11-man
Big Horn at Upton-Sundance
Cokeville at Shoshoni
Lusk at Southeast
Tongue River at Pine Bluffs
Wind River at Wright
Class 1A six-man
Kaycee at Midwest
Meeteetse at Burlington
NSI at Guernsey-Sunrise
Riverside at Farson
Snake River at St. Stephens
Saturday
Class 1A six-man
Encampment at Dubois
Lingle at Hanna
Saratoga at Hulett
Interclass
Wyoming Indian at Cokeville JV

For a full schedule including kickoff times, as well as results from past weeks, go here. Click on “Week 4” on the top of the page for this week’s schedule.

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Here are the results of my picks from last week and this season:

Last week: 29-4 (88 percent). This season: 87-29 (75 percent). 

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Week 4 marks the halfway point of the regular season. Whose YOUR big surprise team to this point? Leave a comment here, or hit me up on the Facebook page or on Twitter.

If you like what you see here, consider a page sponsorship. 

–patrick

The Gillette Camels started playing football in 1921. They didn’t win their first state championship until 1998 — the team’s 78th season of football.

The Camels’ new crosstown rivals, the Thunder Basin ‘Bolts, probably won’t have to wait that long.

In fact, if the ‘Bolts keep rolling this season, they could end up being one of the fastest teams to a state championship.

Sheridan and Thunder Basin are the only remaining undefeated teams in 4A. They play this week in Gillette in what’s (in my mind) the best game anywhere in the state this week.

Beating Sheridan — a team with 26 state championships to its name, including titles in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and a runner-up finish last year — would put Thunder Basin in control of 4A. And the ‘Bolts could exact some revenge on the team that eliminated them from last year’s 4A playoffs one game short of a trip to the War.

And if Thunder Basin beats Sheridan, keeps rolling and eventually wins the 4A championship in Laramie in its third season of existence, the ‘Bolts still wouldn’t be the fastest new team to win a title.

That distinction goes to Tongue River, which won the Class B six-man title in its first season as “Tongue River,” 1956. However, both Ranchester and Dayton had extensive football histories prior to combining and winning a title.

Snake River also deserves consideration in the title of “fastest to a title.” The Rattlers won the 2010 1A six-man title in their second year back from a 50-year football hiatus; technically, though, the program was in its 10th season, counting times the Rattlers fielded teams in the 1950s.

A couple other teams have needed less than half a decade to win their first titles — but they both come with asterisks. Southeast won a title in its fourth year of existence as “Southeast” — but again, only after the football histories of Goshen Hole and Huntley stretched back for decades prior. Similarly, Upton-Sundance won its first title in its fourth year as a co-op, but both towns had their own titles and teams to celebrate prior to that.

If you go deep into the state’s history, another team whose trajectory closely mirrors Thunder Basin is Worland, which started its program in 1921 (like many other schools) and won its first state title in its fourth season, 1924.

However, the team that most closely parallels Thunder Basin is Kelly Walsh. KW started as Casper’s second high school in 1965. By 1972 — the Trojans’ eighth season — KW had its first state football title.

Similarly, the second new school in Cheyenne, Cheyenne East, opened in 1960 and polished off its first title in 1970, its 11th season.

History shows us the ‘Bolts, as the second team in a two-school city, probably aren’t far off from a championship run. And if they can make it happen this year, in their third season as a program, it will be unprecedented at the big-school ranks.

The first step, though, is to find a way past a team with 26 state championships to its credit and no losses on its tally this season.

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Here’s a way-too-quick look at the rest of the big, small, and medium-sized games on the schedule this week:

Gillette’s 21-game losing streak ended last week with an overtime victory against Laramie. This week, the Camels head south to play Cheyenne Central, which earned an impressive victory against Rock Springs in Week 2. I’m curious to see how both teams react to success. …

Riding the unwanted emotion provided by an injured teammate, Powell is off to a 3-0 start. If the Panthers can gain another victory on Friday at home against Douglas in the final nonconference game of the season, it could be a sign that Powell’s more than just emotional — it could be the Panthers are actually a threat. …

Rawlins is 3-0, Cody 2-0. When they play Friday in Cody, anything could happen. I’ve been slow to warm on the Outlaws, but if they can knock off the Broncs, they might just become the favorites in the 3A East. …

Lovell has had two easy victories the past two weeks. Now the Bulldogs will face a huge step up to play against… oh yeah, a Mountain View team that’s rolling along just like Lovell is. …

Was Moorcroft’s victory against a solid Burns team last week a warning shot to the rest of the 2A East? Or was it an anomaly? The Wolves have to go to Thermopolis this week in a game that could define the direction of a season. …

Saturday action has Hanna meeting Hulett in Midwest for a neutral-site game. Hanna’s 2-0 start was expected. Hulett’s 2-0 start isn’t all that surprising, either, but the ease with which the Red Devils handled Guernsey last week makes this game a potential upset special if the Miners aren’t on their game. …

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Picks. Bold means winners. Non-bold means spoilers. Invisible text means the game is only in your mind.

