From 1962 to 1967 in all classes, and from 1962 to 1974 in Classes A and B-C, postseason football was shut down in Wyoming. No playoffs, no state championship games, nothing. Only an unsatisfying mythical championship that, in the end, was just opinion. The next several days, wyoming-football.com is taking a look at the title games and playoff brackets we missed out on in the “dead era” of the 1960s and 1970s.

Today, we examine the year 1971.

Class A: Torrington (9-0) vs. Star Valley (7-2). A prequel to the 1972 title game, Torrington had been consistent in posting its victories — rarely by blowout, but rarely close, too; the Braves’ record was marred by a loss to AA Rock Springs and to Green River in a late-season game that did not affect which team won the conference title.
Class B East: Upton (7-0-1) vs. Glenrock (8-0). Ah, the game that should have been. These two schools were scheduled to meet in the final game of the regular season in 1971 but couldn’t due to a snowstorm. In our fictitious world, they would have played one week later in the playoffs, anyway… and both teams boasted dominating defenses. Upton gave up just EIGHT points in the regular season; Glenrock only 39. (Glenrock beat Upton 14-0 in the 1972 season finale, FWIW.)
Class B West: Deaver-Frannie (9-0) vs. Mountain View (7-0-1). Deaver-Frannie had eked out a 26-22 victory over Byron midway through the season in its biggest challenge to winning the Northwest crown. Mountain View, meanwhile, shook off a scoreless tie with Cokeville in the season opener and beat the Panthers 21-8 later in the season to win the Southwest.

–patrick

From 1962 to 1967 in all classes, and from 1962 to 1974 in Classes A and B-C, postseason football was shut down in Wyoming. No playoffs, no state championship games, nothing. Only an unsatisfying mythical championship that, in the end, was just opinion. The next several days, wyoming-football.com is taking a look at the title games and playoff brackets we missed out on in the “dead era” of the 1960s and 1970s.

Today, we examine the year 1972.

Class A: Torrington (7-1) vs. Star Valley (8-1-1). Two teams with early stumbles would meet for the title. The Trailblazers’ only loss came on the road at Buffalo in a 13-8 shocker, but Torrington rebounded to win the east, while Star Valley tied Kemmerer and lost to Green River but won the West after beating both in the Southwest round-robin schedule.
Class B East: Tongue River (8-1) vs. Glenrock (9-0) OR St. Mary’s (10-0). In a weird quirk in the Southeast schedule, Glenrock and St. Mary’s did not play each other in the regular season. Glenrock gave up just 12 points all season, while St. Mary’s, which was in its first year as a Class B school after transitioning from Class A, beat Class A schools Wheatland and Lusk on its way to perfection. (FWIW, St. Mary’s beat Glenrock 18-6 in the 1973 season opener.) In the Northeast, Tongue River again dominated, with its only loss to the Billings Senior JV in the final week of the season.
Class B West: Basin (9-0) vs. Pinedale (8-1) OR Cokeville (8-1). Pinedale and Cokeville shared the Southwest title after splitting their two games in the regular season, Pinedale winning 6-0 in Pinedale and Cokeville winning 10-6 in Cokeville. Basin was battle-tested, having eked out tight victories against Dubois, Byron and Cowley to win a competitive Northwest.

–patrick

From 1962 to 1967 in all classes, and from 1962 to 1974 in Classes A and B-C, postseason football was shut down in Wyoming. No playoffs, no state championship games, nothing. Only an unsatisfying mythical championship that, in the end, was just opinion. The next several days, wyoming-football.com is taking a look at the title games and playoff brackets we missed out on in the “dead era” of the 1960s and 1970s.

Today, we examine the year 1973.

Class A: Buffalo (8-1) vs. Green River (8-1). After losing to AA Rawlins 7-0 in the season opener, the Bison proved to have a penchant for winning close games and finished league play unbeaten. Green River’s only setback came 6-0 to Kemmerer; the Wolves avenged that loss and won the conference crown by beating the Rangers 14-12 in the final week of the season.
Class B East: Tongue River (9-0) vs. Guernsey-Sunrise (7-2). Tongue River won seven of its nine games by shutout and was the mythical state champion, but Guernsey-Sunrise may have presented a challenge, as the Vikings’ only losses were to Class A schools Wheatland and Glenrock.
Class B West: Byron (9-0) vs. Pinedale (8-2). This game would have pitted two streaky teams. Byron won its final five games of the season by a combined 202-6, while Pinedale lost its first two games of the season to Kemmerer and Big Piney but finished on an 8-0 streak.

