When the 2009 season is viewed in retrospect, the Guernsey Vikings’ season will stick out as the epitome of domination.
In Wyoming’s first year of organized six-man football in more than half a century, the Vikings were clearly the best team. They won all but one game by at least 40 points and finished with a 614-144 scoring advantage in a 9-0 season.
Guernsey’s dominating season had some folks wondering why the Vikings opted to play 11-man in the first place. The Vikings clearly had enough speed and strength in the backfield to compete with most teams in the 11-man division; in fact, several times during the state championship game, the radio broadcaster from Buffalo (who sat right behind me, and the reason I’m writing this) suggested the WHSAA get involved and move the Vikings up to 11-man where they belonged.
Here is the best I can do to mount Guernsey’s defense:
Point 1: The Vikings only had 12 players suited up for the championship game, a 76-16 whitewash of Kaycee. Guernsey didn’t have any more players come out than that; the numbers really were that low all season long.
Point 2: The championship game blowout was due in part to the Vikings’ experience. Kaycee was in its first year of football; the football legacy in both Guernsey and Sunrise stretches back nearly a century. It’s not surprising that, for the most part, the teams that did best in the six-man division in 2009 were the teams that had established programs in place.
Point 3: Despite its dominating success, Guernsey won’t be the six-man favorite in 2010. More than half of the Vikings’ players were seniors, and only one starter returns.
Point 4: Few people know this one, but it speaks to the parity you’ll see in coming years. Farson, which finished last in the six-man West Conference and didn’t come within 42 points of any varsity program it played this fall, will be competing with Guernsey by as soon as next year. How do I know this? The Pronghorns’ junior high team beat Guernsey this season.
Guernsey made the right choice, and no one should question it for the reasons pointed out above. And the way they won games shouldn’t call into question that decision.
Rather, the 2009 Guernsey Vikings should instead just be celebrated for what they were: an incredibly dominating six-man football team, the likes of which the state may not see again for a long time.
It just so happened the Vikings put together this domination in the first go-round. Just don’t let that freak you out — either about the Vikings or about six-man football.
–patrick
Thank you!!! Finally someone sticks up for Guernsey. I graduated from Guernsey in 2003. Football is a huge tradition at Guernsey. What do people expect Guernsey to do? Like you said they had 12 players, and at many times during the season they were down to 10 or 11 due to injury. Also, like you stated half of those kids where seniors. If people don’t know the WHSAA works on a two year rotation. If Guernsey had chosen to play 11-man then chances are they would not be able to play football at all next year. Trust me many of the kids at Guernsey wanted to play 11-man but it was just not worth the risk of getting a few of them hurt and not continuing the season or not having an 11-man team next year. Also, that would have been a raw deal for the 11-man teams that would have played Guernsey if they had been 11-man and would have had to forfeit that game. Seriously Guernsey will be lucky to have enough kids to field a 6-man team. I applaud Guernsey for all their success this season. People need to know all the facts before and have a clue before they state their opinion. Great job this year Guernsey, I’m proud of you!!!
I second the huge thank you for coming to Guernsey’s defense in this blog post. I heard people at the Championship game saying that we should have played 11-man this year, but what many don’t know or take the time to find out before they speak, is that Guernsey had 2 games where only 9 were dressed out and even then, 2 or 3 of those were sick or injured, only dressing out to give the 6 regulars a momentary break from action if needed.
It would be really nice if more people would simply compliment them on an awesome season rather than pick them apart and tear them down.
Thanks again for the post!
I have seen domination like that at some point in championship games in every classification. I remember one time Laramie posted 50 first half points vs. Cody in Cody in a state championship game, but they had subs (unlike Guernsey) who were able to hold the scoring down. Every dog has his day. Championship Saturday was Guernsey’s. Next time it may be Kaycee’s. Such is high school football in Wyoming.
I don’t see where anyone can with a straight face claim Guernsey should have played 11 man this year with the number of kids they had out. It’s a rediculous claim. If you have less than 20 kids out, it has got to be pretty hard to put out a competative team. Heck, it would be hard to have a decent practice.
I believe that I read that Shoshoni had a hard time keeping enough kids healthy to play games this year. I don’t know how many kids they had out, but wyopreps stats lists 19 kids on the defensive stat catagory. I am not sure how many kids the average 1A 11 man team has on its’ roster. Again looking at wyopreps, Lingle and Southeast both had at least 31. Heck, that’s more than Kemmerer had out this year. It would be interesting to know in the last 10 years or so, which team had at least a winning season with the smallest roster.
Good call Patrick, there was a lot of unfair criticism of the Vikings decision. The timing of it all just happened to work in their favor.
I see next season wide open with no clear favorite yet.
GoRanges, in 2004 I watched Cokeville (with less than 20 kids) beat a good SE team in the 1A Championship.
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