It’s a new day in Class 2A.
At one point or another in the past few years, the state championship road has gone through either Kemmerer or Glenrock.
In 2010, that road might go through Thermopolis. Or Big Horn. Or Big Piney. Or Lyman.
Yes, Lyman. The Eagles proved their legitimacy on Friday by soundly thumping Kemmerer, 41-6, in The Pit in Kemmerer.
It ended Kemmerer’s three-year reign of dominance among its western brethren. The Rangers had not lost a conference game since 2006, but all of a sudden are 0-1 in the 2A West thanks to the resurgent Eagles.
Lyman has been on the cusp of a big breakthrough like this for the last year or so, but didn’t put all the pieces together in quite the right order until Friday. Now that they have, the 2A West looks like one big mess at the top.
Big Piney, Lovell and Greybull also won their 2A West conference openers on Friday, and all four look like they have what it takes to win the conference. Fortunately, they’ll have plenty of chances to sort it out, starting with Lovell’s trip to Lyman next week, the first of many gut checks in a conference sure to provide a ton of excitement this fall.
Second mad props to Sundance, which proved that comparing scores is worthless when they beat Southeast 14-13 in Crook County. So explain this one to me: Moorcroft beats Sundance 6-0, Southeast beats Newcastle 27-7, Newcastle beats Moorcroft 36-6, and Sundance beats Southeast 14-13. Huh? It just goes to show that high school football isn’t decided on paper. Sundance beat Southeast for the first time since 1990 with a team that we learned two things about on Friday: it plays great defense (just 19 points allowed in two games) and it plays up to a challenge. It’s a great win for the ‘Dogs, who have the long trip to Pine Bluffs next week in what all of a sudden is a critical game in the race for playoff seeding.
Third mad props to Riverton, which shook up 3A’s predictability by taking it to Star Valley, 28-6. It’s another solid victory for a team that had a bit of a setback last week after struggling with turnovers. Those ailments are apparently all better now, and just in time, too. The 3A East looks more and more like it will have at least one deserving team left out of the playoffs come late October.
Fourth mad props to Kaycee, which proved it ain’t dead yet by making the short trip down to Midwest and taking care of the Oilers 48-38. Once again, I don’t think this is a demonstration of one team’s superiority or another’s inferiority. This is just another case of the six-man division showing us it won’t be as easy as it was last year. The state champion may have two or three losses by the time we’re all said and done. Heck, everyone in the division may have two or three losses by the time we’re all said and done. Can’t read too much into this — but, for Kaycee, it’s an important victory that might kick-start the Buckaroos as they face critical games against Hanna and Ten Sleep the next two weeks.
Fifth mad props to Dubois, which beat Rocky Mountain 13-12 and showed, just in case you weren’t sure, that these aren’t your big brother’s Rams. Dubois beat Rocky for the first time since 1985 and put together their first three-game winning streak (counting last year’s season finale) since 2004. With each passing week, the Rams are proving just how dangerous they can be. Can you imagine how hyped the Rams will be if they can beat Wind River next week?
Some other things I noticed this week:
Is there a more schizophrenic team in Wyoming than Evanston? … Green River is the best 0-3 team in the state. Just ask Sheridan. … Thanks to Buffalo for helping me keep their points per game average easy — it’s 41. … Tongue River could be one of those teams that really crimps their opponents’ style. If they keep rocking the boat, eventually they’ll capsize it. The Eagles have four winnable games the next four weeks before finishing the regular season with Thermopolis and Big Horn back to back. … Can anyone stop Cokeville? Short answer, no. Prolly not before Laramie, anyway. …
This week: 26-5 (84 percent). This season: 61-19 (76 percent).
The Lyman Eagles thank you for the prop Patrick. In my opinion every team on the Western side of 2A has a good shot at making the playoffs. The next six weeks should be interesting. Once again thanks for all that you do.
P.S. I went to see Evanston play on Friday night and they looked impressive. Their team speed is lights out.
Holmstrom – sure in 2A the west side has a shot at making play offs but I would just like to point out to you that the top three ranked teams – Thermopolis, Glenrock, and Big Horn – are all teams from the east.
Thanks, coach. Impressive win. Good luck the rest of the season!
The 2A West, I think, has some pretty good parity. I think, George, you’re right when you say the East is the stronger conference at the top, but the West is probably a shade stronger at the bottom — although that won’t mean much come playoff time….
–patrick
Lovell @ Lyman will be a HUGE game for the Bulldogs. Really looking forward to driving up from Ewetah to see it. Lyman looked great last week crushing Kemmerer. Lovell didn’t look bad, beating Pinedale in Lovell. Bulldogs are 2-0 but haven’t faced a really good opponent yet. This is their opportunity to make a statement. My son threw for 270 yds and a pair of tds. I have concerns about the ground game. They never ran the ball too effectively. However their D should keep them in the game (I hope). The LHS D played a fantastic game. Outside of a Pineale TD, after a fumble deep in Lovell territory, the defense basically stuffed PHS all nite long. Lyman is 1-1 but game Thermop a run. If Lovell does pull this game out, they might be the team to beat in the west, imo….
Jimi, I agree. I think that Lyman-Lovell game will be a big one. It’s kind of the first real big game you can point to on the schedule this season. Of course Big Piney and Greybull are still in the mix and that will make it interesting, but this big one this week will have a lot of influence in the final conference standings….
–patrick
Patrick- Yeah not forgetting Greybull. My son texted me this morning to inform me that Greybull is ranked 4th in 2A and Lovell 5th. That correct? If (Big if) the Bulldogs get past Lyman, then the Buffs becomes the next big game. And actually if they lose to Lyman, the Greybull game becomes even bigger imho. Oh hell, let’s just say every game is gonna be a big one so take ’em one at a time. Got an early prediction for fridays game or must I wait for the official “picks”??
Thnx
Jimi,
Actually, this week’s 2A rankings go Thermopolis-Big Horn-Glenrock-Big Piney, and then a tie for fifth between Greybull and Lovell. Lovell-Lyman is obviously a big one this week, but you’re right in saying that in the 2A West this year there’s really no such thing as a game that isn’t big.
I honestly haven’t decided who I’m taking in that Lovell-Lyman game yet. It’s one of those games that keeps me up at night. Oh, well. I’ll leave that one for the morning, I think. 🙂
–patrick