Midwest football game tape archive digitized

This spring, I digitized 84 Midwest High School football game tapes and posted them to YouTube. The games range from 1980 to 2007, but most of the games are from the 1980s and the 2000s. I created a playlist on YouTube for all the games, but I’ve also posted links to the individual games below. Many thanks to Midwest coach Ken Swieter for giving me access to the tape library!

If other schools have similar tape libraries they would like to see digitized, let me know.

One of the cool things about this project is that it’s not just for Midwest; footage of teams from 17 other schools are here, too.

My favorite game in the collection is the 1986 game between Midwest and Big Horn. I knew the significance of this game long before I saw the game footage — both teams entered the regular-season finale undefeated, but only the winner moved on to the playoffs. I also knew Big Horn won in overtime. What I did not realize was that Big Horn tied the game with less than two minutes to go in the fourth quarter (update: I watched again, and it was actually 40 seconds remaining) with an 85-yard touchdown pass. Heartbreak for the Oilers; jubilation for the Rams; astonishment for me, 30 years later. (If you want to see that play, fast forward to 41:10 on that video.)

Another good one is the 1989 nine-man semifinal game between Midwest and Dubois. Midwest was down 15-14 in the fourth quarter but staged an epic 16-play drive — all running plays — and converted two fourth downs on its way to the winning touchdown. I lived seven years in Midwest and never heard about that drive…. Well, now, we can all see it in its full glory.

The following games have been added to YouTube:

1980 season
Moorcroft

1982 season
Upton
Natrona sophs
Tongue River
Moorcroft

1983 season
Tongue River
Moorcroft

1984 season
Wright

1985 season
Guernsey-Sunrise
Moorcroft
Sundance
Upton
Wright
Tongue River
Hulett

1986 season
Guernsey-Sunrise
Moorcroft
Upton
Wright
Tongue River
Hulett
Big Horn

1987 season
Guernsey-Sunrise
Moorcroft
Sundance
Upton
Wright
Tongue River
Hulett
Big Horn
Cokeville (1A semifinals)

1988 season
Moorcroft
Sundance
Upton
Wright
Tongue River
Hulett
Big Horn

1989 season
Moorcroft
Tongue River
Sundance
Wright
Dubois
Big Horn
Dubois (1A semifinals)
Hanna (1A state championship)