Category Archives: Season Preview

Four questions to answer

Who will it be — Cody or Star Valley? Early advantage, Star Valley. These two programs have combined to win the past nine Class 3A championships — five for Star Valley, four for Cody — and they played against each other in last year’s 3A title game. So it makes sense that the early eyes are on the two most consistent programs. Moreover, they have proven their dominance by beating everyone but each other: Five of Cody’s six most recent losses dating back to 2018 are to Star Valley, and Star Valley’s three most recent in-state losses are all to Cody.

Does anyone else have a chance? Yes, but statistically there’s always a chance. Programs like Douglas, Buffalo and Powell have the most realistic chances of breaking through the Cody/Star Valley championship monopoly this year, in part because they’re the programs that return the most players from teams that had some success last year; Douglas and Buffalo actually lead 3A in returning all-conference players this year with four apiece.

How much will four new coaches change the look of 3A? Maybe not much in the first year, but look out long-term. Four Class 3A programs will have new head coaches, including three of the four programs that failed to make the playoffs last year. Jim Burton makes the move from Evanston to Lander, and former assistant Steve Moore takes over as Evanston’s head coach. Mark Lenhardt jumped into the open position at Riverton, leaving 4A Rock Springs to do so, and Blaine Christensen left an assistant’s spot at Rock Springs to become the head coach at Green River. Combined, those four teams were 10-26 last year, and Lander was the only one of the bunch to make the playoffs.

And how’s the rest of the classification looking? Better than usual. To be honest, conversations with basically every 3A coach this summer left me feeling like every one of them was a darkhorse to do some damage in the standings this season. The bottom half of 3A could make some significant strides this year, and several teams — including all the teams with first-year coaches, as well as Jackson, Rawlins and a handful of others, could be teams that give the top-tier teams true challenges this fall.

Preseason class MVP

Tegen Seeds, Douglas. It’s not often that a lineman earns this spot, but Seeds’ play demands this kind of attention. The Class 3A East lineman of the year last year as a junior has been tearing it up on both sides of the ball for a while now. His defensive statistics — 59.5 tackles and a team-high three sacks — put him among Douglas’ top defenders last year, and his prowess as an offensive linemen is already well-known by opposing coaches.

Preseason class breakout player

Daniel Lopez, Worland. Lopez split time between Worland and Colorado last year and only got to play about half his sophomore year with the Warriors. But he made an immediate impact on Worland’s offensive and defensive lines, and he could be the team’s most formidable big man as a junior.

Other players to watch

Trey Stenerson, Powell. Class 3A’s top returning receiver isn’t just an offensive threat. Sure, he can frustrate an opposing defensive backfield — his 54 catches for 813 yards and 10 touchdowns shows that — but he also caused chaos on defense as well. He was one of Powell’s most opportunistic defenders, with three interceptions and six pass break-ups, a pair of fumble recoveries and 24.5 tackles.

Jayden Crook, Star Valley. On a Star Valley defense that returns just four of its top 15 tacklers from last year’s championship team, Crook will be the focus. He was third on the team in 2022 with 65.5 tackles and had a team-high five interceptions. He’s also Star Valley’s top returning receiver, although those numbers (three catches, 63 yards) aren’t quite as impressive.

Trey Rinn, Douglas. No other returning 3A quarterback threw for more yards (1,789) or touchdowns (23) as Rinn did last season. He also added 543 rushing yards and leads Douglas’ returners in that category, as well. His ability to make plays in a variety of ways will make him tough for opposing defenses to stop.

Cohen Morrow and Brady Roberts, Evanston. For a team constantly trying to earn its place in a tough 3A West, the backfield pairing of Morrow and Roberts gives the Red Devils a fighting chance. They combined for 1,126 rushing yards (Roberts 650 from the running back spot, Morrow 526 at quarterback) and 137 tackles (Morrow 81, Roberts 56). They’re key pieces of what could be 3A’s most improved team this fall.

Four key games

Lander at Evanston, Sept. 15. Don’t call it the “Burton Bowl” just yet, but it will be interesting to see how coach Jim Burton’s new team, Lander, matches up against his team from last year, Evanston, in Uinta County.

Riverton at Star Valley, Sept. 15. New Riverton coach Mark Lenhardt starts his Wolverine tenure with a murderer’s row of West Conference opponents — Powell, Cody, Evanston and Star Valley — in the first four weeks. The last of those games, against the defending state champions in Afton, will say a lot about how the Wolverines might fare in the East Conference race in Lenhardt’s first year.

