Reclassification, six-man football and a new resurrection of an old debate are all on the agenda for the WHSAA's first quarterly board meeting of the new school year.

And decisions made over the next two days will have implications well into 2011, or further.

Reclassification is an every-other-year debate, but this year's discussion -- centering on the number of schools in Class 4A -- has been interesting to watch unfold. Of course, the discussion isn't done. Probably never will be. But for the sake of the next two years, watching this vote will be fun to watch.

Then there is the possible state sanctioning of six-man football. It was unfortunate to see six-man tied to a bigger overhaul of the classification system -- some small schools, justly so, have voiced the same concern -- and it's possible the rest of the state could get stuck in a system they don't want simply because they don't want to be the ones who voted down six-man sanctioning.

Then there's the old debate with a new twist. Also on the agenda for this week is another proposal to move the state football championship games to Laramie. Gee, that sounds familiar, doesn't it? Didn't the WHSAA already vote this down once? Yeah, like maybe last November???? (Click here for a refresher.) With basically the same make-up of board members, it seems a little odd that this is coming up again so quickly. This time around, though, Laramie is the only option -- the proposal is worded to basically eliminate the bid process and work out a deal directly with Laramie and UW instead of opening up the bid to any other interested cities.

This is going to be a critical week, no matter which way the decisions go. The only guarantee is that no matter which way the WHSAA votes, the discussion won't be ending any time soon.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Halfway through the regular season, I've learned some things about the make-up of Wyoming's high school football landscape in 2008.

Lander is back. So, too, is Sheridan.

Nothing is surprising in 4A -- so even when we got the early transposed score of Worland 40, Buffalo 6, we could believe it (the final was actually Buffalo 40, Worland 6).

Class 2A is loaded, Class 1A looks like it actually has challengers beyond Southeast and Cokeville and no matter how hard you try, nothing is predictable anywhere.

First mad props tonight go to the afforementioned Lander Tigers, who knocked off conference leader Powell 19-14. Don't know a lick about this game other than the final score. But, from the final score, we can discern a lot: The 4A West is up for grabs, parity rules with no one to challenge the throne and Lander is for real. Only Cody has gone through the conference unscathed (2-0), but the way this season has gone, it'll be tough for anyone to go through that conference unbeaten. There's just too much parity.

Second mad props go to Sheridan, which not only won the Energy Bowl over Gillette, it won in pretty one-sided fashion. The final score was 49-21, but that kind of hides the fact that Sheridan led only 15-13 at halftime. Given the way the Broncs dominated the second half, I'm thinking Coach Julian must have put his depth finder to use, found some capable legs and rotated fresh players a bunch. That, or the Broncs are incredibly conditioned.... Either way, it's scary for the rest of 5A.

Third mad props to Torrington, which used a big night from Mitch Schlager to drop Wheatland. Schlager just kept running on Friday, eventually finishing with 38 carries for 205 yards. Not a bad night for the back; not a bad night for his teammates, either, who obviously learned some lessons from the flatlanders the first three weeks and put them to good use when it mattered most. Buffalo looms next week for the Trailblazers....

Fourth mad props to Riverside, which needed a bit of good fortune and a ton of good defense to beat Rocky Mountain. Rocky missed a two-point conversion AND a 20-yard field goal in the second half to come up short. Ouch. If you're a Grizzly, that stings. If you're a Rebel, that's simply good defense stepping up at the right time.

Fifth mad props go out to Rock Springs, which beat Evanston 16-10 in OT. I can't explain the Red Devils -- I'm totally befuddled -- so I'm not even going to try. Instead, let's focus on the winners here. The Tigers, oddly enough, are right back in the mix of the 5A South despite starting 0-4. RS has Jackson next week, then re-enters conference play with East and Laramie before the Trona Bowl against Green River. If the Tigers get on a roll here, they could be one of the tougher teams to beat -- all it takes is a little confidence, more solid defense and a few good turns of fortune (i.e. winning games in overtime).

Speaking of overtime victories for previously winless teams, sixth mad props to Star Valley, which beat Marsh Valley, Idaho, 21-14 in overtime. I was beginning to wonder if the Braves were ever going to get moving. They have now, and it couldn't have come at a better time -- Powell and Lander are up next on the schedule.

And seventh mad props to Scottsbluff, Neb., which beat Laramie.

Other stuff that popped up this week:

Once again, 2A is stacked. Only three teams have losing records, and four teams are 4-0. Defense rules, too: Six of the 12 2A teams have given up 40 points or fewer this fall. That's a pretty amazing number midway through the season.

Speaking of defense, there were 12 shutouts this week. Cody and Pinedale pitched their second straight goose eggs; Burlington its third straight. Kemmerer and Pinedale both remained un-scored-upon in 3A West Conference play, and Cokeville maintained its spot atop the Wyoming defensive universe -- the Panthers have given up only eight points so far this season and have shut out three of their four opponents.

What was your biggest surprise of the weekend? Anything seem weird, unusual or just plain crazy in the world of Wyoming high school football? Anything you want to share with the rest of us? Post a comment and we'll talk.

This week: 22-7 (76 percent). This year: 97-39 (71 percent).

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

A traditional regional rivalry that's gone decidedly one way the past decade.

A team out to prove it belongs; another out to prove it still belongs.

A Week 4 game that has huge implications, not only for two teams but an entire conference.

This week, that set of circumstances applies to one big Class 5A game that has everyone's attention -- and one big Class 3A game that should have everyone's attention.

The 5A game is fairly obvious: top-ranked Gillette at third-ranked Sheridan in the Energy Bowl. These two teams haven't played against each other in a game this big since, oh 1998.

The 3A game isn't as quite. The "Sublette County Championship" (a phrase I've never heard uttered outside of the confines of my desk) between Big Piney and Pinedale has taken on a weird new dimension this year with the Punchers' unspectacular start and the Wranglers' explosive victory last week.

