Stop me if you’ve heard this one recently:
This Star Valley-Douglas game should really be something…
Wait, stop? Already?
OK, yeah. Makes sense. Star Valley and Douglas have been playing a lot of football against each other recently — about as much as two teams can.
They’ve played each other six times the past three seasons, once in the regular season and once in the playoffs every year since 2013. Douglas won all four in 2013-14; Star Valley won both in 2015.
Douglas reached the Class 3A title games in 2013 and 2014; Star Valley won the 3A title in 2015.
Yeah, the Bearcats and Braves have built a nice little rivalry, in part because of the high stakes on the line when they play each other the second time around in a season.
When they renew this rivalry on Friday in Douglas, only bragging rights will be on the line. Even so, those bragging rights are as big as they come at this point in the season. Star Valley is ranked first in my Class 3A rankings, while Douglas is second in my rankings.
Yep, this game should really be something.
What’s amazing to me is how quickly this rivalry has grown. The two programs have played each other 10 times since 2010 after only three meetings in the previous 4.5 billion years. Friday’s game makes 11 meetings in seven years.
Even though Douglas has won seven of those 10 most recent games, Star Valley won both meetings last year. Star Valley’s championship momentum carried over into 2016, as the Braves have three pretty dominant victories this year (average score 44-13).
But Douglas has learned from its struggles in 2015, including its two losses to Star Valley, and started 2016 with victories by 24 and 35 points.
If the current trends hold, that 12th meeting in seven years could be in Laramie in November.
That game would really be something.
Other games that are intriguing on paper that I hope will be just as intriguing in person: For the first time all season, I’m picking Cheyenne South to win a game. About time, dude; South is 3-0 and has already secured the Capital City championship for the first time. Bison are legit. … Cheyenne East is 1-2 but still a threat; the two losses are by a combined four points. Watch out, Sheridan. … I don’t know what to make of either Buffalo or Worland just yet. It helps that they play each other this week. Buffalo’s 2-0 with victories by 6 and 1; Worland is 1-1, losing by 6 and winning by 2. I think this one might be close, too. … This week has the biggest scheduling question of the year. Big Horn goes to Kemmerer, while Cokeville goes to Tongue River. Why, oh, why, isn’t Big Horn going to Tongue River and Cokeville going to Kemmerer? Way fewer miles on the road, at least, and maybe better games because of that. … Most impressive 0-2 team in 2A might be Big Piney. Punchers have fought hard in a couple close losses; I’m curious to see how they do against Lyman. … The Lovell-Greybull game decided the 2A West last year. They play again Friday. … The Upton-Sundance/Shoshoni game lost some luster after the Wranglers got throat punched by Southeast. How will Shoshoni respond? … How about St. Stephens starting 2-0? The Eagles’ toughest test so far comes this week against a strong Farson squad. Meanwhile, the two other undefeateds in the 1A six-man West (Meeteetse and Snake River) meet in what might be the biggest game of the week, and could be the biggest game of the year, at the six-man level. Watch out for the Rattlers at home. … Last but not least, Cokeville head coach Todd Dayton could pick up career win No. 300 when the Panthers play Tongue River on Saturday. It’d be interesting to see coach Dayton get the victory in his first coaching trip to the town of Dayton.
Here are my picks for Week 3, with anticipated winners in bold and anticipated upset-makers in regular type. For a full season schedule with kickoff times, click here.
Friday
Class 4A
Cheyenne South at Kelly Walsh
Laramie at Evanston
Natrona at Gillette
Rock Springs at Cheyenne Central
Sheridan at Cheyenne East
Class 3A
Cody at Lander
Green River at Torrington
Rawlins at Jackson
Riverton at Powell
Star Valley at Douglas
Worland at Buffalo
Class 2A
Big Horn at Kemmerer
Glenrock at Newcastle
Lovell at Greybull
Lyman at Big Piney
Moorcroft at Burns
Pinedale at Mountain View
Wheatland at Thermopolis
Class 1A 11-man
Lusk at Rocky Mountain
Southeast at Saratoga
Upton-Sundance at Shoshoni
Wind River at Wright
Wyoming Indian at Pine Bluffs
Class 1A six-man
Dubois at Riverside
Farson at St. Stephens
Meeteetse at Snake River
Midwest at Guernsey-Sunrise
Normative Services at Lingle
Rock River at Kaycee
Saturday
Class 1A 11-man
Cokeville at Tongue River
Class 1A six-man
Burlington at Ten Sleep
Hulett at Hanna
My picks last week were not too bad, but by no means do I think my good fortune last week will have any carryover to this week. Here’s where I stand for the year:
Last week: 27-4 (87 percent). This season: 61-16 (79 percent).
Who’s ready to win this week? Which game has your attention? Leave a comment and share with us what you’re ready for in Week 3!
–patrick