School: Torrington
Nickname: Trailblazers
Colors: maroon and white
Stadium: Wiseman Field
State championships: 1988 and 1990
Times worth remembering: Three distinct stretches of success mark Torrington’s program. The first came from 1953-58, when Torrington appeared in six consecutive state championship games — but lost all six. The second came in six seasons from 1969-74, where Torrington went 48-5 and piled up three undefeated seasons (9-0 in ’69, ’71 and ’74). The third was highlighted by a 10-0 season and the school’s first official state title in 1988, followed soon after by a 9-0 season and a 3A title in 1990.
Times worth forgetting: Since its last state championship game appearance in 1996, the Trailblazers have struggled to find consistency. From 1997-2010, the Trailblazers haven’t had a winning season and have had just one playoff victory. Twice in that span, in 2000 and again in 2006, Torrington went winless — the only two times that has happened in program history.
Best team: That depends on what you’re looking for. Want offense? The 1969 team is your choice — the Blazers ran up an amazing 46 points per game, including the modern record for single-game scoring in a 93-6 win over St. Mary’s, on their way to a 9-0 record and a third-place finish in the final AA-A poll. Want defense? The 1974 team is your choice — those Blazers gave up only six points the entire season, shutting out eight of their nine foes in a 9-0 season and a tie for the mythical Class A title. Only Glenrock, in a 19-6 loss, pierced Torrington’s goal line.
Biggest win: Before 1988, Torrington never had a title to call its own. After losing six consecutive championship games in the 1950s, and after not being able to claim an outright mythical state title despite three undefeated seasons in the 1960s and ‘70s, the 1988 3A championship game victory finally gave Torrington that long-awaited title no one else could claim. The 6-0 victory over Worland in Torrington was won by Jason Nickal’s 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and by a stout defense that allowed the Warriors only hints of offensive success.
Heartbreaker: All six of Torrington’s consecutive championship-game losses from 1953-58 stung, but none more than the 1955 loss to Worland. The two teams finished regulation tied at 14, and under the rules of the day the two teams had an odd way to break the tie. The ball was placed on the 50-yard line, and each team had five offensive plays apiece, alternating. After nine plays, Torrington had a one-yard advantage, but the Trailblazers couldn’t hold — Worland’s Terry Smothermon plunged across the 50 on the final play as Worland won the title by just a few feet. It was the third of Torrington’s four consecutive championship game losses to Worland; Torrington lost to Powell in 1957 and Cody in 1958.