First, the Energy Bowl: It seems so long ago that this game was Sheridan's to lose every year. But in 1998, the two programs intersected so beautifully.... The Camels were on their way to the state championship, the first in school history. Sheridan was struggling to catch the last flames of its early 1990s dynasty.

Although Gillette won the Energy Bowl in 1997, the Broncs turned around and beat the Camels in the semifinals of the 4A playoffs later that season. Then came 1998: Gillette won the Energy Bowl again, this time 44-15, and later went on to beat Sheridan 44-0 in the 4A semifinals before topping Laramie in the state championship game.

Since then, the Camels have absolutely owned this series, beating Sheridan 21-10, 35-0, 34-12, 48-0, 24-7, 34-25, 39-0, 19-7 and 21-10 again in successive Energy Bowl games.

But this year, Sheridan has its best chance in more than a decade to reverse this trend. Last week, the Broncs got the breakthrough victory they've been looking for -- a 10-9 victory over Natrona at NC -- and have proven to be one of 5A's legit contenders for a state crown.

The Big Piney-Pinedale rivalry has been nearly as one-sided. The Punchers have beaten the Wranglers nine straight times dating back to Pinedale's 30-13 victory waaaaaaaayyy back in 1999. In fact, these two schools often played each other twice a season back in the day because they are both so far removed from the rest of the state.

Yeah, there's some history there.

But this year, Big Piney has started 0-3 and are near the bottom of the Class 3A power ratings -- an unusual place for a program with so much tradition. And Pinedale started 0-2 but appears to have turned things around with last week's 45-0 beat down of West Conference rival Lyman.

In a somewhat weak 3A West where three of the five teams still don't have a victory, success is critical at any stage of the season -- especially since the No. 2 seed from the conference behind Kemmerer seems totally up for grabs at this point.

I'm calling for one long winning streak to end and the other to continue.

I think Gillette wins the Energy Bowl. I think Pinedale wins the Sublette County Championship.

And I think both games will be great examples of what makes high school football in Wyoming so much fun.

Here are the rest of my picks for the week, with projected winners selected meekly with bold type:

Friday
Class 5A
Cheyenne Central at Green River: The Wolves need this win to keep pace with South Conference frontrunner East. And they know this.
Natrona County at Cheyenne East: Not that it'll happen, but if there's the possibility for a slip-up for the Mustangs, it might be here. With Sheridan last week and Gillette next week -- and something about a ball -- NC might be distracted enough to overlook East. Of course, the obvious question is "How in the heck do you overlook an undefeated defending state champion????" I do think it'll be close, no matter what, but my pick goes the Mustangs' way this week.
Riverton at Kelly Walsh: Whichever team loses this game has an incredibly tough road to reach the playoffs.
Rock Springs at Evanston: Evanston is already 0-2 in the South and really, really, really needs this game. Urgency reigns.

Class 4A
Douglas at Rawlins: Rawlins is a better team now than it was a year ago... but they still need that breakthrough victory. Could happen Friday, but probably....
Jackson at Cody: Can't I just pick the Broncs? Ah... a lame joke gets lamer every year. Hehe. Anyway, home field for Cody is a welcome relief after three straight on the road and should translate into a 'W.'
Lander at Powell: Once thing is for sure -- no one is going to waltz their way to the West Conference crown this year. Every game will be tough. Even this game should be of the single-digit margin of victory-type games.
Wheatland at Torrington: Despite the 0-3 start, don't overlook Torrington. They're getting it turned around slowly but surely.
Worland at Buffalo: Riddle time! How does a top-ranked team lose a game and still maintain its No. 1 ranking? Ask the Bison. They know -- and I think they'll rebound just fine after losing last week.

Class 3A
Glenrock at Mountain View: Odd stat: In the 21st century, Glenrock is 0-3 at Mountain View in regular-season games and 2-0 at Mountain View in postseason games.
Lyman at Kemmerer: The Rangers' West Conference shutout mission continues with test No. 2....
Newcastle at Moorcroft: This should be an excellent game. Quite honestly, if I had my choice, this is where I'd be on Friday afternoon (and then I'd drive up to Sheridan).
Wright at Thermopolis: After Glenrock, there's a lot of parity in the East Conference.... and these two teams are the only teams remaining that don't have a victory in league play. Big game, either way. 

Class 2A
Burns at Pine Bluffs: Rivalry games are funny things, so the Broncs need to be careful.
Lusk at Lingle: Last two games: Lusk 90, opponents 0. Talk about momentum...
Riverside at Rocky Mountain: OK, Griz. Time to see if you're for real.
Sundance at Big Horn: Statistical quirk of the day: In each of the last three games for the Rams, their winning margin has decreased (33 to 25 to 14). So you're telling me there's a chance!
Tongue River at Wind River: The Cougars are playing with a ton of confidence right now. Watch out.

Class 1A
Guernsey at Upton: Hemmed, hawed, couldn't make a decision, flipped a coin.
Hanna at Burlington: Don't make me say "I told you so" about the Huskies. They're solid. And they've pitched two straight shutouts.
Shoshoni at Dubois: The other four teams in the league have one conference victory apiece; neither one of these teams has broken through in league play yet. That makes this game that much more critical to keep pace.
Southeast at Hulett: Completely out-of-context stat: Every season in which Southeast has played a game at Hulett, the Cyclones have gone on to win the state championship. (Of course, Southeast has only played at Hulett once, in the semis of the 1A-D2 playoffs in 1999.)
Wyoming Indian at Cokeville: Speaking of state championships.... Cokeville just looks better and better every week. I'm not ready to call 1A like I've already called 3A, but another good showing from the Panthers might prompt one.