–patrick

From 1962 to 1967 in all classes, and from 1962 to 1974 in Classes A and B-C, postseason football was shut down in Wyoming. No playoffs, no state championship games, nothing. Only an unsatisfying mythical championship that, in the end, was just opinion. The next several days, wyoming-football.com is taking a look at the title games and playoff brackets we missed out on in the “dead era” of the 1960s and 1970s.

Today, we examine the year 1974.

Class A: Torrington (9-0) vs. Kemmerer (9-0). By far the two best Class A teams in the state, the two teams both relied on defense. Kemmerer gave up just 35 points all season and had five shutouts, while Torrington had eight shutouts and gave up just six points ALL SEASON.
Class B East: Tongue River (9-0) vs. Saratoga (8-0). Tongue River was riding the tail end of its late 1960s/early 1970s dynasty, but had allowed only 30 points through nine games. Meanwhile, the only undefeated season in Saratoga school history was also built on defense, as the Panthers, like Torrington, had given up just six points all season — and that score was allowed on a kickoff return.
Class B West: Basin (7-1-1) vs. Cokeville (9-0-1). An early tie with Big Piney was the only mar on Cokeville’s schedule (the Panthers beat the Punchers 35-12 later that season), while Basin’s only loss in the 1974 season was a 15-8 heartbreaker to unbeaten Tongue River.

(Note: Playoff brackets were formed using the system that was adopted statewide in 1975. Class AA brackets, when posted, will pit the AA North champion against the AA South champion, as that is how the classification was divided at that time.)

–patrick

In 2011, with the addition of Cheyenne South High School, Wyoming will have 63 high schools sponsoring football programs.

But, believe it or not, 63 programs is not Wyoming’s all-time high. Actually, Wyoming’s football program peak came many years prior to that — in 1957.

That season, 65 high schools sponsored football, the all-time peak in an ever-fluctuating tally of schools willing to sponsor the sport.

The fluctuations got me thinking about putting together a list of the number of programs per season. The result of that work is shown in a couple places, including the school details list available by clicking here and also in what I have posted below.

Unlike like the school details progression list, this count DOES account for programs that took one year off.

The numbers present an interesting picture of high school football’s growth in this state. From the explosions of the 1920s (organization) and 1930s (six-man) to the dips caused by World War II and by school consolidation, you can almost track the economic history of the state by simply looking at how many high school football programs existed that year. It’s really cool to take a look at and see the trends.

1900: 0 (no indications of any games played by any high school teams)
1901: 1
1902: 1
1903: 1
1904: 1
1905: 1
1906: 1
1907: 1
1908: 6 (sudden, surprising mini-boom of the sport at HS level)
1909: 5
1910: 5
1911: 3
1912: 5
1913: 4
1914: 4
1915: 3
1916: 4
1917: 4
1918: 0 (state/national/international influenza epidemic)
1919: 5
1920: 7
1921: 18 (explosion in organized HS sports in Wyo)
1922: 26
1923: 31
1924: 36 (primary explosion slows)
1925: 33
1926: 35
1927: 37
1928: 36
1929: 31
1930: 38
1931: 39
1932: 38
1933: 36
1934: 39 (first year of six-man)
1935: 42
1936: 46
1937: 40
1938: 49 (small schools keep joining the ranks, six-man expands)
1939: 55
1940: 61
1941: 64 (six-man hits its peak)
1942: 50 (December 7, 1941, and its repercussions)
1943: 51
1944: 51
1945: 48 (bottoming out during closing days of WWII)
1946: 52
1947: 51
1948: 55
1949: 55
1950: 58 (rebounding, finding the budget/will again after WWII)
1951: 56
1952: 58
1953: 63
1954: 60
1955: 64
1956: 63
1957: 65 (all-time peak in Wyoming)
1958: 61 (reality check/first wave of school consolidation begins)
1959: 62
1960: 64
1961: 64
1962: 61
1963: 58 (first wave of consolidation ends)
1964: 58
1965: 60
1966: 60
1967: 61
1968: 62
1969: 62
1970: 61
1971: 61
1972: 63
1973: 63
1974: 63
1975: 63 (second wave of school consolidation begins)
1976: 62
1977: 61
1978: 61
1979: 61
1980: 60
1981: 60
1982: 56
1983: 58 (second wave of consolidation ends)
1984: 57
1985: 57
1986: 57
1987: 58
1988: 61
1989: 60
1990: 60
1991: 58 (ill-fated experiments with eight-man die; program and school stability takes over)
1992: 58
1993: 57
1994: 58
1995: 58
1996: 58
1997: 58
1998: 58
1999: 58
2000: 59
2001: 59
2002: 59
2003: 59
2004: 59
2005: 59
2006: 59
2007: 59
2008: 59
2009: 62 (rebirth of six-man)
2010: 62
2011: anticipated 63

Not a text-type person? Well check out this graph of teams per year:

–patrick

With only a couple of exceptions, the 2011 season schedule — including kickoff times — has been completed. The schedules by week are posted below.