Buffalo at Douglas, Sept. 29. All signs point to this game being the one that will eventually decide the East Conference title. And although four other teams will have a say in that presumption, that doesn’t make this one any less valuable of a victory for both teams.

Star Valley at Cody, Oct. 6. I mean, come on.

Predicted order of finish

East Conference: Douglas; Buffalo; Worland; Riverton; Lander; Rawlins.

West Conference: Star Valley; Cody; Powell; Evanston; Jackson; Green River.

Preseason top five: 1. Star Valley; 2. Douglas; 3. Cody; 4. Powell; 5. Buffalo.

Way-too-early title game score prediction

Star Valley 28, Douglas 20. The Braves’ depth is a feature not many 3A teams can match. Though many of the challengers (Douglas, Buffalo, Cody, Powell) are on the same step, the Braves still stand a smidge taller than the field.

Is Class 3A the purview of old favorites, or is this the year somebody breaks up the Cody/Star Valley bi-opoly? Leave a comment, or drop a line on Twitter or Facebook.

Next Thursday: Class 4A preview.

–patrick

Four questions to answer

Does Class 2A have a clear-cut favorite? Absolutely not. Class 2A may give us one of the most even title races in recent memory. Several teams are legitimate title contenders, among them Big Horn, Tongue River, Lovell, Lyman, Mountain View, Cokeville, Torrington… the list goes on and on. Two teams that got bumped in the quarterfinals last year (Tongue River and Mountain View) have drawn a lot of attention due to their returning talent, but they, along with Big Horn and Lyman, all have two returning all-state selections apiece.

So, quit playing, who’s it really going to be? Probably somebody from Uinta or Sheridan counties. The four teams getting the most attention from coaches this offseason are the two Uinta schools (Lyman and Mountain View) and the two Sheridan schools (Tongue River and Big Horn). Mountain View and Tongue River have the most returning talent from quarterfinal-exit finishes last year, while Lyman and Big Horn have the pedigree from recent championships, Lyman in 2020 and 2021 and Big Horn in 2022, to drive preseason respect.

And what about Lovell? Hmmm. Well, the Bulldogs — runners-up in 2A each of the past two season — present an interesting conundrum. They clearly know how to develop success, and they have a large senior class. But they also lost five all-staters to graduation, a loss that’s going to be difficult to overcome. At least the Bulldogs have a chance to prove themselves right out of the gate, by hosting defending champ Big Horn in Week 1 and 2020/2021 champ Lyman in Week 3 with a trip to Cokeville sandwiched between. If Lovell survives that, watch out.

Anyone else a threat? No, but it’s going to be fun to see how programs develop. Wheatland, Glenrock and Thermopolis all have new head coaches, while coaches in Burns, Pinedale and Cokeville are in their second years. Cokeville and Burns were playoff qualifiers last year, and it will be interesting to see if they can keep that momentum rolling.

Preseason class MVP

Colter Hanft, Tongue River. Not too many players lead their teams in both receiving and tackles, but that’s exactly what Hanft did last season — as a junior, no less. His 29 catches for 481 yards led all of Tongue River’s receivers, and his exactly 100 tackles also put him at the head of the Eagles’ lists, too. Among those tackles? Seven sacks.

Preseason class breakout player

Justus Platts, Mountain View. Never heard of him? That’s OK. Platts is a sophomore who’s never taken a snap for the Buffalos. A transfer from Texas, Platts has the potential — always a dangerous word — to take over as Mountain View’s quarterback this season. Coach Brent Walk came away impressed, though, after seeing Platts work with the returning Buffs at summer camps.

Other players to watch

Carter Bradshaw, Lyman. The Eagles’ option offense is predicated heavily on decisions made by the quarterback, and Bradshaw proved to be an effective decision-maker last season in season-long relief. He carried 241 times for 1,013 yards and scored 11 touchdowns and also chipped in 23 pass completions for 248 yards for an offense that doesn’t throw much.

Jayce Schultz, Mountain View. Schultz was the Buffalos’ top rusher and tackler in 2022, carrying for 901 yards and seven TDs while notching 87 tackles and four sacks on defense. On a defense that returns 12 of its top 14 tacklers, Schultz remains the leader of the unit ready for big strides this season.