Interclass
Greybull at Lovell: I don't think the Bulldogs' big offensive outpouring last week was a fluke.

Interstate
Marsh Valley, Idaho, at Star Valley: I keep waiting for the Braves to break through, but I don't think that elusive victory is coming Friday.
Scottsbluff, Neb., at Laramie: Out-of-state games haven't been kind to Wyoming teams this year, but the Plainsmen should help bump up the average a little bit...

Six-man
Meeteetse at Custer-Melstone, Mont.: In three-plus years of picking, I've learned that if the game looks close, go with the home team. And then don't act surprised when the road team wins.

Open: Normative Services, Saratoga.

There are my choices. Who'll prove me right? Who'll make me look just plain silly? What are YOUR picks for Week 4? Post a comment below.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

It's an absolutely crazy busy week here, so here's the abbreviated version of the SGT:

GOLF: State. 4A in Evanston, 3A in Douglas, 2A in Thermopolis. It's kind of a big deal.

VOLLEYBALL: Casper Invite. Like basically anyone who's anyone is in Casper. It's kind of a big deal.

TENNIS: Regionals. North in Riverton, South in Laramie. That whole seeding for state thing? It's kind of a big deal.

Those are three events I'm watching with a keen eye this weekend. Anything else stick out to you on the schedule? Comments welcome.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

You know how we do. This week's 5:

1. Gillette golf: The Camels won the girls' team title and finished second in the boys' division at the Casper Invitational last week -- not a bad little roll to start the week before state.

2. Lyman volleyball: We see ya there, Eagles. Lyman finished third at its host tournament, but watch out -- the Eagles have been consistently pesky all season and could be a scary team come late October.

3. Cokeville volleyball: Speaking of volleyball tournaments, check out the Panthers. They won the Thermopolis Invitational, beating some much bigger schools (Cody in the championship and Powell in pool play) in the process. Then again, it's not all that surprising. Cokeville seems to do this every year.

4. Gillette girls swimming: OK, one more quick trip up to Campbell County, because I've got to give a quick shout-out to the Camels' swimmers. Really, think about this: It's not all that often you see a team more than double up the second-place team in a nine-team meet, but that's exactly what the Camels did at the Riverton Invitational. In fact, the rest of the field couldn't even double up the Camels -- the eight other teams scored 766 points combined; Gillette scored 443 all on their own. I don't care who you are, that's impressive right there.

5. Lovell football: I knew it was only a matter of time. The Bulldogs finally broke out big in a 30-point victory over Wright; Grant Geiser threw five TD passes to five different receivers. Yay, diversity!

That's it for now. Who else had a noteworthy weekend? Comment below.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Repeat these words with me: "This is not a surprise."

Because that's what this week's Humble Pie is all about.

Sheridan, Gillette, Glenrock, et. al. Even though I picked against them, seeing them win on Friday night was not all that surprising, to be honest.

So let's check out Week 3 in a bit more depth....

First mad props to Sheridan, which knocked off Natrona County 10-9. In talking with Sheridan coach Don Julian this week, he said this was a big game for his program -- and this victory is just what Julian and the Broncs needed to let everyone know that their program is back. But, say it with me, "This is not a surprise." Sheridan is a much-improved team and Natrona definitely had respect for the Broncs and what they could do. Now, maybe everyone else will, too.

Second mad props go to Gillette, 14-13 winners over top-ranked Green River at home. Tyler Juby's blocked extra point in the fourth quarter was the difference in this one. This was arguably the biggest game of the season thus far, and, say it with me, "This is not a surprise." Make no mistake about it: Gillette is good. And this loss only helps further prove 5A's growing parity this season.

Third mad props to Glenrock, which knocked off 4A's top-ranked team, Buffalo. Once again, an extra-point attempt was the difference, as the Herders stopped the Bison on a 2-point conversion attempt in the final minute. But say it with me, "This is not a surprise." These two teams battled tooth-and-nail last season, so it really wasn't all that surprising to see that be the case again this season. And it wasn't too eye-popping to see Glenrock come out on top.

Fourth mad props to Shoshoni, which topped Normative Services 14-6. There was a little bit more of a surprise in this one only because of the final score -- I really thought this could be one of those high-scoring shootout-type games, which is why I picked NSI to win it. But it wasn't. At least according to the final score, it was more of a grind-it-out, defensive affair. And, say it with me, "This is not a surprise." Since the game ended up being a defensive struggle, it was not at all surprising to see the Wranglers pull this one out.

Fifth mad props to Sundance, which held on to its home-field advantage in its victory over Saratoga. Must've been the bus lag, which is the same affliction that tripped up Sundance last year in its loss to Saratoga on the Panthers' home field. Therefore, say it with me, "This is not a surprise." I think if you play this game tomorrow in Saratoga, the Panthers win it. But the game was in Sundance on Friday, and the Bulldogs won it -- and that's really all that counts.

Sixth mad props to Laramie, which came up Casper way and beat KW 24-16. It was only a matter of time before the Plainsmen's double-wing offense finally got rolling, and it just so happened that they did so against the Trojans. And once that offense gets rolling, it's hard to stop. So, say it with me, "This is not a surprise." The Plainsmen's breakthrough was simply a matter of when, not if. "When" just happened to be Week 3 in Casper. Now everyone else in 5A had better pay attention.

Seventh mad props to Gering, Neb., for beating Wheatland in OT.

Now, some other stuff:

As noted above, this was a big night for extra points. In addition to Glenrock and Gillette, NC also missed one and lost by a single point to Sheridan. And Worland stopped Lander on a 2-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter to win by one. And Wheatland failed to convert its extra-point attempt against Gering and ended up losing in overtime.