Thursday
Interclass
Encampment at Natrona frosh
Riverton JV at Shoshoni
Friday
Class 4A
Cheyenne East at Cheyenne South
Gillette at Cheyenne Central
Natrona at Laramie
Rock Springs at Kelly Walsh
Sheridan at Thunder Basin
Class 3A
Douglas at Powell
Lander at Evanston
Rawlins at Cody
Riverton at Star Valley
Torrington at Green River
Worland at Jackson
Class 2A
Big Piney at Greybull
Buffalo at Burns
Lovell at Mountain View
Moorcroft at Thermopolis
Pinedale at Kemmerer
Wheatland at Glenrock
Class 1A 11-man
Lusk at Wind River
Southeast at Pine Bluffs
Upton-Sundance at Tongue River
Wright at Big Horn
Class 1A six-man
Dubois at Farson
Guernsey-Sunrise at Kaycee
NSI at Midwest
Saratoga at Lingle
St. Stephens at Burlington
Snake River at Meeteetse
Interclass
Lyman at Cokeville
Rocky Mountain at Newcastle
Saturday
Class 1A six-man
Hanna vs. Hulett (at Midwest)
Interclass
Worland JV at Riverside
Open: Wyoming Indian.

For a full schedule including kickoff times, as well as results from past weeks, go here. Click on “Week 3” on the top of the page for this week’s schedule.

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Here are the results of my picks from last week and this season:

Last week: 23-12 (66 percent). This season: 58-25 (70 percent). 

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Honestly, I was stumped making my picks on like half the games this week. Whose ready to surprise us all in Week 3? Leave a comment here, or hit me up on the Facebook page or on Twitter.

If you like what you see here, consider a page sponsorship. 

–patrick

Friday’s interstate games look like doozies. The belle of the ball, though, is the game between two defending Class 3A champs.

Yes, you read that right. Star Valley and Sugar-Salem, Idaho, will play on Friday in Afton. Both won their respective 3A titles last year.

And with apologies to everyone outside of northern Lincoln County, I think this might be the most highly anticipated out-of-state game involving a Wyoming team in decades. It’s definitely the game I’m most curious about this week.

Both coaches (McKay Young at Star Valley and Tyler Richins at Sugar-Salem) pride themselves on putting together a tough nonconference schedule to prepare their teams for what they’ll face in league play and beyond.

Well, they’ve got just that on Friday.

Last year’s game wasn’t nearly as hyped. Star Valley and Sugar-Salem both came in at 1-1, each trying to find their way after losses in their season openers.

The Diggers found their way faster, as they smoked Star Valley 36-7.

Neither one lost again.

They both went on to win 3A titles in their states. The Diggers finished 10-1, the Braves 10-2.

Sugar-Salem looks loaded again this year; so far, the Diggers are 2-0, winning their two games by a combined 94-0. In their season opener, they ended the 25-game winning streak of Declo — the only team to beat Sugar-Salem last year. They’ve got five returning all-Idaho players, including senior quarterback Tanner Harris, who was the all-Idaho 3A MVP last year as a junior, and 275-pound lineman Kenneth Copley.

But Star Valley looks loaded, too. The Braves have five all-state and seven all-conference players back from last year’s team, and they’re 2-0 already with victories against Utah’s defending 3A champs, Summit Academy, and Idaho 4A program Blackfoot.

No matter what happens Friday, there’s more than a slight chance that both teams won’t lose again this season.

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Other games that are looking good on paper, with high hopes that they’ll turn into good games on grass or turf:

Class 4A’s top teams spring into the teeth of competition this week when we get the first of our “Big Four” matchups. Natrona goes to Sheridan, Thunder Basin to Cheyenne East. The Natrona-Sheridan game is a rematch of last year’s championship, but don’t overlook Thunder Basin-East, which might end up being the better game. …

The entire 3A slate is tough to pick, in part because last week’s 3A games were for the most part pretty close. There might be more parity than we think. Except for Star Valley. …

I’ve been really impressed with Tongue River so far this fall. The Eagles’ game with Lusk this week has me intrigued. …

Six-man’s results in Week 1 showed just how much fun this season might be. St. Stephens playing tough with Hanna, newcomer Encampment bopping Meeteetse, Dubois (which was winless last year) beating Midwest by 60, Kaycee handling Burlington with ease… the race for playoff seeding will be messy this year, and that makes it a lot of fun.

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On to some picks. Bolded names mean I think they’ll win. Non-bolded teams are just as worthy of your love, though.

Thursday
Interclass
Cokeville at Evanston JV
Friday
Class 4A
Cheyenne Central at Rock Springs
Kelly Walsh at Cheyenne South
Laramie at Gillette
Natrona at Sheridan
Thunder Basin at Cheyenne East
Class 3A
Cody at Worland
Green River at Rawlins
Powell at Lander
Riverton at Evanston
Class 2A
Burns at Moorcroft
Kemmerer at Lyman
Mountain View at Big Piney
Newcastle at Glenrock
Thermopolis at Buffalo
Class 1A 11-man
Pine Bluffs at Wright
Tongue River at Lusk
Wind River at Rocky Mountain (nonconference)
Class 1A six-man
Encampment at Farson
Hulett at Guernsey-Sunrise
Kaycee at Saratoga
Lingle at NSI
Riverside at Dubois
Interclass
Greybull at Big Horn
Jackson at Pinedale
Shoshoni at Lovell
Wheatland at Upton-Sundance
Interstate
Belle Fourche, S.D., at Douglas
Sugar-Salem, Idaho, at Star Valley
Torrington at Gering, Neb.
Saturday
Class 1A six-man
Burlington at Snake River
Meeteetse at St. Stephens
Midwest at Hanna
Interclass
Natrona frosh at Wyoming Indian
Southeast at Cheyenne East JV

For a full schedule including kickoff times, as well as results from past weeks, go here. Click on “Week 2” on the top of the page for this week’s schedule.