Kiefer Dunham, Big Horn. The defending state champs have a leader on the line in Dunham. An all-state pick last year, Dunham is Big Horn’s top returning tackler, and it’s not really that close. He was a half-tackle shy of 100 last year and had 11.5 tackles for loss. He will be paramount in the Rams’ attempt at a title defense.

Ty Bennick, Torrington. Speaking of linemen, the Trailblazers have a good one in Bennick, who led the team in defensive points last season. He had 72 tackles last year, four of those sacks, and was Torrington’s only all-state selection last season. He also leads the ‘Blazers’ offensive line — no small role on a team that likes to run.

Four key games

Lovell at Cokeville, Sept. 8. The Bulldogs unceremoniously dumped the Panthers out of the playoffs last year in the semifinals, and Cokeville — in the conference opener for both teams — would love to get their revenge early in the season. A loss for either team so early in the conference schedule could be devastating to conference title hopes.

Mountain View at Lyman, Sept. 22. The Bridger Valley rivalry is always important, but in 2023 it could be the game that decides the West Conference in addition to regional bragging rights. And don’t think the fact that Lyman has won the last three in the series isn’t on the Buffalos’ minds.

Big Horn at Tongue River, Oct. 13. The Thunder Bowl, in Week 7 this year, might just lead to an attendance overflow in Walt Gray Field in Dayton. In a year where the Rams and Eagles — despite plenty of threats — could be the best two teams in the East, this rivalry game could be the game that ultimately decides it all.

Newcastle at Torrington, Oct. 20. These two bypassed each other in the East Conference standings last year — Newcastle ascending, Torrington descending. And if the rest of the conference comes together in the way that last year did, this one could be critical for postseason momentum. Or postseason access.

Predicted order of finish

East Conference: Tongue River; Big Horn; Torrington; Upton-Sundance; Newcastle; Wheatland; Burns; Glenrock.

West Conference: Lyman; Mountain View; Lovell; Cokeville; Thermopolis; Kemmerer; Pinedale.

Preseason top five: 1. Lyman; 2. Mountain View; 3. Tongue River; 4. Big Horn; 5. Lovell.

Way-too-early title game score prediction

Lyman 20, Mountain View 14. Sure, a Uinta County title showdown would be epic. But in 2A this year, any of the top six or seven teams are true contenders. Don’t be surprised if other teams emerge by November.

Who’s the team you see emerging from a muddled mix of favorites in Class 2A this year? Leave a comment, or drop a line on Twitter or Facebook.

Next Thursday: Class 3A preview.

–patrick

Four questions to answer

What’s the biggest change to 1A nine-man this year? The lack of deep, experienced and talented senior classes. Last year, several teams were legitimate state championship threats thanks to senior classes just like that; place any one of those teams into the mix this year and they would be the automatic favorites this year. However, graduation decimated almost all of those programs. Look at it this way: Last year, 20 all-state players returned across the classification. This year, between transfers and attrition, it’s slated to be as few as four all-staters coming back.

Who’s survived the purge? Big Piney and Wind River. The Punchers were junior-heavy last year but kept up with the West Conference’s best, training that will set them up well for 2023. Meanwhile, Wind River graduated a ton but has the benefit of back-to-back big classes and will be a senior-heavy team, a rarity in 1A nine-man this season.

How different will the East Conference look this year? Quite a bit. Three East Conference programs — Wright, Saratoga and Guernsey — will have new coaches. All three teams missed the playoffs last year, but Todd Weber in Saratoga, Neal Hughes in Guernsey and Larry Yeradi in Wright, who takes back the head coaching duties after a year away, will be in positions to change the trajectories of those programs.

What about Pine Bluffs? Oh yeah. I’m not sure how we’ve made it this far without talking about the literal defending champions of the classification. The Hornets won’t be overrun with talent this year but have a system and a set of expectations in place. And they haven’t lost a conference game in two years. Cliche as it is, until someone proves they can beat Pine Bluffs, the Hornets are the team everyone else has to chase.

Preseason class MVP

Cooper Frederick, Wind River. The only two-time all-state selection playing this season at any level above six-man in the state, Frederick has proven his worth time and again to the Cougars’ fortunes. When he does well, so do the Cougars; witness his 1,919 rushing yards in Wind River’s 7-3 season in 2022. A year older, Frederick will be a handful to stop, especially for nine-man’s defenses this year that lack the experience of last year’s units.

Preseason class breakout player

Brenner Moore, Rocky Mountain. Moore was just about the only underclassmen who cracked the Grizzlies’ lineup last year. He put up solid numbers — 26 tackles, a couple pass deflections, 113 receiving yards — but will be much more of a leader on both sides of the ball for a Grizzly team that may need a minute to find itself.