Also, a quick tip of the hat to the guys up in Dubois. The Rams lost a team member Wendesday when senior Delbert Madrid died in a car accident. The Rams decided to play their scheduled game against Wind River anyway and, although the Rams lost and the final score was too much to not enough, simply stepping on the field and getting out there and competing with that heavy heart is worthy of congratulations. (I'd love to be able to tell you more, but I couldn't get a hold of anyone in Dubois and Wind River didn't call in any information about this game. Sorry.)

One last thought: I got to see the Hanna-Hulett game today in Casper. The game itself was not much of a contest, but how it got to 63-0 is nearly unexplainable. I've never really seen a game like that and I'm still a bit confused emotionally.

The closest I ever came to something like that was a game I played in during my junior year of high school. We led 31-0 after one quarter and something like 43-0 at halftime. I remember at halftime, our coaches told us if we broke into the clear and had an obvious touchdown awaiting us, we weren't supposed to take it -- we were supposed to hit the ground, get out of bounds, whatever, just don't score.

I got to thinking about that again today watching this game. If you're a coach up 40-something to nothing at halftime, do you tell your players to avoid scoring more points? Do you chew out a kid who scores a touchdown anyway? Do you chew out your quarterback when he audibles at the line of scrimmage, and the play turns into an all-too-easy touchdown? If you've got a shutout going, do you continue to play to defend it (i.e. blitzes, first-team players, etc.)? I'm not trying to single anyone out here, or put anyone out or make anyone feel bad about what transpired on Friday; I'm genuinely curious to see what people think about how you define sportsmanship in a game that's a blowout, because I ran into a few different perspectives on Friday. Is sportsmanship keeping the score as low as possible once you know the outcome isn't in question, or is it continuing to play as hard as you can, even if it means that every once in a while you're piling on more points?

If you can, please try to keep your comments general and don't direct them toward any specific players or coaches; I'd really appreciate it.

And mad props to The Blitz. Check it out.

This week: 22-8 (73 percent). This year: 75-32 (70 percent).

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Disavowing all travel issues and all team, school or city allegiances, opting only for the chance to see the state's best high school football, what Week 3 game would you go to this weekend?

If Green River at Gillette isn't at the top of your list, then you haven't been paying attention.

Green River is the top-ranked team in Class 5A and has enough individual talent to be one of the classification's true championship threats.

Gillette is ranked third in 5A after topping Central and Rock Springs in impressive fashion the first two weeks of the season.

When coaches mention seeing teams again, this is the type of game they're talking about. Right now, it looks like there will be a very, very, very good chance of these two teams meeting again in the playoffs.

Obviously, there are plenty of side-plots in this game. Can Green River's defense handle Gillette's resurgent run game? Can Gillette's defense do the same to Green River's offensive rushing attack? Will bus lag affect the Wolves on a trip that's about 375 miles long -- one way?

For now, my pick is with the Wolves. But come November, when these two teams may meet again, who knows?

Here are the rest of this week's picks. Projected winners are the bold teams, but projected non-winners have the perfect chance to prove me wrong this weekend... and if they do, I'm not sad about it. :)

Friday
Class 5A
Cheyenne Central at Rock Springs: Based purely on what's happened the past two weeks, I have to take the Indians (both teams lost to Natrona and Gillette, but Central didn't lose as bad.... or something....)
Evanston at Cheyenne East: Rematch of last year's championship game could go either way, and I'm always partial to a home team coming off a win rather than a road team coming off a loss. But don't be surprised if the Red Devils win this one.
Laramie at Kelly Walsh: The Trojans' offense has started to come around and the defense is eager for redemption.
Sheridan at Natrona County: I wrote in my game preview that NC has beaten Sheridan 11 consecutive times, but that none of those 11 games could stack up to how tough this one could end up being. I truly believe that, and if Sheridan can get its passing game going, the Broncs could pull an upset.

Class 4A
Cody at Rawlins: Is Rawlins' 2-0 start really worth making the rest of 4A sweat? Time to find out.
Lander at Worland: This is an incredibly intriguing game, and I like what Lander's doing. But I still think Worland has enough in the tank to win this at home.
Star Valley at Jackson: Maybe the road will be kinder to the Braves than the new fancy home field has been. Either way, I do think there's enough rivalry fire in this one for the game to stay close.

Class 3A
Lovell at Wright: Don't ask me why. I've sat on the fence for this game all week long and finally just threw my hands up and picked a team.
Pinedale at Lyman: Some other 3A West team other than Kemmerer has to win eventually.... right? Kemmerer's 2-0, the other four combined are 0-9. Unless this game ends in a tie, that 0-fer streak is guaranteed to somehow end today.
Thermopolis at Newcastle: Odd quirk: Both teams lost by 28-0 scores last week.

Class 2A
Lingle at Burns: The Broncs just look too tough right now.
Pine Bluffs at Lusk: It's a brutal stretch coming up for the Hornets, and if they don't sense the urgency needed to win this one and gain a little momentum, the next two weeks (vs. Burns, then at Southeast) could be pretty long.
Rocky Mountain at Tongue River: Call it Grizzlies by eight. After all, RM won its first two games by eight-point spreads (14-8 and 20-12)....
Saratoga at Sundance: Don't let Saratoga's 1-2 record fool you. The offense is still explosive and the defense is still stout.

Class 1A
Burlington at Wyoming Indian: It's tempting to pick the Chiefs in this one, but I think the Huskies are a bit more battle-tested through two weeks of the season.
Hanna vs. Hulett, at Casper (NCHS): Neutral site, turf, both teams on the road, identical records... these types of games are always hard to read. Hulett in a coin flip.
Normative Services at Shoshoni: Wolves almost had their breakthrough game last week. Don't be too surprised if they end up having it this week.
Upton at Southeast: Bobcats would need a monumental effort for the upset. It's possible -- but not probable.