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Here are the results of my picks from last week and this season:

Last week: 24-10 (71 percent). This season: 35-13 (73 percent). 

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What caught your eye in Week 1? I’d love to know. There’s so much to talk about! Leave a comment here, or hit me up on the Facebook page or on Twitter.

If you like what you see here, consider a page sponsorship. 

–patrick

One of the beautiful things about high school football is that the best games aren’t always played between the best teams.

Sometimes, and especially early in the season, the best games come from teams who are trying to establish themselves as something more than also-rans, teams whose chances against the top teams won’t mean as much with losses early in the season.

Week 1 is full of such games — of teams trying to establish an identity, trying to make clear they are a threat, trying to put all that offseason training together for 48 minutes on a Friday (or 40 minutes on a Saturday). And early in a season, that’s what it’s all about. It’s a blast.

In 4A, though, we already have a week’s worth of results to guide us. Once again, none of 4A’s “Big Four” play each other this week, and as fate would have it, the two non-“Big Four” teams who had the best showings in Zero Week face each other this week — Laramie and Rock Springs.

Laramie won a season opener for the first time since 2009 by beating Kelly Walsh 24-17. Rock Springs lost to Sheridan but fought hard and made it competitive, falling 23-7.

When they meet Friday in Rock Springs, I think it will be the best game in 4A, and maybe the best game of the weekend, period.

Class 3A has a few of those games, as well, but the one that sticks out to me is Green River venturing to Lander.

Neither team is on the top of anyone’s preseason predictions. But both of them have that immeasurable quality of “potential,” and potential lasts only until kickoff.

Again — it just might be the best game of the weekend.

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Here are some other games that look like pretty good contenders for “best” game of the week:

Powell looked tough in defeating Riverton in Zero Week. This week, the Panthers face Worland, who I think could be one of 3A’s breakthrough teams this fall. This one will be telling. …

Cokeville pulled a pretty big upset in Week 1 last year by beating Mountain View. The rematch is Friday, and although the Buffalos are again favored, don’t count out the Panthers in this one. …

Farson’s 1A six-man title defense starts Saturday at home against Guernsey. The Vikings are improved, and the Pronghorns are relying on some new players in new places. I’m curious to see if the defending champs can continue their momentum into this year — because if they can, they’ll be dangerous. …

Snaps for Encampment, playing in its first real game since 1990 when it faces Meeteetse’s varsity on Saturday. The Tigers have put together a decent schedule of a handful of six-man varsities and 4A sub-varsities, which may change as it’s possible the Tigers could fill some games left open by Ten Sleep’s departure. Nevertheless, I’m curious to see how they do in 2019 before jumping into a full varsity schedule in 2020.

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Here are this week’s picks. I indicate the team I think will win in bold. Then they play the games, which is way more fun than just thinking about them:

Thursday
Interclass
Riverton JV at Kemmerer
Friday
Class 4A
Cheyenne East at Kelly Walsh
Cheyenne South at Thunder Basin
Gillette at Natrona
Laramie at Rock Springs
Sheridan at Cheyenne Central
Class 3A
Cody at Riverton
Evanston at Rawlins
Green River at Lander
Worland at Powell
Class 2A
Newcastle at Wheatland
Pinedale at Lyman
Class 1A 11-man
Lusk at Upton-Sundance
Class 1A six-man
NSI at Riverside
Snake River at Saratoga
Interclass
Big Horn at Thermopolis
Buffalo at Douglas
Cokeville at Mountain View
Glenrock at Torrington
Lovell at Wind River
Moorcroft at Tongue River
Rocky Mountain at Greybull
Shoshoni at Big Piney
Wright at Burns
Interstate
Bear Lake, Idaho, at Jackson
Mitchell, Neb., at Southeast
Pine Bluffs at Yuma, Colo.
Sioux County, Neb., at Lingle
Star Valley at Blackfoot, Idaho
Saturday
Class 1A six-man
Encampment at Meeteetse
Guernsey-Sunrise at Farson
Kaycee at Burlington
Midwest at Dubois
St. Stephens at Hanna
Schedule TBD: Hulett. The Red Devils were supposed to play Ten Sleep this week and, last I knew, are trying to find a replacement game.

For a full schedule including kickoff times, as well as results from past weeks, go here. Click on “Week 1” on the top of the page for this week’s schedule.

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Here are the results of my picks from last week and this season (which, right now, are the same thing):

Last week: 11-3 (79 percent). This season: 11-3 (79 percent). 

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Thoughts? If you’ve made it this far, then you’ve got them, I’m sure. Leave a comment and let me know what they are, or hit me up on the Facebook page or on Twitter.

If you like what you see here, consider a page sponsorship. 

–patrick

Nothing comes easy in the game of football.

Class 4A’s “Big Four” programs have worked hard to reach the point they’re at — and they work hard to win the games they win.

When they do that, though, we tend to see games with scores like 63-0, 62-0, 58-6, 54-8, 50-0, 49-6… all scores of actual 4A games last year. Two 4A Zero Week games last year ended with identical 59-0 scores.

Thunder Basin, Natrona, East and Sheridan have been Class 4A’s consistent semifinalists and title contenders for the better part of a decade (subbing Thunder Basin in for Gillette starting two years ago), as previously documented here, here, here, here, here and elsewhere on this site.

