I was prompted last week to compile some out-of-state series records to go with the in-state ones I compiled last month (see the result of that research here and here).
First, a disclaimer: Keep in mind that for all the numbers I mention below, I’m counting varsity vs. varsity games only. Games where Wyoming varsity teams played out-of-state JV or sophomore teams aren’t counted in these totals.
All in all, I was pleasantly surprised to see how well Wyoming has done against out-of-state foes. Total, Wyoming actually has a winning record against out-of-state teams: 1471 victories, 1416 losses, 99 ties, a winning percentage of .509.
Per state, Wyoming’s records break down this way:
Utah: Wyoming leads 120-91-2 (.568)
South Dakota: Wyoming leads 402-329-28 (.548)
Idaho: Wyoming leads 143-126-8 (.531)
Montana: tied 223-223-15 (.500)
Nebraska: Wyoming trails 370-413-18 (.473)
Colorado: Wyoming trails 205-231-28 (.472)
North Dakota: tied 2-2
Alberta: Wyoming leads 2-0
Saskatchewan: Wyoming leads 2-0
Minnesota: Wyoming leads 1-0
Texas: Wyoming leads 1-0
Kansas: Wyoming trails 0-1
(List edited from original post to show Texas series)
The state Wyoming schools have played more times than any other is Nebraska, with 801 total varsity vs. varsity contests. South Dakota is second with 759; Colorado (464), Idaho (277) and Utah (213) bring up the pack.
The most-played out-of-state series is the one between Sheridan and Billings/Billings Senior, Mont. The two Bronc squads have played 59 times, and the Billings squad leads the series 39-18-2. The two schools have not played each other since 1969.
Other out-of-state leading series are:
Nebraska: Torrington-Gering, 51 games, tied 24-24-3 (last meeting 2008)
South Dakota: Newcastle-Custer, 44 games, Newcastle trails 16-25-3 (last meeting 2011)
Colorado: Cheyenne Central-Fort Collins, 40 games, Central trails 16-23-1 (last meeting 1985)
Idaho: Jackson-Teton, 31 games, Jackson leads 16-14-1 (last meeting 2011)
Utah: Kemmerer-Rich County, 19 games, Kemmerer trails 9-10 (last meeting 2008)
For Ted.
–patrick
Very cool. Thank you! It is interesting to see that all the big out of state rival games are so close.
Glad you got a kick out of the list. I got a kick out of compiling it.
I also realized as I was reading through this that I had forgotten a game up here (I tallied it and forgot to list it). The one Texas vs. Wyoming game. Change reflected above.
–patrick
Great topic Patrick, so many Wyoming schools fill their non-conference with out of staters.
I would add one more to your list, Star Valley and Bear Lake (Montpelier), Idaho.
They have played 43 times with SV holding a 29-12-2 record. Yes, two scoreless ties back in the dark days of high school football. They have not played since 2002, a game in Afton, but the straw that broke the camel’s back I think was the 2-0 game in Montpelier in 2001, just a terrible experience.
Hi Dahl,
Don’t want you to think I overlooked that one. I just kept separate records for Montpelier and Bear Lake. It’s kind of like how I do for Basin and Riverside, Guernsey and Guernsey-Sunrise, etc.
–patrick
No, not at all. It’s a rivalry that still sizzles in basketball every year, but I’ll be surprised if it ever comes back in football. I guess I’ve never given it the thought that it was two different programs. Sometimes it was reported as Montpelier and later the school was renamed Bear Lake to encompass some of the other smaller communities around it. I don’t know that for sure I guess, I’ve never given it any thought.
Hope to see some of your posts this fall
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