Other players to watch

Louden Bremer, Lingle. As a sophomore, Bremer had a huge influence on the Doggers, leading them in receiving (25 catches for 482 yards) and tackles (71). As a junior, Bremer will play just as critical of a role as the Doggers look for their first home playoff game since 2015.

Karsyn Gurr and Ruben Stoutenberg, Big Piney. Two of Big Piney’s biggest offensive weapons are also threats elsewhere. Stoutenberg carried for 327 yards and had 184 receiving yards, but was also valuable on defense where he led the Punchers with 72 tackles. Gurr led Big Piney in receiving with 363 yards and six TDs but was also the West Conference’s special teams player of the year in 2022 thanks to his kick return abilities.

Shawn Shmidl, Pine Bluffs. Maybe this statistic, more than any, represents the value Shmidl, a junior, brings to the defending state champs: Only one player who had more than 20 tackles last year is expected back for the Hornets in 2023. Shmidl had 54. A cornerstone around which a young defense can build, Shmidl will have to transform from role player to leader to keep the Hornets’ momentum rolling.

Ty Strohschein, Riverside. The Rebels are a significantly better team with Strohschein in the lineup. His experience running the ball (684 yards, six TDs last year) and, maybe even more so, on defense (77.5 tackles, more than double any other returner for Riverside) will be key in a suddenly wide-open West Conference championship and playoff race.

Four key games

Big Piney at Wind River, Sept. 21. Big Piney has the challenge of playing the West Conference’s other three playoff qualifiers from 2022 — Rocky Mountain, Wind River and Shoshoni — all on the road this year. This one against the Cougars in Pavillion could be the biggest test for the Punchers, who play those three games in a span of five weeks to start conference play.

Shoshoni at Rocky Mountain, Sept. 23. After the past two seasons, how could we not include this one? Even though both teams will bring inexperienced rosters to the field in 2023, the advantage is that so does pretty much everyone else. And the stakes could be just as high as usual if these program’s young players have developed quickly.

Southeast at Lingle, Oct. 6. Southeast’s 36-35 victory last season against its longtime Goshen County rival was the margin by which second and third places were decided in the East Conference. With both teams in the championship discussion this fall, the stakes this year could be even higher than just a home playoff game.

Pine Bluffs at Southeast, Oct. 20. The regular-season finale for both teams will likely have some high stakes, just as it did in 2022. Chances are good, though, that the Cyclones will be much more competitive than they were last year, a game that ended 63-6 in the Hornets’ favor on their march toward an undefeated state championship.

Predicted order of finish

East Conference: Pine Bluffs; Southeast; Lingle; Saratoga; Lusk; Wright; Moorcroft; Guernsey.

West Conference: Big Piney; Wind River; Shoshoni; Riverside; Rocky Mountain; Greybull; Wyoming Indian; St. Stephens.

Preseason top five: 1. Pine Bluffs; 2. Big Piney; 3. Wind River; 4. Southeast; 5. Lingle.

Way-too-early title game score prediction

Pine Bluffs 30, Big Piney 28. Right now, the Hornets are the team to take down, but the upsides of programs like the others in the top five are ignored only by the foolhardy. The football may not be as strong as last year, but the race might be even more exciting because of that.

Who do you see taking home the title in a depleted, but incredibly competitive, classification this year? Leave a comment, or drop a line on Twitter or Facebook.

Next Thursday: Class 2A preview.

–patrick

Four questions to answer

Will Snake River ever lose again? Yes, but maybe not this year. The Rattlers enter 2023 on a 21-game winning streak and have had undefeated seasons in three of the past four years. The run has been dominant: Dubois was the only six-man team to stay within 45 points of Snake River last year. When a team starts that far ahead of the pack, it doesn’t really matter how many players graduate — they start at the top of the list.

Can anyone hang with the Rattlers this year? Yep, and Snake River won’t need to look outside its conference for some of its biggest competition. Two South Conference rivals, Encampment and Dubois, return the individual firepower to make six-man waves this fall. Meanwhile, North foe Burlington, last year’s title-game victim, continues to display the kind of depth that makes most other teams envious. Any of the top four could take it all; after that, the gap widens pretty fast.