Four schools have not yet submitted schedules to wyoming-football.com. Coaches and administrators at Farson, Normative Services and Rocky Mountain did not respond to several email requests for schedules; the schedule for Midwest was still being adjusted at last notice and has not yet been completely finalized.

In a few cases, teams have listed different starting times for the same game. In those cases, I have listed the scheduled starting time provided by the home team.

Updates to the season schedule will be posted on the 2011 season page. Results will also be posted there throughout the season.

A couple items of note: The Zero Week schedule brought forth some intriguing games at the sub-4A level. Big Horn and Thermopolis, last year’s 2A title game participants, will face each other in the opening weekend, as will longtime rivals Wheatland and Torrington, whose series was almost cut short after Wheatland moved from 3A to 2A. Also, only one jamboree is scheduled for Zero Week this season, as Pine Bluffs and Southeast will meet in Burns.

The regular-season schedule includes only one neutral-site game: Southeast and Normative Services are scheduled to meet in Casper for the third consecutive year on Sept. 30.

The schedule is as follows:

Week 0
Games
Friday, Aug. 26
Class 4A
Cheyenne Central at Sheridan, 6 p.m.
Cheyenne East at Kelly Walsh, 7 p.m.
Cheyenne South at Natrona, 7 p.m.
Evanston at Gillette, 7 p.m.
Rock Springs at Laramie, 7 p.m.
Class 3A
Worland at Riverton, 7 p.m.
Class 2A
Big Horn at Thermopolis, 7 p.m.
Interclass
Riverside at Greybull, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 27
Interclass
Lander at Kemmerer, 1 p.m.
Rawlins at Mountain View, 1 p.m.
Riverside JV at Ten Sleep, noon
St. Stephens at Hanna, 1 p.m.
Torrington at Wheatland, TBA
Interstate
Altamont, Utah, at Lyman, 4 p.m.
Custer, S.D., at Newcastle, 7 p.m.
Laurel, Mont., at Cody, 7 p.m.
Miles City, Mont., at Powell, 6 p.m.
Scrimmages and Jamborees
Saturday, Aug. 27
Big Piney at Wind River, 1 p.m.
Glenrock at Kelly Walsh JV, 11 a.m.
Jackson at Pinedale, 1 p.m.
Lovell at Douglas, 1:30 p.m.
Pine Bluffs/Southeast at Burns jamboree, 9 a.m.
Tongue River at Rocky Mountain, 4 p.m.
Wright at Lusk, 10:30 a.m.
Wyoming Indian at Shoshoni, 10 a.m.
Off: Buffalo, Burlington, Cokeville, Dubois, Green River, Guernsey, Hulett, Kaycee, Lingle, Meeteetse, Moorcroft, Saratoga, Shoshoni, Snake River, Star Valley, Sundance, Upton.
Week 0 TBA: Farson, Midwest, Normative Services.

Week 1
Thursday, Sept. 1
Interclass
Moorcroft at Sundance, 4 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 2
Class 4A
Cheyenne Central at Cheyenne South, 7 p.m.
Evanston at Kelly Walsh, 7 p.m.
Gillette at Rock Springs, 7 p.m.
Laramie at Cheyenne East, 7 p.m.
Sheridan at Natrona, 7 p.m.
Class 3A
Buffalo at Worland, 6 p.m.
Douglas at Green River, 7 p.m.
Riverton at Powell, 7 p.m.
Class 2A
Glenrock at Thermopolis, 7 p.m.
Greybull at Big Horn, 1 p.m.
Lyman at Tongue River, 2 p.m.
Wright at Lovell, 7 p.m.
Class 1A 11-man
Pine Bluffs at Wyoming Indian, 6 p.m.
Saratoga at Lingle, 6 p.m.
Upton at Shoshoni, 4 p.m.
Class 1A six-man
Kaycee at Hanna, 3 p.m.
Midwest at Dubois, 1 p.m.
Interclass
Big Piney at Burlington, 3 p.m.
Burns at Lusk, 7 p.m.
Cokeville at Mountain View, 3:30 p.m.
Lander at Wheatland, 6 p.m.
Pinedale at Riverside, 7 p.m.
Southeast at Newcastle, 7 p.m.
Wind River at Kemmerer, 4 p.m.
Interstate
Chadron, Neb., at Torrington, 7 p.m.
Hardin, Mont., at Cody, 7 p.m.
Rawlins at Sidney, Neb., 7 p.m.
Star Valley at Snake River, Idaho, 7 p.m.
Teton, Idaho, at Jackson, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 3
Class 1A six-man
Hulett at Guernsey, 2 p.m.
Meeteetse at Farson, 3 p.m.
Ten Sleep at Snake River, 2 p.m.
Date and time TBA
Class 1A 11-man
Rocky Mountain at Normative Services, TBA