The Week 0 schedule does not pit any of these “Big Four” teams against each other in the opening week, probably purposefully. Moreover, all the “Big Four” teams start their seasons at home. For those four teams, expect “easy” victories, knowing full-well that reaching that level of success isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination.

Still, that means the most interesting game on the schedule for 4A, at least the one that looks the most interesting before the games are played, is the one between the two non-“Big Four” teams: Kelly Walsh at Laramie.

Kelly Walsh has a fresh approach under new coach Aaron Makelky. Everything from helmet stickers to personnel approaches has been revamped — something that all sounds good the first three weeks, before any opponents have smacked your ear hole. If KW can smack back, watch out.

Laramie, meanwhile, was 4A’s clear fifth team behind the “Big Four” last year. Actually, a loss to KW in Zero Week last year, a loss that looks odd in retrospect, was all that kept the Plainsmen from a .500 record in 2019. But the Plainsmen had a lot of losses to graduation and have to break in key players all over the place.

In short, I don’t know whether this game will be one of 4A’s best (two programs full of players eager to prove themselves could bring out the best in everyone) or one of 4A’s worst (unknown quantities are unpredictable and volatile, especially early in a season).

Either way, I think it should be close, and that’s probably more than we can say for any of the other 4A games this week.

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Outside of 4A, Zero Week is a hodgepodge of real games, scrimmages, jamborees and hand-sitting. I’ve done my best to give you an accurate representation of what’s happening this weekend, with changes often happening after schedules have been set and sent out.

Regardless, a few items on the schedule look interesting:

The game between a pair of champions in Utah should be fun, with the Beehive State’s 3A champion, Salt Lake Summit Academy, hosting the Equality State’s 3A champion, Star Valley. …

The Jackson-Teton rivalry game is this week, and after narrowly losing last year’s game, a revived Bronc program should have the advantage this year. …

The biggest jamboree of the weekend is in Shoshoni, where five teams (Kemmerer, Thermopolis, Wind River, Wyoming Indian and the host Wranglers) are scheduled to meet. Sounds like fun — and a scheduling headache. …

Here’s the full picks for Zero Week, with projected winners in bold, as I’ve done for a decade-plus:

Friday
Class 4A
Cheyenne Central at Thunder Basin
Cheyenne South at Natrona
Gillette at Cheyenne East
Kelly Walsh at Laramie
Rock Springs at Sheridan
Class 3A
Powell at Riverton
Interclass
Big Piney at Cokeville
Moorcroft at Wright
Pinedale at Lander
Rawlins at Lyman
Tongue River at Greybull
Interstate
Custer, S.D., at Newcastle
Star Valley at Salt Lake (Utah) Summit Academy
Teton, Idaho, at Jackson
Upton-Sundance at Lead-Deadwood, S.D.
Saturday
Interclass
Natrona JV at Lovell
Rocky Mountain at Powell JV
Jamborees and scrimmages
Friday: Big Horn at Cody; Dubois, Encampment, Saratoga at St. Stephens Jamboree; Farson at Green River Jamboree; Glenrock at Pine Bluffs; Lingle, Midwest at Guernsey-Sunrise Jamboree; Mountain View at Green River.
Saturday: Burlington, Ten Sleep at Riverside Jamboree; Burns, Lusk, Torrington at Southeast Jamboree; Douglas at Wheatland; Kaycee, Meeteetse at Hulett Jamboree; Kemmerer, Thermopolis, Wind River, Wyoming Indian at Shoshoni Jamboree; Worland at Buffalo.
Open: Evanston, Hanna, NSI, Snake River.

For a full schedule including kickoff times, go here.

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As usual during Zero Week, here is a reminder of the rules I use to determine whether a Zero Week contest is a game or is something else:

• 1. Was the game played with four 12-minute quarters with normal timing rules?
• 2. Were officials used? And were normal rules of play instituted for the game?
• 3. Was score kept?

If these three criteria are met, I call it a game and record it as such on this site.

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And now we’re finally ready for the 2019 season. What game/scrimmage/jamboree/competitive something-or-other will you watch this weekend? Leave a thought with a comment, a visit to our Facebook page or a stop by Twitter.

If you like what you see here, consider a page sponsorship. Just $20 will get you a page for an entire year — and it helps keep the site functioning! Thanks to all the current sponsors; they keep the dream alive.

–patrick

I’m not ready for the 2018 season to end. But all good things must, right? Over the next two days, five games will bring the 2018 season to a close. Here’s what to look for in each of them:

Class 1A six-man, noon Friday
Burlington Huskies (4W, 6-4) vs. Farson Pronghorns (1W, 10-0)
Series record: Farson leads 4-1.
Last meeting: Farson beat Burlington 47-41 on Oct. 12 in Burlington.
Last playoff meeting: First playoff meeting.
State championships: Burlington two, most recently in 1994. … Farson zero.
Previous title game record: Burlington, 2-1. … Farson, 0-2.
The path to Laramie: Burlington rallied in the second half to beat East top seed Hanna 61-36 in the first round before thumping Meeteetse 57-18 in the semis, with both games on the road. … Farson destroyed Hulett 90-22 in the first round and topped Snake River 62-19 in the semis.
The case for the Huskies: The Huskies started slow. And they finished slow. And they came into the playoffs at 4-4. But anyone who was paying attention knew how good the Huskies were. They’ve finally shown it in the postseason, beating two excellent opponents with ease. Moreover, a six-point loss to Farson — the only team to hang within 40 points of the Pronghorns all season — should be a huge confidence booster.
The case for the Pronghorns: Aside from that 47-41 victory against Burlington, the Pronghorns have been absolutely destroying teams. Farson is on pace to have the highest average scoring offense in state history. In six-man terms, its defense is as solid as it gets. Their senior class is loaded and motivated, and Lain Mitchelson will likely eclipse 2,000 rushing yards for the season by the time this game is done. Anything else?
The pick: Don’t let Burlington’s record fool you. The Huskies are more than capable. But the Pronghorns were the anointed team in six-man all season, and they’ve lived up to that hype. All that’s left to do now is close out the season holding the trophy that’s eluded them the past two seasons. … Farson 54, Burlington 42.