So who’s coming out of the North then? Burlington, and can we put a pin in the rest of that? The Huskies has the early edge in the North as the team that played in War Memorial Stadium to end last season and as the team that returns the bulk of the experience. However, four of the other five teams in the North — Meeteetse, Kaycee, Hulett and Midwest — all appear to be on more or less equal footing entering 2023. The chase for the North’s four playoff spots could be one of the most exciting playoff races in the state this fall.

Will six-man’s newest team be a contender? Possibly. Casper Christian played a hodgepodge of six-man games last year against a few other varsity squads as well as Natrona’s freshmen and sophomores, finishing 1-6 but going 0-4 against the other six-man teams in the classification. This year, though, the Mountaineers return every player from last year’s team, and they have an added motivation by being playoff-eligible members of the South Conference this fall, a benefit they didn’t have last year.

Preseason class MVP

Wyatt Trembly, Dubois. Class 1A six-man’s co-offensive player of the year in 2022 should be even better as a senior — and that’s as much expectation as it is praise. Trembly’s 2022 was incomparable in six-man ranks, as his 2,502 rushing yards set a state six-man record. The expectation that 2023 could be even better, stats-wise, comes in part because of Dubois’ significant losses to graduation and the Rams’ necessity to rely on six-man’s best player even more.

Preseason class breakout player

Ethan Salzman, Meeteetse. Salzman has done double duty the past couple years, playing a season of golf with Cody’s team before joining the Longhorns for the back half of the football season. However, as a senior this year, Salzman is dedicating the fall to football alone. That stability could boost the young Longhorns to success.

Other players to watch

Quade Jordan, Encampment. As the Tiger program leaves its honeymoon stage as six-man’s newest team, Jordan’s play will be a huge reason why Encampment will be looked at as a part of a consistently successful developing program and not just a fortunate interloper. Already a two-time all-state selection, Jordan broke 1,000 yards rushing (1,084) and also had 70 tackles on defense, including 14 for loss, last season.

Joseph Pina, Meeteetse. The Longhorns’ only returning all-state player did it all last year to earn his second all-state nod. He led Meeteetse in rushing, receiving and tackles. He was a four-digit back, carrying for 1,234 yards, and a triple-digit tackler with 122. The Longhorns will be thin, but they’ll be competitive thanks to Pina.

Seth Maxson and Isaiah Skalberg, Snake River. Snake River’s recent run of dominance could continue if Maxson and Skalberg continues their successful runs. Maxson led the Rattlers in tackles and defensive points, while Skalberg was a solid pass-catcher and one of Snake’s best defensive players, as well.

Vaun Pierson, Kaycee. When you lead your team in both rushing yards and tackles, you have to be doing something right. The Buckaroos’ lone returning all-state selection, Pierson ran for 991 yards last season — while averaging 9.6 yards per carry — and led the Kaycee defense with 109 total tackles, including 15.5 for loss. He may be asked to do even more this year.

Four (OK, five) key games

Hulett at Burlington; Kaycee at Meeteetse, Sept. 8. With an unpredictable North Conference race, the opening weekend of conference play will be absolutely crucial. The Northwest teams draw home field this year, and the winners will take a temporary edge in a playoff race that could be decided by the thinnest of margins.

Dubois at Snake River, Sept. 9. The West Conference title eventually has to go through Baggs and the two-time defending champs. And what better way for a Ram team with exceptional talent but no berth in the championship game since 2014 to make a statement than right here against the Rattlers? The conference opener could be the conference decider.

Encampment at Snake River, Oct. 7. The Rattlers draw a bit of luck this year by having their two toughest opponents, on paper, come to Baggs for their games. That said, the Tigers would love to beat their Carbon County rivals — something they did in 2020 but haven’t done in four tries since — and help prove that 2023 is their year.

Burlington at Dubois, Oct. 21. This is about as big as a nonconference game can get in six-man. Last year’s regular-season game was close — Dubois won 60-52 — but the Huskies took their revenge and won by 49 in the playoff semifinals two weeks later. How will both teams respond to that history? And how crazy of a season will each team have seen before this game in Week 8?

Predicted order of finish

North Conference: Burlington; Meeteetse; Kaycee; Midwest; Hulett; Ten Sleep.

South Conference: Snake River; Encampment; Dubois; Farson; Casper Christian; Hanna.

Preseason top five: 1. Snake River; 2. Burlington; 3. Encampment; 4. Dubois; 5. Kaycee.