Interclass
Big Horn at Moorcroft: What? Picking against Moorcroft for a third straight week? Well, yeah. Big Horn has been the class of Class 2A so far this fall.
Buffalo at Glenrock: This game is always one of the most intriguing on the nonconference schedule. Last year, the Bison won 14-6 and both teams went on to fantastic seasons. Expect the same here -- low-scoring, close, fantastic seasons to follow.
Dubois at Wind River: Cougars have looked good in their 2-0 start. Might as well pencil in 3-0....
Greybull at Big Piney: This game, just like the Punchers' game against Rocky Mountain last week, should be a good test for both teams. Think close and hard-fought, with something like a 109-yard missed field goal return or some crazy big play like that breaking it open.
Kemmerer at Riverside: Two defending state champions going at it... but, as every coach in Wyoming will tell you, that was last year.
Mountain View at Cokeville: Cokeville has yet to allow a point on defense; Mountain View is averaging 1.0 ppg on offense.... While I do think the Buffs will get on track this week, I don't think it'll be enough to knock off the Panthers.
Riverton at Powell: Powell is much better than that 1-2 record will lead you to believe.

Interstate
Chadron, Neb., at Douglas: Chadron has owned this series recently, and they're off to another fast start this year.
Gering, Neb., at Wheatland: A lot depends on how well Wheatland's usually stout defense fares against Gering's balanced offense.
Torrington at Alliance, Neb.: Another game that's too close to call. Neither team has a victory yet, so this will end up being a key game one way or the other.

Saturday
Six-man
Meeteetse at Belfry, Mont.: The Longhorns have most of their "big" games at the end of their schedule -- but Belfry's a conference foe, and that makes this one just as "big" as the rest.

So am I right? Am I wrong? How did I get here? Am I channeling the Talking Heads too much? What picks make sense, and what picks make you think I've lost my mind? Comment below with some thoughts.

Same as it ever was, posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

This week's trio is a little conspiracy, a little cross-section and a little conference action -- and I think the 'c' button is now broken... :

GOLF: 3A conference meets, Lander and Lovell. The 3A teams have their conference meets in the fall; the 4As have them in the spring... which makes this weekend even more key for the 3A teams, not only for state placing but for all-conference honors, too.

CROSS COUNTRY: Michelle Ludwig Invitational, Saturday, Sheridan. The meet is a good cross-section of small and big schools from both sides of the Bighorns. With 11 in-state schools scheduled to go, it's the biggest in-state meet of the weekend, too.

VOLLEYBALL: Look out! The L Conspiracy is back! Tournaments this weekend are scheduled for Laramie, Lingle, Lusk AND Lyman. All four look fun. And all four kind of blend together into one sort of big L-type tournament on a weekend like this.

If you're in Casper on Thursday, don't forget about the first regular-season Kelly Walsh-Natrona County volleyball match, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at NCHS.

Where are you going this weekend? Post a comment and fill us in on where your hot spots are this week.  

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

This week's Five, in NPO:

1. Rawlins volleyball: In the biggest 3A tournament outside of state, the Outlaws won their own tournament, losing only one set along the way. And that was in pool play -- Rawlins swept everything on Saturday in the Gold bracket.

2. Jackson girls swimming: The Broncs did the double-dip this weekend, winning both the Pinedale Invitational and the Kemmerer Invitational. So how about it: Lander and Jackson are again alone at the top in 3A? Can anyone push either of these teams?

3. Sheridan girls cross country: Lela Carpenter won and Dana Morin finished third to pace the Broncs to a team championship at the talent-rich Wayne Chaney Memorial in Gillette on Friday.

4. Lingle football: The Doggers are playing Norman Dale-style football: "They can't win if they don't score." The Doggers pitched their second straight shutout and improved to 2-0 this season, even though they've only scored 14 points combined.

5. Cokeville football: Speaking of shutouts, the Panthers notched their second straight zero of the season, too, by beating the Evanston JV. Cokeville's total points scored through two games is a bit more impressive -- 77.

There they are. Add yours by making a comment below.

To paraphrase Alanis Morrissette, "Isn't it ironic?"

Actually, it's more coincidence than irony that Lander's losing streak ended on Friday. The Tigers' 18-game losing skid -- the longest active streak in the state -- came to an end Friday with a 6-0 victory over Jackson.

And, sorry Alanis -- it's almost pure coincidence, not irony, that this victory also ended the state's longest active winning streak, as Jackson's "W" streak ended at 12 games.

The Tigers didn't need much scoring, only a 24-yard scoring run from Bret Klopp in the first quarter. The defense played stout enough for that lead to stand the rest of the way, and just like that, the Tigers are in first place in the 4A West.

(In case you're windering, Cheyenne East and Kemmerer now share the honor for the state's longest active winning streak at five games apiece. Midwest now has the longest active losing streak at nine, but the Oilers almost pulled one out on Friday. Read Saturday's Star-Tribune for a cool story, or read it now on The Blitz.)

Second mad props this week go to Rocky Mountain, which knocked off Big Piney 20-12 on the road to improve to 2-0 and earn mad props for the second straight week. The Grizzlies got a key fourth-quarter touchdown and some stout defense to start 2-0 for the first time since 2002. Nice work.

Third mad props to Big Horn, which made a big statement by beating Riverside 31-6. This one got away from the Rebels early -- it was 24-0 at halftime. Was this the official changing of the guard for this 2A season? Well, the Rams were already ranked No. 1. But for now, they've proven they belong there.

Speaking of 2A, fourth mad props to Wind River, which posted its second straight victory by beating Greybull 29-0. The Buffs were hurt by seven turnovers (I ate three of them), but more than that, the Cougars were effective on the ground and through the air and all but stopped Greybull's offense completely. I think it's safe to say the Cougars will be giving everyone fits this year -- maybe even Big Horn. Might as well circle it now, Cougars vs. Rams, Week 5 in Pavillion.

