With two clear favorites — one in each conference — Class 1A 11-man seems to have all the drama of a second-grade school play. But we’ve often seen that the more predictable small-school football appears, the less predictable it actually is. Will that be the case in 2014?
Four questions to answer
Is this the year Lusk finally breaks through to win a state championship? For the Tigers’ sake, let’s hope so. No team in the state has won as many games as Lusk has the past four years (36) without winning at least one state championship. The Tigers have done everything right — except win in Laramie, where they’re 0-3 the past four years.
Cokeville stands in their way again, huh? Yep. The Panthers have won three championships in four years. They return four all-state players and have 11 seniors — the biggest senior class coach Todd Dayton has had in his three-plus decades with the Panthers. They haven’t lost a conference game in five years. And all indications are that they’re on track to make it Laramie again this year.
Will anyone challenge Lusk or Cokeville? Probably not. Of the 16 returning all-state players in the classification, seven either play for the Tigers or Panthers. Several squads — Southeast, Upton-Sundance, Lingle, Riverside and Rocky Mountain among them — could pose threats, but Lusk and Cokeville start the year head and shoulders above the rest.
Which of the four new teams in the classification has the best chance to contend? Tongue River. Class 1A 11-man expanded from 11 to 15 teams this year, as Wyoming Indian and Saratoga came up after one year in six-man and Tongue River and Moorcroft dropped from Class 2A. Of those, Tongue River has the best chance to make the most immediate impact — the Eagles have improved incrementally since John Scott took over the program in 2012 but have yet to make the postseason.
Four players to watch
Jace Petersen, Cokeville. After missing his sophomore campaign due to injury, Petersen led Cokeville to a state title last year on his legs (746 rushing yards, 14 TDs) and his arm (790 passing yards, another 14 more TDs). A Casper Star-Tribune Super 25 first team pick last year, he’s also a key piece of Cokeville’s defense and will be one of the classification’s most dynamic players this year.
Derick VandeBossche, Lusk. Few players play as well both offensively and defensively as VandeBossche. Already a two-time all-state pick, he was Lusk’s leading tackler as a junior a year ago and was also a key piece of the offense, rushing for 500 yards and grabbing team highs in receptions (18) and receiving yards (199).
Jett Materi, Upton-Sundance. The Patriots’ best opportunity at a deep playoff run in the history of their three-year co-op just might be this season, thanks in big part to their dynamic running back. Materi, a two-time all-state choice, ran for more than 116 yards per game a year ago and scored 13 of the team’s 21 touchdowns.
Tucker McKim, Riverside. For the second consecutive season, McKim led Class 1A 11-man in receiving yards and catches. He’s put up better combined numbers the past two years (105 catches, 1,455 yards) than seven of the 11 TEAMS in the class the past two years. The Rebels could ride him to an upset or two and could be a darkhorse contender because of his playmaking ability.
Four key games
Riverside at Burlington, Sept. 12. Both the Rebels and Huskies are eager to prove they belong in the discussion for a home playoff game. The loser of this conference opener has a heck of a lot more difficult time to climb back into that discussion.
Cokeville at Rocky Mountain, Sept. 26. One of the Panthers’ most difficult challenges on their way to a sixth consecutive conference championship will be this road date with a Grizzlies.
Tongue River at Lingle, Oct. 17. One of the most intriguing East Conference games comes when the Eagles venture south to play the Doggers in the first meeting between the two programs — and it might be for a playoff spot.
Southeast at Lusk, Oct. 17. Tigers-Cyclones. Write it down. In ink. This is always, always, ALWAYS a big game. This game has influenced the conference championship race every season since 2009 when the schools were rejoined in Class 1A 11-man.
Predicted order of finish
East Conference: Lusk, Southeast, Upton-Sundance, Lingle, Tongue River, Pine Bluffs, Moorcroft. West Conference: Cokeville, Rocky Mountain, Riverside, Burlington, Shoshoni, Saratoga, Wind River, Wyoming Indian.
Way-too-early title-game score prediction
Lusk 21, Cokeville 16. No one can say the Tigers don’t deserve a title. This is the year the law of averages works in Lusk’s favor.
So is this finally Lusk’s year? Will Cokeville’s massive senior class get in the Tigers’ way again? Could Southeast, or Rocky Mountain, or someone else sneak in and nab the title unexpectedly? Let’s start the discussion with your thoughts….
–patrick