Way-too-early title game score prediction

Snake River 49, Burlington 33. The old cliche about having to beat the best to be the best is kind of lame, but I think it applies this year in six-man. With no one team emerging as a direct threat to the Rattlers, the two-time defending champs are the ones to look out for until some other team shows otherwise.

Which team has what it takes to de-fang the Rattlers’ title hopes? Leave a comment, or drop a line on Twitter or Facebook.

Next Thursday: Class 1A nine-man preview.

–patrick

The 2022 edition of the Wyoming High School Football Guide magazine is out now!

Click here to read full team previews on every team in the state. This comprehensive guide to the 2022 season details key players and games and includes interviews with every single head coach in Wyoming. You won’t find that anywhere else in one place, no matter how hard you look.

Hard copies of the magazines should be available FOR FREE (!!) in the next week at the locations of the advertisers. Please support the businesses and organizations that support the magazine — we couldn’t do it without them.

This is the 11th year of the magazine, and it’s definitely a team effort. A massive thanks to the publishers, CNS Inc., for putting it all together — they do they layout, sell the ads and handle distribution.

Enjoy!

–patrick

Note: This post was updated at 6:51 p.m. MDT Aug. 18 to reflect the number of juniors who have won the Wyoming Gatorade football player of the year award. Tevis Bartlett of Cheyenne East won it as a junior in 2013-14.

The old cliche that “the more things change, the more they stay the same” is about as an accurate as a descriptor as exists for Class 4A football.

In 2021, for the first time since 2009 and Cheyenne Central, someone other than the “Big Four” reached the 4A championship game. Rock Springs’ appearance was yet another death knell to the run that Cheyenne East, Natrona, Sheridan and Campbell County/Thunder Basin had on big-school football since 2010.

Still, Sheridan won the title — and the Broncs are one of only three 4A schools, along with Natrona and East, who have won any kind of football championship since 2009.

Entering 2022, those three schools are atop basically every 4A coach’s list of preseason favorites, and with good reason.

In short, East, Natrona and Sheridan bring back the most experienced and the most talented players.

Things have changed, though, and he days of the “Big Four” dominating a regular-season schedule might indeed be gone. However, some things have stayed the same, and despite Rock Springs’ best effort last year, a “Non-Big Six” championship, something that hasn’t been accomplished since Cheyenne Central’s memorable playoff title run in 2005, remains out of reach.

Four questions to answer

Let’s not mess around — who’s gonna win it all this year? Ask again later. The three favorites seem pretty clear, though, and it’s Sheridan, Cheyenne East and Natrona. Perhaps not coincidentally, these are the only three programs that have won 4A titles since 2009. The good thing for 4A is that most of the seven teams not listed in that group are capable of beating those top three.

Why those three ahead of the others? Experience, mostly. Sheridan gained a lot of love as the defending champion and has enough players returning with playing time to start near the top. East, though, might return more experience than any other 4A team in the state. Meanwhile, Natrona is loaded with seniors, and the Mustangs typically do well when that’s the case.

And the others — are they in the conversation at all? Some are. In particular, Thunder Basin, Rock Springs and Cheyenne Central are all legit threats. However, Thunder Basin and Rock Springs will both rely on young and untested players, while Central will have the experience but is coming off a messy 2-8 season. Beyond that, Campbell County and Kelly Walsh had big graduation losses (although the Camels in particular got a lot of preseason love from the 4A coaches), and Laramie and Cheyenne South are still building their programs to be consistently competitive.

What else should we watch for this season? A potential offensive explosion. Of the 10 returning first-team all-state players in Class 4A, eight of them are returning to spots on offense. The only two returning first-team all-state selections on defense are Kelly Walsh safety Erich Hulshizer and Cheyenne East linebacker Ethan Brinkman. Inexperience on defense across the state might help give offenses a boost, at least early in the season.

Preseason class MVP

Colson Coon, Sheridan. This choice is as much of a no-brainer as there can be. Only the second junior who’s ever won Wyoming’s Gatorade Player of the Year award is back for the defending state champions, and he got mentioned by name by several opposing coaches — without prompting — as the player that all opposing teams know they need to stop. But knowing and doing are two separate things, and Coon has already proven he can take the focus of opposing teams and still generate huge games.

Preseason class breakout player

Michael Faigl, Rock Springs. Tiger coach Mark Lenhardt has high hopes, and high expectations, for his new starting quarterback. Stepping under center for a program that just made its first trip to a state championship game in almost two decades will be tough, but the junior lefty could grow into one of the best in 4A, and this year could be the year he capitalizes on that potential.