Speaking of 2A, fifth mad props to Lingle, which posted its second straight shutout and beat Saratoga 8-0. To butcher a phrase, one-touchdown offense can win games, because shutout defense will eventually win championships. It's the first time Lingle's posted back-to-back shutouts since 1995.

Speaking of 2A, sixth mad props to Upton (yeah, 1A, I know, but they beat 2A Tongue River). The Bobcats squeaked by on the strength of an extra point and their ability to stop a two-point conversion try by the Eagles in the third quarter. Now that the Bobcats have a little depth, they could be trouble for every team that's left on their schedule. And after Friday, no one will be taking Upton lightly.

Seventh mad props to Moorcroft, which put another notch in its belt by shutting out Thermopolis. OK, admission time: I really thought Moorcroft could be good this fall, but I wanted to keep my expectations tempered until they proved something to me. Well, with this victory and last week's W over Lovell -- and doing so by spending more time on the road than Charles Kuralt -- the Wolves have done just that. They've proven they belong among 3A's top teams this fall. And until someone else proves otherwise, I'm standing by that thought.

Eighth mad props to Hanna, which knocked off Dubois 14-6 in a low-scoring, defensive battle. The Miners defended their home better than Brinks, gave up only six points and now can claim at least a share of first place in the 1A West.

Some other stuff that stuck out:

Is Cody that good, or is Star Valley just struggling that much? ... Watch out for Lusk -- 41 in the first half on Friday. ... How can you score 13 points in a six-man game and win? Ask Meeteetse: Tough defense. It got the job done against Fromberg, Mont., on Friday. ... All in all, there have been 10 shutouts this week. Eight of those losing teams were at home. So much for home cooking. (Update... Burns' Saturday shutout makes it 11, eight of those losing teams at home)...

That's all I got for now. What stood out to you in Week 2? Comment below.

This week: 23-8 (74 percent). This year: 53-24 (an abysmal 69 percent)

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

The more I examine the Week 2 schedule, the more one game sticks out: Moorcroft at Thermopolis.

After this game, one of these teams will be 2-0. And the 3A East Conference just got a whole lot more competitive.

I don't think there's any question that Glenrock is the favorite in the 3A East, and if anyone in the conference beats the Herders it will be a genuine surprise.

But the race for second is interesting. All five remaining teams can make legitimate claims to that No. 2 spot now -- including both Thermopolis and Moorcroft, last year's bottom two teams in the conference standings.

Newcastle has the experience; Wright has the athletes and the trend of success; Lovell has the new approach and the stable of skill players.

But after Friday, it'll be Thermopolis at 1-0 or Moorcroft at 2-0 taking control of their own destiny.

This shouldn't be surprising, either. Thermop had plenty of returning players from last year's team and were poised to turn the corner long before last Saturday. Moorcroft, too, had an experienced group of backfield players and a bigger-than-average line, something that's key in this classification.

Quite honestly, I don't know who to pick here. Both teams have tremendous upsides and -- now -- confidence.

For now, my choice is Thermopolis. But both these teams have already proven they know how to get the job done -- and both have proven they'll be tough for anyone to beat this fall.

Now, one quick picking housekeeping item: I've received updated schedules this week from both Midwest and Ten Sleep. Both schools will be playing sub-varsity schedules and won't be eligible for the postseason. I'll continue to run their games as part of our weekly schedule, but I won't be making picks on those games. (It is kind of cool that these two teams will be playing each other in a home-and-home this season, starting with a game in Ten Sleep on Friday afternoon. Kickoff at 3:30 p.m. if you're in Washakie County with nothing else to do....)

Here are the rest of my picks for the second full week of the regular season, with anticipated winners in the boldface type:

Thursday
Interclass
Cokeville at Evanston JV: When these guys get the chance to play each other, it usually turns into a pretty decent game. Good test both ways.

Friday
Class 5A
Cheyenne East at Kelly Walsh: Neither offense was on top of its game last week, so don't look for a repeat of last year's 42-35 shootout.
Evanston at Green River: This is a big test for both teams; it almost seems unfair to play it so early. But the Wolves look too tough.
Gillette at Rock Springs: The Camels might be stronger than anyone outside Campbell County realizes.
Natrona County at Cheyenne Central: NC is finally getting healthy, especially on the o- and d-lines.
Sheridan at Laramie: The Plainsmen rebuilding project will take some time. Make no mistake, though, that it's coming. Soon.

Class 4A
Cody at Star Valley: Show me something, Braves. The last of three straight home games to start the season is a good time to do so.
Jackson at Lander: State's longest active winning streak vs. state's longest active losing streak.... and, oddly enough, I think it'll be somewhat close.
Powell at Buffalo: I like what Powell has going this season, and by November this could be a tight one. But for now, the Bison can't be picked against.

Class 3A
Glenrock at Lovell: The Bulldogs' offense might need a few games to come around. The Herders' offense is already in midseason form.
Kemmerer at Mountain View: When it's all said and done, I wouldn't be surprised if Kemmerer won the 3A West without allowing a point. This is Step 1...

Class 2A
Lingle at Saratoga: Panthers' hot offense (58 points vs. Hanna last week) faces Doggers' hot defense (shutout win over Morrill, Neb., last week).
Riverside at Big Horn: I'll call for the Rebels in a mild upset. Turnovers will determine this one, and I think Riverside will take better care of the ball. Prove me wrong, Rams...  
Sundance at Lusk: If either team wants to continue dreaming of the East Conference championship, then winning here is imperative.
Wind River at Greybull: The Buffs impressed me last week. Now it's time to see if they can keep up that hot streak.