Class 3A, 3 p.m. Friday
Torrington Trailblazers (1E, 10-0) vs. Star Valley Braves (1W, 9-2)
Series record: Star Valley leads 10-2.
Last meeting: Star Valley beat Torrington 38-14 on Sept. 8, 2017, in Afton.
Last playoff meeting: Star Valley beat Torrington 42-27 in a 3A semifinal game on Nov. 6, 2015, in Torrington.
State championships: Torrington three, most recently in 1990. … Star Valley 10, most recently in 2016.
Previous title game record: Torrington, 2-10. … Star Valley, 9-10.
The path to Laramie: Torrington took care of Evanston 34-7 in the quarterfinals and then eked past Jackson with a touchdown and two-point conversion with no time on the clock to win 22-21 in the semis. … Star Valley notched a pair of shutouts, beating Worland 48-0 in the quarterfinals and Cody 33-0 in the semifinals.
The case for the Trailblazers: First of all, Torrington is undefeated. Second, Bryan Lemmon is one of the best running backs in the state. Third, the Trailblazers should be plenty motivated to win in Laramie after coming up short last season. Fourth, they have a deep and talented senior class. Sounds like a champion to me.
The case for the Braves: I’ll be honest: After seeing how many seniors the Braves lost last year, I didn’t have high hopes for them this year. But new players stepped into big roles quickly, and after a 1-2 start the Braves have won eight in a row. No single team in the state may have improved as much from last November to this November as Star Valley.
The pick: I’ve been ride or die with Torrington all season. The Trailblazers were my preseason No. 1 and were my No. 1 vote in every weekly poll this season. With what happened last week, this feels like their time, their destiny. So of course it won’t happen. … Star Valley 28, Torrington 24.

Class 2A, 10 a.m. Saturday
Mountain View Buffalos (1W, 9-1) vs. Buffalo Bison (1E, 9-1)
Series record: Series tied 3-3.
Last meeting/last playoff meeting: Mountain View beat Buffalo 18-0 in a 2A semifinal game on Oct 31, 1997, in Mountain View.
State championships: Mountain View five, most recently in 2017. … Buffalo five, most recently in 2005.
Previous title game record: Mountain View, 5-6. … Buffalo, 5-10.
The path to Laramie: Mountain View busted up Thermopolis 41-0 in the quarterfinals and scored 26 unanswered points in the second half against Glenrock in the semifinals to win 33-21. … Buffalo cruised past both Kemmerer (56-20 in the quarterfinals) and Wheatland (50-7 in the semifinals).
The case for the Buffalos: In case you forgot, the Buffalos won here last year. Their small senior class is more than made up for by a cadre of juniors who play like seniors. They’ve won nine in a row, almost all of them by wide margins. Their offensive diversity makes them tough to scout, and their defense stacks up against any in 2A.
The case for the Bison: When we learned Buffalo was moving from 3A to 2A this year, everyone in the state knew the Bison were going to immediately contend for a state title. And here we are. Buffalo’s only loss this year was to Douglas in Week 1, and since then the Bison have been on fire. Moreover, they’ve jumped to another level in the playoffs.
The pick: This is an excellent matchup, and I would pay good money to watch this game. I don’t know that either team has an advantage. When I think too hard about it, my head hurts, so I’ll go with my gut instead, and think about a foot (as in Buffalo kicker Luke Glassock) that might be the hidden game-breaker. … Buffalo 31, Mountain View 28.

Class 1A 11-man, 1 p.m. Saturday
Cokeville Panthers (1W, 10-0) vs. Big Horn Rams (1E, 10-0)
Series record: Cokeville leads 3-2.
Last meeting/last playoff meeting: Big Horn beat Cokeville 12-7 in a 1A 11-man semifinal game on Nov. 3, 2017, in Cokeville.
State championships: Cokeville 22, most recently in 2014. … Big Horn five, most recently in 2016.
Previous title game record: Cokeville, 21-6. … Big Horn, 5-10.
The path to Laramie: Cokeville flexed its muscles in the first round by beating Wright 61-8 in the quarterfinals and topping Upton-Sundance 25-6 in the semifinals. … Big Horn laid waste to its two postseason opponents, beating Wind River 67-8 in the quarterfinals and Pine Bluffs 68-13 in the semis.
The case for the Panthers: If you have to even ask if Cokeville’s a legit contender, you’ve been paying attention to the wrong state. Cokeville is ALWAYS a contender, and always will be with Todd Dayton as coach and entire community on its sideline. Beyond that, the Panthers are undefeated (and beat Mountain View for goodness sake!), relying on a defense that’s only allowed 65 points all season, by far the lowest mark in the state, to carry them.
The case for the Rams: Big Horn isn’t just the best team in 1A this season. The Rams are trying to make a case for one of the best 1A teams in the history of this state. They’re undefeated, but with potential record-setting efficiency: With 24 more points, the Rams will finish as the highest-scoring 11-man offense in state history; with 45 more points, they’ll have a higher scoring average than any other 11-man team in state history.
The pick: Cokeville is having a great season. Big Horn, somehow, is eclipsing even that, with a season for the ages. … Big Horn 40, Cokeville 24.