Other players to watch

Garet Schlabs, Drew Jackson and Dom Kaszas, Cheyenne East. It’s true — Kaszas, Sheridan’s all-state receiver, transferred to East during the summer, bolstering what was probably already 4A’s top receiving corps. Schlabs was 4A’s top receiver last year with 71 catches for 972 yards and 17 touchdowns; Kaszas led Sheridan with 29 catches for 454 yards and eight TDs. And Jackson supplements all of that with 29 catches for 541 yards last year, giving East three game-breaking receivers they can put on the field at any time.

Ethan Brinkman, Cheyenne East. East’s middle linebacker typically produces big numbers no matter who’s there, but Brinkman took it to a whole new level last season by leading Class 4A in tackles with 122. East’s defense is deep this year, but Brinkman remains as the undisputed leader on that side of the ball.

Keagan Bartlett, Cheyenne Central. The Indians should be much better than they were last year, and in big part it will be on both the legs and the arms of their senior quarterback. Bartlett broke 1,000 yards both rushing and passing last season, and did so on a team that finished 2-8. With improved players around him, this year could be huge.

Carter McBurnett, Rock Springs. Across Class 4A, only three returning all-state players were selected to offensive line positions last season. McBurnett doesn’t have any eye-popping defensive statistics (24 tackles last season), but the senior is the Tigers’ only returning all-state player and has seen significant minutes since his freshman year, a critical piece to a young set of linemen in Sweetwater County.

Four key games

Cheyenne Central at Sheridan, Aug. 26. On paper, the defending champs from up north might look like they’ve got it easy in their season opener, but the Indians will be an improved team. This game will tell us a lot about how the rest of the 4A season will go.

Cheyenne East at Natrona, Sept. 2. This game won’t be a make-or-break one — early September ones rarely are. But it will be a key decider of how the top of 4A will shape up, and the loser here will have to chase the other the rest of the season.

Thunder Basin at Rock Springs, Sept. 2. Class 4A’s dark horse might emerge right here. Both teams have earned big expectations, but similarly both teams have to overcome big graduation departures. A victory here for either the ‘Bolts or Tigers will help dictate the directions of the remainder of their seasons.

Cheyenne East at Sheridan, Sept. 30. Sheridan gets both East and Central at home this season, a little quirk in the schedule that will be a nice boost to the Broncs — if they can take advantage of home field.

Predicted order of finish

Cheyenne East; Sheridan; Natrona; Cheyenne Central; Thunder Basin; Rock Springs; Campbell County; Kelly Walsh; Laramie; Cheyenne South.

Way-too-early title game score prediction

Cheyenne East 33, Sheridan 28. If anyone is going to break up the triumvirate of typical 4A champions, they’re going to eventually have to through one, or two, or three of them in the playoffs. The old cliche goes that to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best — but the best are the best for a reason.

Who are you envisioning holding the trophy come November? Is it one of the expected teams, or will someone jump up and give us all something unexpected? Leave a comment, or drop a line on Twitter or Facebook.

–patrick

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Class 3A football over the past 30 years is full of legacies.

Star Valley’s four titles in five years from 1992-96, Riverton’s three-peat from 1997-99; Worland’s trio of titles from 2001-03; Buffalo’s 22-0 run from 2004-05; Douglas’ three-peat from 2008-10; Powell’s follow-up three-peat from 2011-13; Star Valley’s four titles in five years (again) from 2015-19… Yeah, 3A has been full of sustained success.

Cody’s place in that pantheon is secure, with titles in 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2021.

Another championship in 2022 is no guarantee, but the Broncs, by every conceivable measure — including perhaps the two most important, returning players and 3A coaches’ preseason picks — are the favorites to win it all again this season.

In a classification where dynasties have come and gone, the big question seems to be not if Cody will win again, but how long the Broncs will stay as 3A’s dominant team.

Four questions to answer

Can anyone stop Cody from three-peating? Only Cody. One of the most amazing statistics of the 2022 offseason pertains to 3A all-state selections. Cody has six of them returning. The rest of 3A has four, combined. The Broncs have the talent not only to be three-time champs but potentially one of the best 3A teams in history.

So no one else even has a chance? Hey, it could happen. And if it’s going to happen, it’s likely to come from Douglas or Buffalo. Those two teams in the 3A East are drawing the most attention as threats to the Broncs’ run, in part because of the talent they return on both sides of the ball. Neither team enters the season as complete as Cody, but they could both end the season that way.

