After Lingle’s big comeback against Pine Bluffs in the 2023 regular season, I put out the call on social media for the state’s biggest high school football comebacks. Then, in 2024, Wyoming had (at least) two more such comebacks. So now’s a good time to share this and continue to build. Here are all the Wyoming high school football games I can verify, so far, with a comeback of at least 20 points — and where the team that was behind ended up winning:
- 2023 (24 points): Lingle is down 24-0 to Pine Bluffs in the second half; Doggers rally to send the game into overtime and win 31-30 after stopping Pine Bluffs on a potential game-winning 2-point conversion on the final play of OT.
- 1999 (24 points): In the Class 3A semifinals, Powell races to a 24-0 lead on Douglas, but Douglas scores 28 straight, including the winning TD with 20 seconds to go, to win 28-24 and reach the 3A title game.
- 2024 (23 points): Midwest falls behind 59-36 to Hulett, in the second quarter no less, before rallying for a 94-93 victory in the game that sets the state record for most combined points in a single game.
- 1999 (23 points): Midwest (in my senior year as an Oiler) takes a 31-8 lead on Meeteetse in the third quarter; Longhorns score the game’s final 36 points and win 44-31.
- 2021 (22 points): Star Valley takes a 22-0 lead on Jackson at the half; Broncs score 28 unanswered after halftime and win 28-22.
- 2005 (21 points): Douglas jumps out to a 21-0 lead against Wheatland; Bulldogs rally and win 22-21 on the final play of the game.
- 2024 (20 points): Riverton falls behind 20-0 to Powell in a 3A playoff game; the Wolverines rallied to tie the game at 20 by the end of regulation, eventually winning 36-35 in double overtime.
- 2013 (20 points): Midwest trails Dubois 62-42 with less than three minutes to go in the 1A six-man semifinals; Oilers score three touchdowns in that span to win 64-62 and advance to a state title game.
- 1982 (20 points): In a Class B semifinal playoff, Saratoga falls behind to Moorcroft 20-0 in the third quarter, but David Jones scores three straight touchdowns to send the game to overtime; Panthers win 28-20 in extra time.
If you know of others, please let me know! I will gladly add them to this list, and I hope we can make this list grow together.
–patrick