Week 2
Thursday, Sept. 8
Class 1A 11-man
Shoshoni at Wind River, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 9
Class 4A
Cheyenne East at Gillette, 7 p.m.
Cheyenne South at Sheridan, 6 p.m.
Kelly Walsh at Laramie, 7 p.m.
Natrona at Cheyenne Central, 7 p.m.
Rock Springs at Evanston, 7 p.m.
Class 3A
Cody at Douglas, 7 p.m.
Green River at Riverton, 7 p.m.
Lander at Star Valley, 7 p.m.
Powell at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Rawlins at Jackson, 7 p.m.
Torrington at Worland, 6 p.m.
Class 2A
Big Horn at Burns, 6 p.m.
Kemmerer at Lyman, 5 p.m.
Lovell at Pinedale, 7 p.m.
Mountain View at Greybull, 7 p.m.
Newcastle at Moorcroft, 1 p.m.
Thermopolis at Big Piney, 2:30 p.m.
Tongue River at Glenrock, 6 p.m.
Wheatland at Wright, 7 p.m.
Class 1A 11-man
Burlington at Saratoga, 2 p.m.
Lingle at Upton, 7 p.m.
Normative Services at Pine Bluffs, 5 p.m.
Riverside at Cokeville, 2 p.m.
Sundance at Southeast, 7 p.m.
Wyoming Indian at Rocky Mountain, 4 p.m.
Class 1A six-man
Farson at Kaycee, 3 p.m.
Hanna at Hulett, 2 p.m.
Meeteetse at Midwest, 7 p.m.
Interstate
Lusk at Hill City, S.D., 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 10
Class 1A six-man
Guernsey at Ten Sleep, 3 p.m.
Snake River at Dubois, 3 p.m.
Interclass
Kaycee JV at St. Stephens, noon

Week 3
Thursday, Sept. 15
Interclass
Cheyenne East sophs at Lingle, 6 p.m.
Dubois JV at St. Stephens, TBA
Friday, Sept. 16
Class 4A
Cheyenne Central at Cheyenne East, 5 p.m.
Gillette at Kelly Walsh, 7 p.m.
Laramie at Cheyenne South, 7 p.m.
Natrona at Rock Springs, 7 p.m.
Sheridan at Evanston, 7 p.m.
Class 3A
Buffalo at Green River, 7 p.m.
Cody at Riverton, 7 p.m.
Jackson at Lander, 7 p.m.
Powell at Torrington, 6 p.m.
Star Valley at Douglas, 7 p.m.
Worland at Rawlins, 7 p.m.
Class 2A
Big Piney at Mountain View, 4 p.m.
Burns at Newcastle, 7 p.m.
Glenrock at Wheatland, 7 p.m.
Greybull at Thermopolis, 7 p.m.
Lyman at Lovell, 7 p.m.
Moorcroft at Tongue River, 2 p.m.
Pinedale at Kemmerer, 2 p.m.
Wright at Big Horn, 1 p.m.
Class 1A 11-man
Burlington at Shoshoni, 6 p.m.
Cokeville at Saratoga, 2 p.m.
Lusk at Southeast, 7:30 p.m.
Pine Bluffs at Sundance, 3 p.m.
Rocky Mountain at Riverside, 7 p.m.
Upton at Normative Services, 7 p.m.
Wind River at Wyoming Indian, 7 p.m.
Class 1A six-man
Midwest at Hanna, 3 p.m.
Ten Sleep at Farson, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 17
Class 1A six-man
Dubois at Meeteetse, 3 p.m.
Guernsey at Snake River, 3 p.m.
Hulett at Kaycee, 3 p.m.