Class 4A, 4 p.m. Saturday
Sheridan Broncs (3, 9-2) vs. Natrona Mustangs (1, 10-1)
Series record: Natrona leads 57-47-6.
Last meeting: Natrona beat Sheridan 34-7 on Sept. 7 in Casper.
Last playoff meeting: Sheridan beat Natrona 28-14 in the 4A championship game on Nov. 11, 2017, in Laramie.
State championships: Sheridan 26, most recently in 2017. … Natrona 17, most recently in 2014.
Previous title game record: Sheridan, 16-6. … Natrona, 10-7.
The path to Laramie: Sheridan beat Rock Springs 41-8 in the quarterfinals but needed a touchdown in the final 31 seconds to overcome Thunder Basin 14-7 in the semis. … Natrona topped Kelly Walsh 35-7 in the quarterfinals, but needed a touchdown with less than 4 seconds remaining to beat Cheyenne East 21-14 in the semifinals.
The case for the Broncs: Anyone else going for a four-peat this weekend? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Even with a new coach in Jeff Mowry, the Broncs are still the Broncs, tradition lives on and the quest for a fourth consecutive championship is still alive. The two losses Sheridan had back in Weeks 2-3 are basically distant memories now, and with the lessons learned from those losses, everything is lining up well for that fourth title in a row.
The case for the Mustangs: One point is all that separates Natrona from being unbeaten right now. The Mustangs have 4A’s highest-scoring offense, and the defense has been up to the challenge when called upon. Natrona has balance, athleticism, diversity, coaching and momentum — everything you need for a title. All that’s in the way is the same thing that’s been in the way the past two seasons: Sheridan.
The pick: This pick should be easy. After all, Natrona beat Sheridan 34-7 earlier this season. The Mustangs are a no-brainer, right? Except when it’s November, in Laramie, and it involves Sheridan. Ah, what the heck. … Natrona 21, Sheridan 20.

I keep track of who wins and loses games. I also keep track of how well I choose the winners and losers prior to the games being played. This is a tally of how I’ve done with those choices this season:

Last week: 8-2 (80 percent). This season: 240-58 (81 percent).

For a full schedule including kickoff times, as well as results from past weeks, click here. Click on “Championships” on the top of the page for this week’s schedule. For playoff brackets, click here.

Championship weekend is finally here! It’s better than Christmas. Let’s share in that joy together by gathering around the comments section, sharing stories and drinking hot cocoa.

–patrick

The 2017 playoffs were so exciting that we’re going to try to have them again.

At least that seems to be the feeling this week.

Of this week’s 10 games, half are rematches from either the semifinals or championship games of last year’s playoffs.

The two rematch games that are coming a week earlier than last year come in Class 2A and Class 1A 11-man, where we get a pair of rematches of last year’s title games. In 2A, defending champion Mountain View hosts last year’s runner-up Glenrock, while in 1A 11-man, defending champ Pine Bluffs heads north to face 2017 second-place finisher Big Horn.

Arguably, the better game will be Glenrock-Mountain View. That’s because Big Horn shook off last year’s title-game loss and has hasn’t lost since. The Rams have been tearing through everyone in 2018, including Pine Bluffs 42-7 in Week 5. Meanwhile, Glenrock’s only losses are to Torrington and Buffalo (both still alive), while Mountain View’s lone loss came to Cokeville (also still alive).

Three other games are rematches from the 2017 semifinals. The most prominent is in 3A, where Cody and Star Valley renew acquaintances for the fourth time in two seasons. Of course, the Broncs upset the Braves 31-21 in last year’s semifinals to propel themselves to the 3A title a week later.

Meanwhile, Natrona and Cheyenne East face off again in 4A after a 44-0 Natrona victory in last year’s playoffs (a loss avenged by East 22-21 earlier this season). Also, Farson hosts Snake River in a rematch of a 1A six-man semifinal game the Pronghorns won last year.

So retro.

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Despite being on opposite ends of the enrollment spectrum, Natrona and Farson have some interesting parallels. In addition to facing the same team in the semifinals this year as last year, both Natrona and Farson lost their games in War Memorial last year, and both come in as the overall No. 1 seeds in their respective classifications this year.

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Thunder Basin is hosting its first semifinal game in program history, one week after hosting its first quarterfinal game to notch the program’s first postseason victory. The ‘Bolts’ firsts just keep piling up. …

While six of the 10 home teams hosted semifinal games last year, the wait has been a bit longer for Buffalo than for anyone else. The Bison are hosting their first semifinal game since 2007. Also, they’re in the semifinals for the first time in six years. Both are the longest such droughts broken this week. …

Burlington and Meeteetse have played each other at least 60 times in the past seven decades, but they’ve never faced each other in the postseason. That changes Friday when the Huskies make the short trip over to Park County to meet the Longhorns in the Class 1A six-man semifinals for their first playoff matchup. …

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I pick teams to win and lose games every week. You judge me for those choices. It’s a fun game I like to play.