Class 1A
Dubois at Hanna: Yeah, I flipped a coin to pick this one. Both teams are coming off rough losses, so it'll be the team that responded best to that adversity in practice this week that will come out on top.
Guernsey at Normative Services: The Wolves always take about a month to come together. If this were Week 8, I might take NSI. But it's not.
Hulett at Burlington: Hulett has had Burlington's number in recent years. But I think Burlington is better than people are giving them credit for right now.
Shoshoni at Wyoming Indian: Time to see if the Chiefs are for real.

Interclass
Douglas at Riverton: I never know what to do with this game. My gut tells me Bearcats, so I'll go with that.
Rawlins at Pinedale: Last time Rawlins started a season 2-0, it won the state championship. Don't crown the Outlaws yet, but....
Rocky Mountain at Big Piney: This is an incredibly intriguing game. Even though the Grizzlies are improved, I think the Punchers win this one at home. BTW, Big Piney hasn't started 0-2 since 1986.
Upton at Tongue River: TR could be one of the state's most improved teams this week.
Wheatland at Newcastle: If nothing else, both these teams are probably glad they're playing somebody else from Wyoming this week. Those OOS games weren't kind to either school last week.
Worland at Lyman: Even in a loss last week, Worland looked OK. Lyman didn't look too good in its loss.
Wright at Burns: This one has rolled around in my head all week, and I'm still not sure who to pick. The Broncs have the edge, though, if for no other reason than home field.

Interstate
Gering, Neb., at Torrington: Gering has beaten Torrington eight straight times... but the last few have been pretty close.
Pine Bluffs at Mitchell, Neb.: Cornhusker Staters have won four straight in this series.

Six-man
Fromberg, Mont., at Meeteetse: I can't find anything that said Fromberg played last week. Meanwhile, the Longhorns won by 48 last week.

Saturday                         
Interclass
Southeast at Laramie JV: Cyclones bounce back. Trust me.

There are my picks. How about yours? Any big upsets in the making? Post a comment below with your thoughts.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Before we get too deep into the possible new conference alignments facing the scrutiny of the Wyoming High School Activities Association this fall, we need to set the ground rules of what's up for vote. The WHSAA's first quarterly meeting, scheduled for Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in Casper, will have great sway in how the conferences and classifications are organized for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.

It's easiest to examine the proposals if we look at football as separate from everything else. And here's how everything else breaks down:

One proposal before the WHSAA is the so-called "natural breaks" proposal, one that would allow the WHSAA to put as many as 14 teams into Class 4A. Using enrollment numbers provided to them earlier this fall, the WHSAA executive staff has already set those "natural breaks" so schools will know where they would go if this proposal passes.

Here are how the conferences would break down IF this proposal passes (for basketball, track and volleyball, and to a certain extent for wrestling):

4A West: Cody, Evanston, Green River, Jackson, Riverton, Rock Springs, Star Valley.
4A East: Gillette, Kelly Walsh, Natrona County, Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne East, Laramie, Sheridan.
3A West: Lander, Lovell, Powell, Worland, Kemmerer, Lyman, Mountain View, Pinedale.
3A East: Buffalo, Glenrock, Newcastle, Thermopolis, Douglas, Rawlins, Torrington, Wheatland.
2A Northwest: Greybull, Riverside, Rocky Mountain, Shoshoni.
2A Northeast: Big Horn, Moorcroft, Sundance, Tongue River, Wright.
2A Southwest: Big Piney, Saratoga, Wind River, Wyoming Indian.
2A Southeast: Burns, Lingle, Lusk, Pine Bluffs, Southeast.
1A Northwest: Burlington, Dubois, Fort Washakie, Meeteetse, St. Stephens, Ten Sleep.
1A Northeast: Arvada-Clearmont, Hulett, Kaycee, Normative Services, Upton.
1A Southwest: Arapaho Charter, Cokeville, Encampment, Farson, Hanna, Snake River.
1A Southeast: Chugwater, Glendo, Guernsey, Midwest, Rock River.

If the proposal DOES NOT pass, and the WHSAA goes back to using its current classification system (12-16-20-rest), here's how the conferences would break down:

4A West: Natrona County, Evanston, Green River, Riverton, Rock Springs, Star Valley.
4A East: Gillette, Kelly Walsh, Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne East, Laramie, Sheridan.
3A West: Cody, Lander, Powell, Worland, Jackson, Lyman, Mountain View, Pinedale.
3A East: Buffalo, Glenrock, Newcastle, Thermopolis, Douglas, Rawlins, Torrington, Wheatland.
2A Northwest: Greybull, Lovell, Riverside, Rocky Mountain, Shoshoni.
2A Northeast: Big Horn, Moorcroft, Sundance, Tongue River, Wright.
2A Southwest: Big Piney, Kemmerer, Saratoga, Wind River, Wyoming Indian.
2A Southeast: Burns, Lingle, Lusk, Pine Bluffs, Southeast.
1A Northwest: Burlington, Dubois, Fort Washakie, Meeteetse, St. Stephens, Ten Sleep.
1A Northeast: Arvada-Clearmont, Hulett, Kaycee, Normative Services, Upton.
1A Southwest: Arapaho Charter, Cokeville, Encampment, Farson, Hanna, Snake River.
1A Southeast: Chugwater, Glendo, Guernsey, Midwest, Rock River.

It's important to note several things at this point. First, conference alignments are still flexible, and there could still be changes in the make-up of the conferences even if the "natural breaks" proposal passes or fails. This is most likely to happen at the 1A level, specifically with Midwest rejoining the Northeast or Arapaho Charter rejoining the 1A Northwest or swapping spots with Fort Washakie in the Southwest.