Week 4
Tuesday, Sept. 20
Interclass
St. Stephens at Farson JV, TBA
Thursday, Sept. 22
Class 1A 11-man
Rocky Mountain at Wind River, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 23
Class 4A
Cheyenne East at Cheyenne South, 7 p.m.
Evanston at Cheyenne Central, 7 p.m.
Kelly Walsh at Natrona, 6 p.m.
Laramie at Gillette, 7 p.m.
Rock Springs at Sheridan, 7 p.m.
Class 3A
Douglas at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Green River at Cody, 7 p.m.
Jackson at Powell, 6 p.m.
Riverton at Rawlins, 7 p.m.
Star Valley at Worland, 6 p.m.
Torrington at Lander, 6 p.m.
Class 2A
Big Horn at Glenrock, 6 p.m.
Big Piney at Lyman, 4 p.m.
Kemmerer at Thermopolis, 7 p.m.
Lovell at Mountain View, 4 p.m.
Newcastle at Wright, 7 p.m.
Pinedale at Greybull, 7 p.m.
Tongue River at Burns, 6 p.m.
Wheatland at Moorcroft, 2 p.m.
Class 1A 11-man
Lingle at Lusk, 7:30 p.m.
Riverside at Burlington, 3 p.m.
Saratoga at Wyoming Indian, 6 p.m.
Shoshoni at Cokeville, 1 p.m.
Southeast at Pine Bluffs, 7:30 p.m.
Sundance at Upton, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 24
Class 1A six-man
Hanna at Guernsey, 3 p.m.
Kaycee at Dubois, 1 p.m.
Snake River at Meeteetse, 2 p.m.
Ten Sleep at Hulett, 3 p.m.
Date and time TBA
Class 1A six-man
Farson at Midwest, TBA
Open: Normative Services

Week 5
Tuesday, Sept. 27
Interclass
Farson JV at St. Stephens, TBA
Friday, Sept. 30
Class 4A
Cheyenne Central at Laramie, 7 p.m.
Cheyenne South at Evanston, 7 p.m.
Natrona at Cheyenne East, 7 p.m.
Rock Springs at Kelly Walsh, 7 p.m.
Sheridan at Gillette, 7 p.m.
Class 3A
Cody at Jackson, 7 p.m.
Lander at Douglas, 7 p.m.
Powell at Star Valley, 4 p.m.
Rawlins at Torrington, 7 p.m.
Riverton at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Worland at Green River, 7 p.m.
Class 2A
Big Horn at Wheatland, 6 p.m.
Burns at Moorcroft, 3 p.m.
Kemmerer at Big Piney, 3 p.m.
Lovell at Greybull, 7 p.m.
Mountain View at Pinedale, 7 p.m.
Newcastle at Glenrock, 6 p.m.
Thermopolis at Lyman, 2 p.m.
Wright at Tongue River, 2 p.m.
Class 1A 11-man
Cokeville at Rocky Mountain, 2 p.m.
Lingle at Sundance, 1 p.m.
Lusk at Pine Bluffs, 7:30 p.m.
Riverside at Shoshoni, 6 p.m.
Southeast vs. Normative Services, at Casper, 6 p.m.
Wind River at Saratoga, 3:30 p.m.
Wyoming Indian at Burlington, 3 p.m.
Class 1A six-man
Dubois at Ten Sleep, 3 p.m.
Hulett at Midwest, 7 p.m.
Meeteetse at Kaycee, 3 p.m.
Snake River at Hanna, 3 p.m.
Interstate
Upton at Hill City, S.D., TBA
Saturday, Oct. 1
Class 1A six-man
Guernsey at Farson, 2 p.m.

Week 6
Thursday, Oct. 6
Interclass
Scottsbluff, Neb., JV at Southeast, 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 7
Class 4A
Cheyenne East at Rock Springs, 7 p.m.
Cheyenne South at Kelly Walsh, 7 p.m.
Gillette at Cheyenne Central, 7 p.m.
Natrona at Evanston, 6 p.m.
Sheridan at Laramie, 7 p.m.
Class 3A
Buffalo at Lander, 7 p.m.
Green River at Jackson, 7 p.m.
Rawlins at Douglas, 7 p.m.
Star Valley at Cody, 7 p.m.
Torrington at Riverton, 6 p.m.
Worland at Powell, 7 p.m.
Class 2A
Glenrock at Wright, 7 p.m.
Lyman at Mountain View, 4 p.m.
Moorcroft at Big Horn, 1 p.m.
Pinedale at Big Piney, 4 p.m.
Thermopolis at Lovell, 7 p.m.
Tongue River at Newcastle, 7 p.m.
Wheatland at Burns, 7 p.m.
Class 1A 11-man
Burlington at Wind River, 6 p.m.
Cokeville at Wyoming Indian, 6 p.m.
Lusk at Sundance, 3 p.m.
Normative Services at Lingle, 7:30 p.m.
Pine Bluffs at Upton, 5 p.m.
Saratoga at Riverside, 6 p.m.
Shoshoni at Rocky Mountain, 4 p.m.
Class 1A six-man
Dubois at Hanna, 3 p.m.
Kaycee at Snake River, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 8
Class 2A
Greybull at Kemmerer, 2 p.m.
Class 1A six-man
Farson at Hulett, 1 p.m.
Midwest at Guernsey, 3 p.m.
Ten Sleep at Meeteetse, 2 p.m.

