The 1980 season is one of those I know I’ve under-researched, and I put a big dent into that today by adding six games involving Lyman and Mountain View. For Lyman, I added a 6-0 loss to Big Piney on Aug. 29, a 42-6 victory over Mountain View on Sept. 12, a 7-6 victory over Big Piney on Sept. 19 and a 49-0 victory over Mountain View on Oct. 10. For Mountain View, I added the two Lyman losses, a 46-0 loss to the Rock Springs JV on Sept. 6 and a 26-12 loss to the Evanston JV on Sept. 17.

Conversely, I added the two Lyman games to Big Piney’s records, too.

For the season, Lyman finished 3-5, Mountain View 0-7 and Big Piney 3-5. The changes have all been recorded on the relevant pages.

–patrick

I’m reposting and updating a bit of information from the Coaches Project, which I started in earnest this spring. I’m trying to find out the head coach for every school for each season. I got a huge boost from the 1994 Shrine Bowl program, but I’ve still got a few questions that have yet to be answered….

Below is a list of schools and years for which the head coach is not known. Take a look at the list and see if you know who was the head coach at these schools in the years listed.

Cokeville, Green River, Guernsey-Sunrise, Hanna, Jackson, Lander, Lingle, Lyman, Mountain View, Pinedale, Ten Sleep, Tongue River, Torrington and Wyoming Indian are the lists in greatest need of updates and help.

This list does not include the fact that I’m missing the names of coaches for basically every single defunct program, too. So… if you can find coaches for Albin, Arvada-Clearmont, Basin, Bow-Basin, Byron, St. Mary’s, Chugwater, Cowley, Dayton, Deaver-Frannie, Encampment, Farson, Glendo, Goshen Hole, Guernsey, Huntley, LaGrange, Manderson, Manville, Morton, North Big Horn, Pavillion, Ranchester, Reliance, St. Stephens, Snake River, Sunrise, Superior or Worland Institute, I will be glad to post those, as well.

I’m also missing first names for a ton of coaches, and if you can fill those in, that would be awesome. Take a look at the individual team pages to see where you might be able to help.

For existing schools, the following coaches’ names are needed (big missing gaps in bold):

Burlington: 1955 and 1958

Cokeville: All from 1951-79

Green River: All from 1951-71

Greybull: 1951

Guernsey-Sunrise: All from 1963-66

Hanna: All from 1951-91

Hulett: 1955 and 1961

Jackson: All from 1952-55, 1965 and 1966

Lander: All from 1951-91

Lingle: All from 1951-69

Lyman: 1962, all from 1964-67 and all from 1969-88

Meeteetse: 1987

Mountain View: 1956, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976 and 1979

Moorcroft: 1951, 1954 and 1956

Pinedale: 1951 and all from 1953-64

Saratoga: 1998 and 1999

Sundance: 1955

Ten Sleep: All from 1957-64, and all from 1972-91

Torrington: 1951, 1952, all from 1960-64 and 1966

Tongue River: All from 1956-64

Wheatland: 1971 and 1973

Wyoming Indian: All from 1972-92

You can e-mail updates to me directly at pschmiedt@yahoo.com or just leave a reply on this post.

–patrick

I’ve added pages for Kaycee and Fort Washakie, even though those programs have yet to put an official game in. I also added details for Kaycee, Fort Washakie, Snake River and Farson to the fields page.

Personally, I’m glad to see that the WHSAA is giving six-man a chance. It’ll be interesting to see if it grows over the next couple years or if it slowly dwindles and dies like nine-man did about 15 years ago…

A couple news items to pass along:

Kaycee’s facilities are still under construction, but will be ready for the season opener (Buffalo Bulletin)…. Pinedale has preliminary funding for a new turf field (read the bottom of the story, Pinedale Roundup)…. and Evanston has already begun thinking about opening day (Uinta County Herald).

–patrick

Two more corrections made today: First, I corrected Riverton’s 1973 record to 7-3; I had listed 8-2. Second, I corrected Saratoga’s 1981 record to 6-2; I had listed 6-1. All the corrections have been made on the relevant pages.

–patrick

Four quick updates that I’ve posted today:

1. I noted that Torrington’s 27-7 victory over Newcastle in 1957 was indeed a playoff game. It wasn’t marked as a playoff game the first time around. But I double-checked and my hunch was right, it was a Class A semifinal….

2. I’ve removed a game listed on Oct. 11, 1960, between Pavillion and Morton. I had duplicated the score from earlier in the season and slapped another date on there, but the second duplicate entry has been removed….

3. I corrected a game listed for Torrington on Oct. 26, 1951. That day, the Blazers played Mitchell, Neb., NOT Mitchell, S.D. …

4. I’ve corrected the score for the first game between Pinedale and Cokeville for Sept. 5, 1975. The score was 32-0 Pinedale, NOT 32-0 Cokeville. The Pinedale Roundup was especially clear, saying something to the effect of, “Despite what you may have read in other newspapers, Pinedale indeed defeated Cokeville…” in the first sentence of the game recap. Of note, Pinedale went 10-0 that 1975 season (not 9-1 as I had listed) and beat Cokeville again by an identical 32-0 score later that season. …

That’s it for now. My big secret project, in which I’m really delving into the game-by-game results, continues — hence the reason for catching all the mistakes I made the first time around and all of the updates recently.

