1A six-man season preview

Every Friday for the next five Fridays, Wyoming-football.com will preview each one of Wyoming’s five football classifications. Today, we look at Class 1A-six man.

Four questions to answer
How will newcomers Dubois and Hulett affect the six-man mix? For the first time, the six-man classification is expanding, as Dubois and Hulett join the classification from the 11-man ranks to push the league’s tally to 10 schools. Hulett played a limited six-man schedule last year, going 2-4, but lost its only game against a current six-man varsity team, 67-20 to Midwest. Dubois, meanwhile, was a 1A-11 playoff qualifier last year and returns two all-state players — Mitchell Baker and Ty Finley — from that team.

Can Snake River repeat? The Rattlers had a breakout season in 2010, going 10-0 while winning every game by at least 16 points on their way to winning the six-man state championship. With two of the team’s four all-state players back this year, including a bevy of other players who saw significant playing time last fall, the boys from Baggs may be primed to start a streak of championships.

Will conferences affect the six-man hierarchy? Conference play in six-man football is back after a one-year absence. The teams are split into North and South divisions, with Meeteetse, Ten Sleep, Dubois, Hulett and Kaycee in the North and Snake River, Farson, Hanna, Guernsey-Sunrise and Midwest in the South. The biggest change with conference play comes in the form of playoff qualifying. The top four teams in each conference will make the playoffs, meaning that, for the first time, two teams will be left out when the postseason starts.

Will six-man continue to be a draw for smaller programs? With Hulett and Dubois dropping down to six-man and St. Stephens starting a junior varsity program this fall, six-man’s ranks continue to grow and strengthen. The real answer to this question won’t come until fall 2012 and the reclassification discussions, but if six-man’s current programs deliver on another strong year, watch for the number of schools in six-man to continue to grow as more small schools feel less anxiety about making the transition.

Four players to watch
Mitchell Baker, Dubois. If he puts up numbers like he did in 11-man last year, Baker might be the premiere running back in six-man this fall. Baker carried the ball 165 times for 1,297 yards and 11 touchdowns last fall and also forced nine turnovers on defense (seven fumble recoveries, two interceptions) in helping the Rams to the 11-man playoffs.

James Caro, Kaycee. The junior quarterback is halfway to becoming just Wyoming’s second four-time all-state selection in the past 40 years. He threw for 1,006 yards and had an insane 24-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio last season (yes, that’s right, 24 touchdowns and just one interception). He also intercepted seven passes on defense.

Daniel Wille, Snake River. Wille led the Rattlers with 18 touchdowns last fall, carrying 71 times for 786 yards. With all-purpose back Sean Rietveld graduated, Wille’s numbers should increase as he looks to take over the workhorse role.

Adam VanNorman, Midwest. The senior is coming off an injured knee that kept him from participating in track and field last spring, but the Oilers’ only all-state selection last fall will be key in his team’s attempt to chase down Snake River and Hanna in the South Conference.

Four key games
Snake River at Dubois, Week 2. The two preseason favorites meet early in the season and should give us a clear-cut favorite for the rest of six-man to aim for.

Midwest at Hanna, Week 3. While Snake River is definitely the early favorite in the South Conference, the Oilers and Miners both want to prove themselves as contenders. Winning this early season game will be crucial in accomplishing that task.

Snake River at Hanna, Week 5. The rematch of last year’s six-man state championship game comes at the season’s midpoint, and the Miners will be itching for a bit of revenge.

Kaycee at Ten Sleep, Week 7. If Dubois struggles to adapt to the style of six-man play in its first year, this game could end up being for the North Conference championship. Even if it’s not, these two teams always seem to put together a fun afternoon whenever they play each other.

Predicted order of finish
North: Dubois; Kaycee; Ten Sleep; Hulett; Meeteetse.
South: Snake River; Midwest; Hanna; Guernsey-Sunrise; Farson.

Trivia
Earlier, I mentioned Kaycee’s Caro as a contender to be a four-time all-state selection. Only one other player in the past 40 years has accomplished that feat in Wyoming. Who was it? Comment below with your guess, or with your thoughts about the upcoming six-man season.

–patrick