Week 1 picks

Douglas’ current 30-game winning streak has been full of challenges.

No challenge to the streak, though, may be bigger than the one the Bearcats will face starting at 7 p.m. Friday in Green River.

Whether the Bearcats can continue one of the most impressive winning streaks in state history will rest on their ability to play up to the challenge that the Wolves are certain to bring.

Green River, after all, has spent the past 30-plus years as a member of Wyoming’s big-school football classifications (AA, 4A or 5A, depending on what it was called at the time). And this is the Wolves’ first game back at the 3A level.

This is the game the Wolves want — how do they stack up against 3A’s best team the past three years?

This is the game the Bearcats want — how do they stack up against a school that is more or less still a 4A school in terms of talent and experience?

This is the game the fans want — can Douglas keep its winning streak going while overcoming a long road trip and a tough team at the end of the trip?

All of those subplots come together in Sweetwater County on Friday night.

But, as mentioned before, this is not the first time Douglas has been challenged on its streak. Every time, though, the Bearcats have responded the way champions do. That’s why I am picking the Bearcats to win on Friday. (GR 1-0)

Here is a quick glance at the rest of this week’s games, with projected winners in bold:

Thursday
Interclass
Moorcroft at Sundance: This game was a tight one right down to the final gun last year. Expect the same this year. 4 p.m. (Mor 35-26)
Interstate
Lyman at Ririe, Idaho: Lyman came out on fire in Zero Week. We’ll see if that trend continues here as the Eagles play their second consecutive out-of-state foe. 7 p.m. (First meeting)
Friday
Class 4A
Cheyenne Central at Cheyenne South: The Bison will be fired up for their home opener, but the Indians have the upper hand in this one. 7 p.m. (First meeting)
Evanston at Kelly Walsh: If you didn’t know already, last week proved just how dangerous Evanston can be. Don’t sleep on the Red Devils just because they lost. 7 p.m. (Eva 10-4)
Gillette at Rock Springs: The Camels will be just fine this year. The Tigers, though, could present a challenge after last week’s gritty OT victory. 7 p.m. (Gil 11-5)
Laramie at Cheyenne East: I think both teams are better than they were last year. East just started from a better place than Laramie did. 7 p.m. (Lar 33-21)
Sheridan at Natrona: Game of the week in 4A. By the time it’s all said and done, it may be the game of the year. 7 p.m. (NC 51-41-6)
Class 3A
Buffalo at Worland: The Warriors haven’t beaten the Bison since the 2003 4A title game. Even so, don’t count Worland out of this one, especially at home. Either way, the winner wins by less than a touchdown. 6 p.m. (Wor 13-11)
Riverton at Powell: When you combine the scores from their two games from last year, these squads tied each other 20-20. I think this one will be another close, low-scoring type of game, one that may hinge on a big play late. 7 p.m. (Pow 36-29-3)
Class 2A
Glenrock at Thermopolis: The Bobcats proved last week that they’re still legit. 7 p.m. (Glk 17-12)
Greybull at Big Horn: This should be one of the best games of the week — if both teams play up to their potential. 1 p.m. (BH 12-3)
Wright at Lovell: If the length of the road trip doesn’t get to the Panthers, they have a chance. But the Bulldogs are pretty darn good this year. 7 p.m. (Lov 4-0)
Class 1A 11-man
Pine Bluffs at Wyoming Indian: Expect a solid effort out of the Chiefs in their first game back in the 1A ranks, but the Hornets will probably be just too much. 6 p.m. (First meeting)
Rocky Mountain at Normative Services: The Grizzlies have absolutely owned this series the past two years. Count on more of the same. 6 p.m. (RM 2-0)
Saratoga at Lingle: The Doggers have been somewhat lost in the discussion of 1A 11-man’s top  teams this fall. Watch for them to have a breakout game against the Panthers. 6 p.m. (Lin 14-9)
Upton at Shoshoni: You heard it here first — this is the week the Wranglers break their losing streak. (Well, unless the Bobcats see this and take my pick personally….) 4 p.m. (tied 1-1)
Class 1A six-man
Kaycee at Hanna: Ooh. What a great test for both teams right out of the gate. The winner of this game makes a huge statement to the rest of six-man. 3 p.m. (tied 1-1)
Midwest at Dubois: The Rams didn’t catch a break in drawing the Oilers in their first six-man game. Nevertheless, the Rams have the talent to win this one, although it might be uncomfortably close. 1 p.m. (Mid 5-4)
Interclass
Big Piney at Burlington: This is one game where school size may not be evident in the first quarter but will be clear in the fourth. 3 p.m. (BP 2-0)
Burns at Lusk: No Burns players have ever seen a Broncs victory in Lusk: The Broncs have not won at Fullmer Stadium since 1990. Look for that run to end on Friday. 7 p.m. (Lus 23-8)
Cokeville at Mountain View: Is Cokeville as legit as everyone seems to think they are? The Buffalos will be a great gauge for that assumption. 3:30 p.m. (Cok 31-16-1)
Lander at Wheatland: Interesting interclass matchup between two teams who have not played each other since 2000. To be honest, I’m not quite sure what to expect — which kind of makes me want to go watch this one. 6 p.m. (Lan 4-3)
Pinedale at Riverside: I make this pick based on location alone. In Pinedale, I would probably go Wranglers, but in Basin I will go Rebels. 7 p.m. (Rsd 5-2)
Southeast at Newcastle: One of the more interesting interclass games on the schedule the past couple years, the Cyclones have proven over and over again that they can play with the bigger schools. 7 p.m. (SE 2-0)
Wind River at Kemmerer: It’s kind of surprising to think about it, but neither one of these teams made the playoffs last season. Both squads are looking to improve on last year’s finishes, but in The Pit I will go with the Rangers. 4 p.m. (First meeting)
Interstate
Chadron, Neb., at Torrington: The Trailblazers have not beaten the Cardinals since 1999. This one should be close, but Chadron always seems to have Torrington’s number. 7 p.m. (Cha 15-1)
Hardin, Mont., at Cody: Cody had a rough opening weekend. They’ll learn from that experience, though. 7 p.m. (tied 3-3)
Rawlins at Sidney, Neb.: Rawlins’ first trip to Nebraska in program history will be a tough challenge to start the season. 7 p.m. (First meeting)
Star Valley at Snake River, Idaho: Snake River has a running back named Emmett Smith. Any defensive linemen on the Braves named Bruce Smith? 7 p.m. (Snake 4-1)
Teton, Idaho, at Jackson: Teton’s one advantage is the one victory it has under its belt. Still, this one could go either way. 7 p.m. (Teton 14-12)
Saturday
Class 1A six-man
Hulett at Guernsey: This interesting north-south matchup may come down to the final possession. 2 p.m. (Gue 3-2)
Meeteetse at Farson: Farson has made strides the past two seasons and it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Pronghorns knock off the Longhorns. Even so, I will take Meeteetse. 3 p.m. (Met 3-0)
Ten Sleep at Snake River: Ten Sleep was impressive last week, but the Rattlers are still the defending state champions…. 2 p.m. (tied 1-1)

There they are, the first full week of picks. Your thoughts? Where did I go wrong and what do you think I got right? Post your ideas below.

–patrick