–patrick

Today I added 14 new game results to the database thanks to the Byes Project (now that it’s yielded results, I’ve decided to capitalize it). The following games were found on the microfilm and added:

Lingle’s 14-0 win over Guernsey-Sunrise on Oct. 6, 1994

Lingle’s 36-6 win over the Cheyenne Central sophomores on Oct. 15, 1994

Hulett’s 26-6 win over the Gillette JV on Sept. 6, 1994

Ten Sleep’s 28-24 win over the Powell JV on Oct. 12, 1999

Meeteetse’s 64-6 win over Wyoming Indian on Sept. 2, 1977

Basin’s 12-0 win over Meeteetse on Aug. 27, 1977

Preston, Idaho’s, 35-16 win over Kemmerer on Sept. 1, 1978

Marsh Valley, Idaho’s, 20-6 win over Kemmerer on Sept. 8, 1978

Dubois’ 26-0 win over Byron on Sept. 2, 1978

Dubois’ 43-0 win over North Big Horn on Sept. 23, 1978

Wind River’s 14-8 win over Byron on Sept. 15, 1978

Lincoln Pius X, Neb.’s, win over Sheridan on Sept. 9, 1995

Lovell’s 31-13 win over Newcastle on Oct. 2, 1998

Bear Lake, Idaho’s, 20-9 win over Star Valley on Sept. 17, 1999

Conversely, the overall records and winning percentages for 16 schools have changed, throwing some alterations into the standings by percentage and to the standings by wins. Also, Wyoming Indian’s losing streak from 1975-79 increased from 30 to 31 games thanks to the loss to Meeteetse; that change has been reflected on the streaks page.

The Byes Project is an effort to account for all “Open” weeks in which schools have no games listed.

As always, if you see an error or an omission in the game-by-game result listings, feel free to let me know. My e-mail address is pschmiedt@yahoo.com.

–patrick

I’ve caught another error in one of my season record calculations. This time, it’s Basin. The Bobcats’ record in 1985 was 5-3, not 6-2 as I had listed.

The error has been corrected on all the relevant pages.

–patrick

With practices less than a month away (20 days for 4A schools, 27 for everyone else), the chatter about football season is already starting across the state. Reclassification and graduation have shifted the favorites’ roles to some new teams, although no one looks like a runaway lock for any state championships.

Yet.

It’s a year of change for Wyoming high school football, but the basic tenets of success remain the same. Here are some of the teams I think have the best chances for capitalizing on what they already have.

Feel free to add your thoughts with a comment; I’d love to hear who you think has the best chances at winning state titles.

Class 4A
1. Sheridan
: Austin Woodward, maybe the best player in the state this year, is back. So is his favorite target, T.J. Stender. The Broncs proved they can play with anyone last year and if they find some role players to step up, they’ll not only play with anyone, they’ll beat anyone.
2. Green River: The Wolves lost some talented players, true. But they also have a few back — namely a savvy, athletic quarterback in Drew Martinez.
3. Gillette: Because it’s Gillette, that’s why. The Camels simply reload. And they’ve got a starting QB in Alan Sisel that’s been under varsity center since his sophomore year.
4. Cheyenne Central: Lots of youth on last year’s team, which was a big reason the Indians never really threatened the top teams in the state. But lots of guys are back — namely WR Kyle Grott, DE Hayden Jones and QB Conner Long — and they’ll be big reasons why no one will overlook Central this fall.
5. Cheyenne East: We’ll see. The top four in 4A seem pretty clear-cut, but East under coach Chad Goff has been one of the most consistently successful programs in Wyoming’s big-school football the last few years.
On the rise: Laramie. No, I don’t say that just because I moved here. 🙂 I say that because there’s nowhere else to go for the Plainsmen, and this year they’ve got some talented athletes and a chance to at least make the playoffs — if not do some damage once they make it.
On the fall: Natrona County. No, I don’t say that just because I don’t live there anymore. 🙂 I say that because last year’s team was brimming with seniors and couldn’t make it past the first round of the playoffs. It’ll be a tall order for NC to climb into the championship chase. But NC always seems to do best when it’s underestimated, so watch out.

Class 3A
1. Douglas
: A couple of key cogs from last year’s championship run are back — like CST Super 25er Pierre Etchemendy and wideout Ryan Adams — and although there are key roles that need to be filled, the Bearcats have the talent, and now the confidence, to fill them.
2. Lander: The Tiger could be a scary team out West thanks to how much experience is back. Lots of young players have been filling key roles for Lander the past two years.
3. Buffalo: It’s hard to count out the Bison at any stage of the season, as tradition has proven they know how to get the job done year in and year out.
4. Cody: Just like seemingly every other team in 3A, the Broncs lost lots of seniors, so it’s last year’s success that this choice is based on.
5. Pick ’em: Riverton, Jackson, Torrington, Powell….. Wheatland, Rawlins, Star Valley, Worland…. Bueller? Bueller? Class 3A looks as open as it has ever been.
On the rise: Lander. A lot of the Tigers’ studs are back this fall, and this could be Lander’s breakthrough year to the top after a few at the bottom.
On the fall: Buffalo. I’ve still got them ranked third out of respect for coach Pat Lynch and his ability to make lemonade. But the Bison lost a ton of great players from last year’s team and have a ton of work to do before they can think about another championship run.