Friday
Class 4A
(4) Cheyenne East at (1) Natrona: It’s looking more and more like the biggest upset in 4A this year was East beating Natrona 22-21 back in Week 4. A banged-up East will have trouble repeating that feat against the Mustangs in Natrona. (Rematch of a 2017 semifinal.)
(3) Sheridan at (2) Thunder Basin: The ‘Bolts won the first game 23-13 in Sheridan, but Sheridan is improved since that first meeting — and the three-time defending champs won’t go down without a fight. This might be the best game of the week, regardless of classification, and I think Thunder Basin will find a way. (First playoff matchup.)
Class 3A
(3W) Cody at (1W) Star Valley: Oh snap. Cody at Star Valley in the 3A semifinals. And here I am, picking Star Valley to win again. I’m going with the Braves, but last year taught us that we shouldn’t be surprised to see Cody go in and do what it needs to do to keep its season rolling. (Rematch of a 2017 semifinal.)
(2W) Jackson at (1E) Torrington: I think Jackson’s turnaround has been inspiring this season. The Broncs definitely have the ability to hang with the Trailblazers. But a loaded, and inspired, senior class in Torrington will be hard for Jackson to beat. (First meeting since 2014 quarterfinals.)
Class 2A
(3E) Wheatland at (1E) Buffalo: Don’t overlook Wheatland. The Bulldogs gave the Bison all they wanted in Week 6 despite losing 24-14. The Bison know that, and they’ll be ready. (First playoff meeting since 2002 4A quarterfinals.)
(2E) Glenrock at (1W) Mountain View: I cannot wait for this game. There’s so many interesting side plots here. I could spend all day thinking about it. In short, both teams have what it takes to win this week — and next week. Herders in a squeaker. (Rematch of 2017 2A title game.)
Class 1A 11-man
(3E) Pine Bluffs at (1E) Big Horn: Week 5: Big Horn 42, Pine Bluffs 7. That wasn’t a fluke. The Hornets’ three-peat attempt is in serious jeopardy as the Rams continue to work on an undefeated season. (Rematch of 2017 1A 11-man title game.)
(2E) Upton-Sundance at (1W) Cokeville: The Patriots can absolutely hang with the Panthers. Play this in Upton, or Sundance, and I think the Patriots could win it. But in Cokeville, I like the Panthers to win it. Barely. (First meeting since 2013 quarterfinals.)
Class 1A six-man
(3W) Snake River at (1W) Farson: It’s not that Farson’s undefeated. It’s that Farson has been absolutely crushing teams. Aside from a six-point win against Burlington, Farson has won every game by at least 42 points, and that includes a 64-19 victory against Snake River a month ago. (Rematch of a 2017 semifinal.)
(4W) Burlington at (2W) Meeteetse: After last week’s comeback victory against unbeaten Hanna, the Huskies’ confidence should be soaring. That might just be enough to pull off another road playoff victory, even though Meeteetse won the first matchup 38-28 in Week 4. (First playoff meeting.)

For a full schedule including kickoff times, as well as results from past weeks, click here. Click on “Semifinals” on the top of the page for this week’s schedule.

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Something pretty special happened here last week: I picked every game correctly. I did that in last year’s quarterfinals, too… the only times it’s ever happened here for any week prior to the semis or title games. Hurray! Here are the results of my picks from last week and this season:

Last week: 20-0 (100 percent). This season: 232-56 (81 percent).

If you don’t feel like leaving a comment, find me on Twitter or Facebook. But try a comment and see how it works.

–patrick

Something special is happening in Gillette on Friday.

In just its second season, Thunder Basin is hosting its first playoff game in program history when the ‘Bolts take to the field against Cheyenne Central.

For Thunder Basin to have accomplished that feat so quickly is nearly unprecedented in recent state history.

Since 1980, eight programs (Wright, NSI, Kaycee, Farson, Snake River, Cheyenne South, St. Stephens and Rock River) have either started or restarted programs from scratch. Three other programs (Rocky Mountain, Riverside and Upton-Sundance) combined programs to form something new.

Of those 11 programs, the only one to host a playoff game in its first season was six-man Snake River in 2009. The only one to host its first playoff game in its second season was six-man Kaycee.

In fact, of 11-man programs, Thunder Basin is the fastest to its first home playoff game, beating Campbell County companion Wright by one year — the Panthers hosted a playoff game in their third season as a program.

The ‘Bolts’ run of success this season is a testament to how fast they built their own identity and program after splitting from the Gillette Camels two years ago. It also comes at a cost to football in Gillette — the Camels have now lost 19 games in a row after losing most of the city’s best players to the new school on the south side.

Nevertheless, the ‘Bolts are hosting a playoff game sooner than any other new 11-man program in recent memory. For the Thunder Basin program, that’s worth celebrating.

However, the ‘Bolts would celebrate even more if they could host another one next week.

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Outside of Thunder Basin, for Wyoming this is a pretty standard-looking playoff bracket. Wright is in the playoffs for the first time in nine years, and Kemmerer is in the playoffs for the first time in five years, but everyone else has been a recent visitor to the postseason, and all the other hosts have been recent hosts. The rich get richer?