What’s up with the West? After Cody, lots of uncertainty. Jackson and Powell each lost seven all-staters and return zero, and Jackson has a new coach. Green River may be 3A’s most improved team but was 0-8 last year, Evanston has some momentum but graduated a bunch, and Star Valley has a group of players that have been successful at every level except for varsity. As a whole, the conference is down; as a group, it’s as competitive as ever. After Cody.

And out East — still Douglas? Douglas is still the favorite. But Buffalo has been gaining some momentum and returns several key players. Lander has also hosted playoff games in each of the past three years and can’t be overlooked as a threat. However, only one East team (now-2A Torrington in 2018) has reached the title game in the past seven years, so it makes sense the early eyes are out West.

Preseason class MVP

Luke Talich, Cody. The Broncs’ quarterback/safety is drawing considerable attention from colleges, and for good reason. He can hurt defenses with both his arm and his legs, and as a safety he’s one of Cody’s top defensive players, as well. He is the centerpiece of Cody’s three-peat attempt, and for the Broncs, that’s a good thing.

Preseason class breakout player

Chase Stewart, Star Valley. The Braves’ No. 2 receiver last year had a good season — 15 catches, 291 yards, three touchdowns — but they portended a bigger 2022 to come. The fact that the Braves also return their quarterback bodes well for a player who has the potential to be the go-to player in an aerial plan that accentuates big-play opportunities.

Other players to watch

Karson Ewing, Douglas. Last year’s East Conference defensive player of the year will, somehow, have to carry more of the load this fall for a less experienced Bearcats defense that only gets back three of its top 10 tacklers. If anyone is up to it, though, it’s Ewing, who didn’t have huge numbers (39 tackles, 5 TFLs) but caused huge havoc to opposing offenses.

Matt Nelson, Cody. If you didn’t know Nelson before last year’s championship game, you sure knew him after — he’s the one who had two of Cody’s three consecutive pick-sixes in the second half. But this should not have been surprising; the two-time all-stater has made it a habit to have big games in big moments.

Blake Bell, Buffalo. The Bison relied a lot on Bell last year, and he delivered — 37 catches, 829 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 22.4 yards per catch was the best among 3A’s top receivers, but coach Rob Hammond said Bell will be more involved with other aspects of the passing game (think screens and hitches) to take advantage of Bell’s athleticism, to make the Bison more versatile and to keep defenses honest.

Kade Weber, Worland. Weber’s eye-popping number under center is 70.1%, his completion percentage. That kind of absurd percentage is normally reserved for six-man, but Weber put up those numbers when completing 143 of 204 passes for the Warriors last season. With an experienced set of receivers returning with him, those totals could, amazingly, be even better this year.

Four key games

Cody at Jackson, Sept. 23. Although it’s the rematch of the past two Class 3A title games, the two Broncs are trending in different directions — Cody up, Jackson twirling toward freedom. If Jackson can finally get a W in this series, it’ll completely turn 3A expectations upside down.

Star Valley at Powell, Sept. 30. The West is always competitive, but the 2022 season brings a ton of uncertainty to a usually steady conference. How it all shakes out, though, will be determined in great measure by what happens between the Braves and Panthers.

Douglas at Buffalo, Sept. 30. The two early frontrunners in the East have a long and storied history, but Douglas has won 14 of the past 17 in this series and the past two in a row. The Bison’s conference title hopes will hang on this home game.

Worland at Lander, Oct. 14. Both of these teams have been on the 3A margins the past few years — good enough to be taken seriously, not quite ready for a breakout victory that turns them into a true title contender. Whoever wins here could be a big first-round spoiler if fate finally smiles on them.

Predicted order of finish

East Conference: Douglas; Buffalo; Lander; Worland; Riverton; Rawlins.

West Conference: Cody; Star Valley; Powell; Green River; Evanston; Jackson.

Preseason top five: 1. Cody; 2. Douglas; 3. Buffalo; 4. Star Valley; 5. Lander.

Way-too-early title game score prediction

Cody 36, Douglas 20. November football is always different from August football, and 3A teams have a way of pulling some postseason surprises. Still, the title is Cody’s until someone else does something to show us otherwise that they deserve it.

Where do you rank Cody’s current dynasty among the 3A pantheon — and how would another title this year change that? Leave a comment, or drop a line on Twitter or Facebook.

Next Thursday: Class 4A.

–patrick