The score was 44-21 — about what you’d expect in the Gillette-Evanston season opener.
Wait. What?
Evanston won the game? Not Gillette?
Oh. Well, that changes everything.
Yes, it really was Evanston, and not Gillette, that dominated. On the road. With a new coach. Coming off a 1-8 season.
All of the traditional reasons that Evanston should have lost on Friday did not mean anything to the Red Devils, who went from unknown afterthought to the center of attention in Class 4A football circles. Evanston burst out to a big lead early and made big plays all night long against the Camels, who never figured out how to stop the Red Devils’ offensive attack.
On an opening night that pretty much went according to the script, the Red Devils provided the dramatic turn of the plot in the final scene — the one that keeps the audience breathlessly waiting to see what happens next.
We only have to wait a few more days to see just that. Evanston hosts Natrona next week in an early showdown of 1-0 teams. Gillette, meanwhile, has to travel to Laramie and try to regroup against the Plainsmen, who also lost a tough season opener on Friday.
The only thing we can say with any certainty at this point of the season is that, with eight weeks remaining in the regular season, Evanston has already matched last year’s win total — and that no one will take them lightly the rest of the season.
Second mad props to Laurel, Mont., which beat Cody 21-12 on Saturday night.
Late Sunday edit: Third mad props to the Cheyenne East JV, which beat Southeast 20-16 on Saturday in Cheyenne. The T-Birds returned two punts for touchdowns, including one with a minute to go in the game, to knock off the Cyclones. That’s becoming a trend for East, isn’t it?
And that’s all I missed in the opening week of picks. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some games that deserve some mention:
I attended the Cheyenne East-Green River game on Friday, and even though East won 33-30, Green River was quite impressive. The Wolves kept the game interesting and never gave up, rallying for 23 points in the final 6:10 to keep it close. Obviously, East’s Jeremy Woods stole the show with 215 rushing yards and a 74-yard punt return touchdown, but don’t forget the Wolves had two backs with more than 100 rushing yards in Kolby Kester and Cooper Palmer….
Don’t underestimate either Lyman or Newcastle this year. Both teams played out-of-state foes down to the final minute on Friday, and even though they both lost, they both proved they have what it takes to hang in Class 2A this fall….
Riverton put up 49 points on Saturday in a big victory over Jackson. Like I said on Thursday, I think Riverton has been under the radar all offseason — something you have love as a team, because every week is another opportunity to prove yourselves and you don’t have to have expectations weighing you down. A tough draw of nonconference opponents (Powell, Star Valley and Lander) will test that notion, but if Saturday is any indication, the Wolverines could be 4-0 heading into their 3A East schedule. …
One other housekeeping note: The game between Powell and Miles City, Mont., was canceled due to a koala bear infestation up in Custer County…. It was the cutest infestation ever. Until I hear otherwise, that will be the reasoning I give. Thanks to Mitch Hedberg for the help on that game! 🙂
This week: 12-3 (80 percent). This season: 12-3 (80 percent).
–patrick
Thanks Kevin at Wyopreps for hooking me up with the Big Piney-Wind River score (25-0 Punchers)!
–patrick
You gonna disrespect half the 3A West in your props for Riverton Patrick? 🙂
Call me crazy, but I liked Riverton before Saturday and thought they could be dangerous. Saturday just sort of re-emphasized that hunch…. Of course, 4-0 is a long way away for Riverton and, typically, the 3A West usually gets the better of the 3A East in nonconference affairs…. short answer, yes, I will, but only this week. 😛
–patrick
Patrick, its was nice meeting you Friday night. Sorry about the issue on the door, however, I had no idea who you were, and frankly, okie blanchard brings the snarl out of me, if you know what I mean. Anyway,nice meeting you and I will see you down the road. Come to Wolves stadium, its a great place to watch high school football. The windows open when its hot, and we have heating when its cold. Steve Core
No probs, Steve. Okie is not exactly the most media-friendly box I’ve seen (the facility, not the people) so I understand the frustrations. I tried to close it when I could hear the East coaches through the wall… 🙂 After the sun went down it was much better in there for me, though. It was getting through that first half, I think, that was tough on everyone!
–patrick
No disrespect to Jackson or Bill Wiley, but Jackson wasn’t a very strong team last year, and they graduated all of their best players. Nonetheless, good win for the Riverton Wolverines.
Good point Sisco, and Bill isn’t the head coach anymore, although I understand that he is still with the staff.
Oh, my mistake. I thought he was still HC. That being said, as much as i hate to say it, the East will be running things this year in 3A. The only team that has a plausible chance of getting out of the playoffs is the #1 seed. Even with the number two seed in the West, the East will have 3 strong teams.
Dahl, do you know if James Howell and Chris Howell are related?
–patrick
Patrick –
They are not related anywhere along the line