Here’s some pics, wait, I mean picks, with the bold team expected to be the winning team:

Class 4A
(8) Kelly Walsh at (1) Natrona: Natrona won the Oil Bowl by 30 points three weeks ago. That sounds about right. The Mustangs have been playing well all season and will be big favorites against their cross-town rivals. (First playoff meeting since 2016 quarterfinals.)
(5) Laramie at (4) Cheyenne East: East won the first matchup 31-14 a month ago. Laramie could put up more of a challenge this time around, though — but the Thunderbirds are still the favorites. (First playoff meeting since 2001 quarterfinals.)
(7) Cheyenne Central at (2) Thunder Basin: How much has changed since Week 0, when the ‘Bolts popped the Indians 47-0? Well, plenty has changed. But that doesn’t mean Thunder Basin still shouldn’t win this game going away. (First playoff meeting.)
(6) Rock Springs at (3) Sheridan: The rumors of the Broncs’ death have been highly exaggerated. Sheridan’s still in the hunt for a four-peat, and they’re very, very dangerous this time of year. (First playoff meeting since 2016 semifinals.)
Class 3A
(4E) Worland at (1W) Star Valley: I expected a much bigger fall-off this year in Afton. The fact that the Braves went undefeated in conference play and earned the top seed out of the west (again) is proof that the program is strong and sustainable. (First playoff meeting since 2007 quarterfinals.)
(3W) Cody at (2E) Douglas: ‘Member last year, when Cody was a 3-seed and ended up as state champs? ‘Member how they were on the same side of the bracket as Star Valley? I betcha Cody does, and I bet the Broncs are feeling mighty confident right now. (First playoff meeting since 2016 quarterfinals.)
(4W) Evanston at (1E) Torrington: Torrington has been rolling. But Evanston will put up a tough fight — something that should help the Trailblazers get into playoff mode and prepare for what’s to come. (First meeting since 1985 title game.)
(3E) Lander at (2W) Jackson: The two best coaching jobs in 3A this season were by John Scott in Lander and David Joyce in Jackson. It’s kind of fitting that they face off in the first round. If they continue on their current trends, this could be a title-game matchup in a few years. (First playoff meeting since 2004 quarterfinals.)
Class 2A
(4W) Kemmerer at (1E) Buffalo: It’s great to see Kemmerer back in the playoffs. Shame it’ll have to end so soon. Buffalo’s loaded for a title run, and that will show on Friday. (First meeting since 1995 quarterfinals.)
(3E) Wheatland at (2W) Greybull: People have been sleeping on Wheatland all year. This is the time for the Bulldogs to show just how good they are — and I think they’ll take advantage. (Rematch of a 2017 quarterfinal. And a 2016 quarterfinal.)
(4E) Thermopolis at (1W) Mountain View: After a Week 1 stumble, Mountain View has been the powerhouse everyone thought they might be entering this season. Remember, last year’s title march started by shutting out Thermopolis at home in the first round. …  (Obviously, a rematch of a 2017 quarterfinal.)
(3W) Big Piney at (2E) Glenrock: Big Piney put together a really nice season. However, it’ll take a Herculean effort to overcome the Herders in Glenrock. (Rematch of a 2017 semifinal.)
Class 1A 11-man
(4W) Wind River at (1E) Big Horn: The Rams have been crushing teams all season. There’s little reason to think the Cougars are going to be the one to stop that trend. (Rematch of a 2017 quarterfinal game.)
(3E) Pine Bluffs at (2W) Shoshoni: Shoshoni is 2-6 and a No. 2 seed. That tells you all you need to know about the West Conference this season. (First playoff meeting.)
(4E) Wright at (1W) Cokeville: Beating a top-seeded Cokeville team, in Cokeville? The black-and-gold Panthers better hope they didn’t use up all their luck on that coin flip last week. (First playoff meeting.)
(3W) Rocky Mountain at (2E) Upton-Sundance: In a word: tradition. These two teams have met in the quarterfinals in 2014, 2015 and 2017. U-S has won all three, by scores of 48-14, 39-12 and 39-22. (Obviously, a rematch of a 2017 quarterfinal.)
Class 1A six-man
(4E) Hulett at (1W) Farson: Hulett did a really nice job in the last three weeks of the season, overcoming an 0-4 start to make the postseason. The Red Devils’ “reward” is playing unbeaten and favorite Farson in the first round. (First playoff meeting since 2015 quarterfinals.)
(3W) Snake River at (2E) Kaycee: The Buckaroos’ four-peat attempt will face some severe challenges. The challenge the Rattlers present might be too tough for Kaycee to overcome. (First playoff meeting since 2015 semifinals.)
(4W) Burlington at (1E) Hanna: Here it is: My upset call for the week. The West Conference was significantly deeper and tougher than the East Conference this season, and while Hanna is unbeaten and talented, Burlington has been tested more and should be more hardened for a playoff run. (First playoff meeting.)
(3E) Guernsey at (2W) Meeteetse: The Longhorns are senior-laden and confident. If they don’t overlook the Vikings, they should be in good position to continue their postseason. (First playoff meeting since 2015 quarterfinals.)

For a full schedule including kickoff times, as well as results from past weeks, click here. Click on “Quarterfinals” on the top of the page for this week’s schedule.

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Here are the results of my picks from last week and this season:

Last week: 27-3 (90 percent). This season: 212-56 (79 percent).

It’s the postseason, so that means we should have plenty to talk about! Leave a comment to do just that, or hit me up on Twitter or Facebook.

–patrick