Week 7
Thursday, Oct. 13
Class 4A
Evanston at Cheyenne East, 7 p.m.
Class 2A
Lyman at Pinedale, 6 p.m.
Interclass
St. Stephens at Kaycee JV, 2 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 14
Class 4A
Cheyenne Central at Rock Springs, 7 p.m.
Gillette at Cheyenne South, 7 p.m.
Kelly Walsh at Sheridan, 7 p.m.
Laramie at Natrona, 7 p.m.
Class 3A
Cody at Powell, 7 p.m.
Douglas at Riverton, 7 p.m.
Green River at Star Valley, 7 p.m.
Jackson at Worland, 6 p.m.
Lander at Rawlins, 7 p.m.
Torrington at Buffalo, 6 p.m.
Class 2A
Big Piney at Greybull, 7 p.m.
Glenrock at Burns, 7 p.m.
Kemmerer at Lovell, 6 p.m.
Mountain View at Thermopolis, 7 p.m.
Newcastle at Wheatland, 7 p.m.
Tongue River at Big Horn, 1 p.m.
Wright at Moorcroft, 1 p.m.
Class 1A 11-man
Normative Services at Lusk, 7 p.m.
Pine Bluffs at Lingle, 7:30 p.m.
Rocky Mountain at Burlington, 2 p.m.
Shoshoni at Saratoga, 3 p.m.
Southeast at Upton, 7 p.m.
Wind River at Cokeville, 2 p.m.
Wyoming Indian at Riverside, 7 p.m.
Class 1A six-man
Snake River at Midwest, 6 p.m.
Interstate
Sundance at Hill City, S.D., 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 15
Class 1A six-man
Guernsey at Meeteetse, 1 p.m.
Hanna at Farson, 2 p.m.
Hulett at Dubois, 1 p.m.
Kaycee at Ten Sleep, 2 p.m.

Week 8
Thursday, Oct. 20
Class 1A 11-man
Wyoming Indian at Shoshoni, 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 21
Class 4A
Kelly Walsh at Cheyenne Central, 6 p.m.
Laramie at Evanston, 7 p.m.
Natrona at Gillette, 7 p.m.
Rock Springs at Cheyenne South, 7 p.m.
Sheridan at Cheyenne East, 6 p.m.
Class 3A
Buffalo at Rawlins, 6 p.m.
Douglas at Torrington, 7 p.m.
Jackson at Star Valley, 7 p.m.
Powell at Green River, 7 p.m.
Riverton at Lander, 6 p.m.
Worland at Cody, 7 p.m.
Class 2A
Big Horn at Newcastle, 7 p.m.
Burns at Wright, 7 p.m.
Greybull at Lyman, 4 p.m.
Lovell at Big Piney, 3:30 p.m.
Moorcroft at Glenrock, 7 p.m.
Mountain View at Kemmerer, 3 p.m.
Thermopolis at Pinedale, 7 p.m.
Wheatland at Tongue River, 2 p.m.
Class 1A 11-man
Burlington at Cokeville, 1 p.m.
Lingle at Southeast, 6 p.m.
Riverside at Wind River, 6 p.m.
Saratoga at Rocky Mountain, 4 p.m.
Sundance at Normative Services, 7 p.m.
Upton at Lusk, 7 p.m.
Class 1A six-man
Farson at Snake River, noon
Hanna at Ten Sleep, 1 p.m.
Meeteetse at Hulett, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 22
Class 1A six-man
Dubois at Guernsey, 2 p.m.
Midwest at Kaycee, 3 p.m.
Open: Pine Bluffs

Quarterfinal playoffs: Oct. 28-29, at higher seed
Semifinal playoffs: Nov. 4-5, at higher seed
Championships: Nov. 11-12, at War Memorial Stadium, Laramie

Never in the 38 years of the Shrine Bowl have we seen a combined offensive performance like this.

The North and South squads combined for 62 points, 786 yards, eight touchdowns and a whole lot of excitement on Saturday — and the fact that the North won 34-28 is almost overwhelmed by the performance of both teams’ offenses.

Almost.

The North built a 24-7 lead, and then held on as the South chipped away at the lead, twice cutting it to six points in the second half (27-21 and 34-28).