Class 2A
1. Kemmerer
: Several juniors were important parts of last year’s run to the championship game, including CST Super 25 lineman Eric Robinson, so the talent is there for another conference title and playoff push.
2. Glenrock: Don’t be shocked if the Herders throw a bit more on offense this year — their quarterback, Kyle Farley, is back, as is their top receiver, the underused but dangerous Dustin Worthington. Worthington caught nine passes last year and six went for touchdowns.
3. Burns: Although the Broncs don’t have the athleticism that helped them win the 2A championship last year (i.e. Duell Petsch is gone), there are still several important players back from last year, like Frankie Vossler and Shane McDonald, that’ll make the transition to 2009 a little bit smoother.
4. Lovell: The Bulldogs, like every team, have some big positions to fill, but a load of experienced seniors should help make Ken Boatwright’s second year with the Bulldogs easier, and maybe more successful, than the first.
5. Moorcroft: I don’t think last year was a fluke, and having guys like Shane Hadley and Dee Jay Hacklin back to help shoulder the load in their senior seasons should help the Wolves stay in contention.
On the rise: Mountain View. Last year was an abnormally tough one for the Buffalos, who should be right back in the mix this fall.
On the fall: Big Horn. Moving up to play some bigger schools will be tough for the Rams, especially in their first year, and with every week so important to the conference race and playoff seeding, they can’t wait long to adjust. I still think Big Horn makes the playoffs, though — having a returning QB in an option-based offense is a huge advantage, and the Rams have that in junior Colby Wollenman.

Class 1A 11-man
1. Southeast
: It’s more than just three consecutive championships that puts the Cyclones here. They also have three all-staters back this season, including last year’s 1A offensive player of the year, Tanner May.
2. Wind River: The Jordans, Doug and Trent, will be a handful for any team to stop this fall — especially if the Cougars can build off the confidence created by last year’s trip to the semifinals.
3. Hulett: The Red Devils had five all-state selections last year. Four were juniors. In the first year of remixed, reclassed 1A 11-man, the Red Devils could be a big surprise.
4. Burlington: The Huskies weren’t far away from a state championship last year, and with three all-state players coming back, Burlington should be right back in the thick of things again this fall.
5. Lusk: The Tigers were oh-so-close to making the title game last year, and although they have some big shoes to fill, they return all-state QB Lance Hladky for his junior season and should be able to build around him.
On the rise: Dubois. The Rams were a young team last year. They’ll definitely be better this year, but in an expanded conference, making the playoffs will still be a tall order.
On the fall: Cokeville. When’s the last time you didn’t see Cokeville in a preseason top five? Like 1947? The Panthers will probably be good enough to make the playoffs again, but they’re definitely not among the preseason favorites because of a lack of experience.

Class 1A 6-man
1. Guernsey
: It’s pretty simple here — the team that’s had the most success at 11-man, one that ran lots of six-man style passing and misdirection rushing plays the past few years, gets the early preseason nod in six-man’s first year. Guernsey’s JV team also got some six-man in under its belt last season, so it’s not like the Vikings are coming in blind.
2. Meeteetse: The Longhorns have more experience in the six-man game than anyone else, and in the first full-fledged season of Wyoming six-man, that will pay off huge, especially early in the season.
3. Ten Sleep: The basketball season proved the Pioneers have the athletes to compete with anyone, and Scott Erdahl and Tony Villareal, both juniors, will make for a nice 1-2 combo. As usual, though, the only question for Ten Sleep is if they’ll have enough players to fill out a complete team.
4. Hanna: The bulk of the Miners’ squad was juniors last year, including their only all-stater in QB Jon Borah. With a ton of playing time returning, the big question is how quick Hanna will adapt to the new style of play with a new coach.
5. Midwest: The Oilers have dabbled in six-man for several years now and will have a better grasp of the game early in the season than most of their opponents — something that will help lead to success in the win column.
On the rise: The remaining four six-man schools — Kaycee, Snake River, Farson and Fort Washakie. When building programs from scratch, there’s nowhere to go but up. (Of these, I think Snake River has the best chance to make a run. Basketball and track helped prove they have the type of athleticism needed to make up for their inexperience.)

Now’s your chance — post a comment and let me know if you think I hit the nail on the head or if I mis-swung and hit my thumb instead.

–patrick

I’ve added a page for the 2009 schedule and results. This page will be updated throughout the year with final scores from each game and will eventually become the 2009 year page when the season is complete.

I’m still trying to track down schedules (REAL schedules, the ones with kickoff times and dates, not just the ones posted by the WHSAA), so hopefully all of those kickoff times will be posted soon.

–patrick

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