Although the North always seemed in control, especially after building the big lead early, the South’s quick pace on offense created some problems for North defenders. Evanston’s Jeff Lee squeezed out holes in the North pass defense and caught three touchdown passes from Wheatland’s Ward Anderson; Anderson also tossed a score to Justin Melton.

However, the North defense limited South’s running backs to just 71 yards on 26 carries. In the end, that was the most glaring difference between the two teams. Both squads threw for about the same amount of yards, 234 for the South and 214 for the North, but the South’s 71 rushing yards stands in stark contrast to the 267 rushing yards the North tallied up on 60 carries.

In a game where offense was in the forefront, a defensive play helped the North stave off the South’s comeback.

Early in the second quarter, Sheridan linebacker Dawson Osborn intercepted a Thad Lane pass and ran it back 25 yards for a touchdown, a score that gave the North a 17-7 lead. A demoralized South punted after one first down on its next drive, and the North then proceeded on its game-breaking drive: 13 plays, 63 yards, 6 minutes, 21 seconds. The drive, capped by Cole Montgomery’s 10-yard touchdown run on a third-and-goal from the 10, gave the North a 24-7 lead.

The South answered right back with a 36-yard Anderson-to-Lee strike right before halftime, and although Lee and Melton scored for the South in the second half, it was too little too late.

The game was spoiled somewhat late in the fourth quarter when Snake River’s Sean Rietveld had to be carted off the field after suffering what appeared to be a severe leg injury. Chatter on the sidelines during the delay indicated that Rietveld may have broken his leg, but no official word is available at this time. Rietveld, the only six-man player on the South squad, finished with four catches for 46 yards from his tight end position.

What did you think of this year’s Shrine Bowl? What moments stick out in your mind as the most memorable or noteworthy? Comment below with your thoughts.

–patrick

Shrine Bowl Records
Unofficial; as compiled by Patrick Schmiedt
Top three in each category, plus extras for North/South team records
From 1974-2010
Records from 1991-1994, 1996-1997 are incomplete; records from the 2009 game, which was cut short by weather, are not included
INDIVIDUAL
Total offense (passing, rushing and receiving)

308 Corky Davis, Natrona, 1975 (North)
291 Darin Schiller, Upton, 1984 (North)
204 Thaine Wilkins, Gillette, 2006 (North) (196 pass, 8 rush)

198 Scott Muir, Rawlins, 2001 (South) (74 rush, 124 receive)
Carries
44 Travis Bandemer, Laramie, 1988 (South)
28 Larry Deal, Natrona, 1976 (North)
27 Steve Dover, Kemmerer, 1975 (South); Terrence Johnson, Central, 1980 (South)
Rushing Yards
177 Steve Dover, Kemmerer, 1975 (South); Travis Bandemer, Laramie, 1988 (South)
145 Matt Romanowski, Rock Springs, 2003 (South); Mark Ruggles, Laramie, 1992 (South)

140 Jim Pehringer, Sheridan, 1987 (North)
Passing Attempts
45 Darin Schiller, Upton, 1984 (North)
35 Thaine Wilkins, Gillette, 2006 (North)
30 John McDougall, Cody, 1986 (North)

29 Kyle Crandall, Evanston, 2008 (South)
Passing Completions
22 Darin Schiller, Upton, 1984 (North)
18 Thaine Wilkins, Gillette, 2006 (North)
16 Corky Davis, Natrona, 1975 (North)

13 Kyle Crandall, Evanston, 2008; Wesley Padilla, Green River, 2010 (South)
Passing Yards
315 Darin Schiller, Upton, 1984 (North)
277 Corky Davis, Natrona, 1975 (North)
204 Adam Fitch, Gillette, 2001 (North)

189 Corey Bramlet, Wheatland, 2001 (South)
Touchdown Passes
4 Darin Schiller, Upton, 1984 (North)
3 Thaine Wilkins, Gillette, 2006 (North); T.J. Ramaeker, Gillette, 1999 (North)
2 Brick Cegelski, Cheyenne Central, 2007 (South); Levi Greenwood, Big Piney, 2006 (South); Ben Trautwein, Wheatland, 1994 (South); Brooks Shepard, Wheatland, 1985 (South); Blake Scott, Douglas, 1984 (North); Mark Martini, Sheridan, 1983 (North); Dave Gosnell, Kelly Walsh, 1981 (North)
Catches
8 Chuck Johnson, Sheridan, 1984 (North)
7 Clifford Hill, Natrona, 1975 (North); Jeremy Zebroski, Lander, 1995 (North)
6 Dustin Worthington, Glenrock, 2010 (South); Scott Cogdill, Natrona, 2004 (North); Darren Neely, Cheyenne East, 2008 (South); JeNey Jackson, Guernsey, 1993 (South); Eric Naugle, Sheridan, 1986 (North); Elivis Cooper, Rawlins, 1978 (South)
Receiving Yards
151 Chuck Johnson, Sheridan, 1984 (North)
133 Clifford Hill, Natrona, 1975 (North)
125 Robb Lewis, Natrona, 1981 (North)

124 Scott Muir, Rawlins, 2001 (South)
Touchdown Catches
3 Blake Richendifer, Douglas, 2007 (South)
2 Taylor Villegas, Natrona, 2010 (North); Ryan McGuffey, Riverton, 1999 (North); Wes Davis, Evanston, 1994 (South); Jon Schroeder, Douglas, 1985 (South); Brent Saunders, Evanston, 1984 (South); Chuck Johnson, Sheridan, 1984 (North); John Robinson, Kelly Walsh, 1984 (North); Robb Lewis, Natrona, 1981 (North)
Field Goals Made
4 Brooks Paskett, Riverton, 1998 (North)
2 Colter Rood, Green River, 2010 (South); Matt Frost, Cody, 2010 (North); Jonathan Haidsiak, Rock Springs, 1999 (South); Jason Yockey, Meeteetse, 1994 (North); Chris Michie, Rawlins, 1986 (South); Dennis Rate, Natrona, 1980 (North)
Longest Field Goal
48 Jordan Abrams, Star Valley, 2008 (South)
47 Dennis Rate, Natrona, 1980 (North)
44 Brooks Paskett, Riverton, 1998 (North); Sean Powers, Gillette, 1989 (North)
PAT Kicks Made
4 Larry Demshar, Rock Springs, 1993 (South)
3 Matt Frost, Cody, 2010 (North); Kraig Tafoya, Cheyenne Central, 2006 (South); Dusty Rodriguez, Laramie, 1994 (South); Sean Powers, Gillette, 1989 (North); McKay Erickson, Star Valley, 1985 (South); John Mitchell, Sheridan, 1983 (North); Ken Crouse, Kelly Walsh, 1982 (North)

TEAM
Total offense

(possible record set by 1997 North team, which ran for 488 yards)
439 South, 2001
438 South, 2003
422 North, 2001
Offensive Touchdowns
5 South, 1985
4 North, 1983; North, 1984; South, 1988; South, 1991
Rushes
74 North, 1976
72 South, 1988
71 South, 1979
Rushing Yards
488 North, 1997
438 South, 2003
366 South, 1981
Passing Attempts
46 North, 1984
37 North, 2006
32 North, 1986

29 South, 2008
Completions
22 North, 1984
18 North, 2006
17 North, 2004

15 South, 1980
Passing Yards
315 North, 1984
277 North, 1975
207 North, 1986

189 South, 2001
Points
39 North, 1983
37 South, 1985
36 South, 1993
Total Touchdowns
6 North, 1983
5 South, 1985; South, 1993
First Downs
24 South, 2007; North, 1983
22 South, 2001
Defense
Yards Allowed

7 South, 1974
61 North, 2005
74 South, 1979
Rushing Yards Allowed
-17 South, 1974
2 South, 1979
19 South, 1985; South, 1986

27 North, 2005
Passing Yards Allowed
0 North, 1981; North, 2003
2 South, 1979; North, 1976; North, 1975
Interceptions
7 North, 1989
4 South, 1974
3 North, 2008; South, 2002; North, 1998; South, 1986; South, 1976
First Downs Allowed
3 North, 2005; South, 1979
4 South, 1974
Fumble Recoveries
5 North, 1981
4 South, 2007; North, 2000; North, 1980; South, 1978

–patrick

Shrine Bowl preview (Casper Star-Tribune).

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I have been lucky enough to watch some Shrine Bowl practices this week — two by each team. And while I think the North has the advantage this year, the South has impressed me with how it has approached the week.

The North offense strikes me as one that is steady and consistent, but I am not sure how explosive it will be. Meanwhile, the South offense has shown it can strike from anywhere at anytime, but I do worry about the South’s ability to consistently put together time-sustaining drives.

Defensively, the North squad will be strong against the run but will have to prove they can stop the South’s potent passing attack to win. The South defense, though, has to punch up its run-stopping efforts to keep the North from just handing off, gaining five yards a pop and piling up 50 points in the process.

Overall, the North has more depth and has shown more consistency on both sides of the ball, which is why I think the North wins. The South will need its playmakers to make big plays — and it will need to keep the North off-balance to keep the North’s consistent play inconsistent.

–patrick

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