But it could also happen in Class 4A, especially if the "natural breaks" proposal does not pass. The current Class 4A ADs got together in Casper last week and hammered out the alignment shown above in the example where the "natural breaks" proposal doesn't pass. You'll note that the Casper schools are split -- Natrona in the West, Kelly Walsh in the East -- and that Riverton has moved into the West. As I understand it, the ADs suggested this alignment by a vote of 11-1.

Schools' classifications will be determined by the vote on the "natural breaks" proposal, and classification can't change once it's set except for by special vote by the WHSAA board. But, as I said before, though, conference alignment is still fluid and will continue to be fluid right up until the final vote in November.

And we haven't even touched soccer. In each case, no matter what, soccer will stay at 12 teams in Class 4A, with Natrona, Evanston, Green River, Riverton, Rock Springs and Star Valley in the West and Gillette, Kelly Walsh, Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne East, Laramie and Sheridan in the East.

Now, take a breath....

Whew.

On to football... and another proposal. This one is for the reorganization of the football classifications, the big crux of which is reducing Class 5A to 10 teams and adding a division of six-man football.

Here is how the football conferences would shake out IF the proposal passes:

Class 4A: Gillette, Kelly Walsh, Natrona County, Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne East, Evanston, Green River, Laramie, Rock Springs, Sheridan.
3A West: Cody, Jackson, Lander, Powell, Star Valley, Worland.
3A East: Buffalo, Douglas, Rawlins, Riverton, Torrington, Wheatland.
2A West: Big Piney, Greybull, Kemmerer, Lovell, Lyman, Mountain View, Pinedale, Wyoming Indian.
2A East: Burns, Big Horn, Glenrock, Moorcroft, Newcastle, Thermopolis, Tongue River, Wright.
1A 11-man West: Burlington, Cokeville, Dubois, Riverside, Rocky Mountain, Saratoga, Shoshoni, Wind River.
1A 11-man East: Hulett, Lingle, Lusk, Normative Services, Pine Bluffs, Southeast, Sundance, Upton.
1A six-man: Fort Washakie, Guernsey, Hanna, Kaycee, Snake River, Meeteetse, Midwest, Rock River, Ten Sleep.

You'll note that there are no conferences for 4A or 1A-six-man. In both cases, there will only be one conference, with a round-robin schedule set up for both divisions. Class 4A teams will play each other each once, including a full-on regular season game scheduled for Zero Week, for a nine-game regular season. Each game will be a "conference" game -- there will be no non-conference games -- and the top eight teams from that "conference" will be seeded 1-8 in the playoff bracket.

For six-man, each team will play every other once -- nine teams, making for an eight-game regular season -- and the top four teams will advance to the playoffs.

As for 2A and 1A-11, you'll note that the conferences themselves are much bigger now. Therefore, the conference season will take up the bulk of the schedule -- seven of the eight games for each team will be conference games.

If the proposal DOES NOT pass, here is how the classes/conferences would be made up:

5A East: Gillette, Kelly Walsh, Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne East, Laramie, Sheridan.
5A West: Natrona County, Evanston, Green River, Rock Springs, Star Valley.
4A West: Cody, Jackson, Lander, Powell, Riverton, Worland.
4A East: Buffalo, Douglas, Rawlins, Torrington, Wheatland.
3A West: Big Piney, Kemmerer, Lovell, Lyman, Mountain View, Pinedale.
3A East: Burns, Glenrock, Moorcroft, Newcastle, Thermopolis, Wright.
2A West: Greybull, Riverside, Rocky Mountain, Shoshoni, Wind River, Wyoming Indian.
2A East: Big Horn, Lingle, Lusk, Pine Bluffs, Sundance, Tongue River.
1A West: Burlington, Cokeville, Dubois, Hanna, Saratoga.
1A East: Guernsey, Hulett, Midwest, Normative Services, Southeast, Upton.

Once again, it's important to note in both cases, conference alignment can be fluid but, usually, classification is not. The only hiccup I see here is with Saratoga football, which usually co-ops with Encampment, which might cause them to move up a classification in the second case.

And it's interesting to see here that if the six-man/10 in 4A proposal doesn't pass, Casper's two teams could again be split up, aided by Star Valley's jump into 5A and Riverton's fall to 4A.

It's a lot to process. I'm still trying to do just that.... And now, you have some time to do so, too.

The first of the four district meetings was today; those will continue through next week. Then, on Sept. 30, the WHSAA board will gather in Casper, make some votes and help clear up a lot of the "what-ifs" facing them this month.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

The Trio this week is a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll -- and all awesome.

VOLLEYBALL: Rawlins Invitational, Friday and Saturday. It's just like the 3A state tournament, only with 15 of the 3A teams instead of eight. Of course, it was 2A Mountain View that won the tournament last year. Oh, sweet irony! Anyway, this year's edition of the tournament should be a great gauge for the rest of the season.

GOLF: Wright Invitational, Friday and Saturday. Yeah, yeah, yeah, there might be some better golf played at some other tournaments in the state this weekend. But this tournament -- with Big Horn, Lusk, Moorcroft, Tongue River and Wright, at last check, all ready to attend -- is almost like a mini-preview of the 2A state meet. And that makes it incredibly intriguing.

CROSS COUNTRY: Cody Invitational, Friday. Call it the Bighorn Basin championships... all the BHB schools (plus Lander and Fort Washakie) are scheduled to attend.

That's it for now. Check back later today for an update on the WHSAA's reclassification proposals, which got underway today with the first of four district meetings.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Here's the fall's first installment of the "Five on the Rise," a list of five teams that looked good last week and should be watched this week. In no particular order, they are:  

1. Jackson tennis: In duals with Cody and Powell on Saturday, the teams from Teton County went a combined 20-0. Four sweeps. In fact, the Broncs lost only one set... 40-1. That's impressive.

2. Sheridan golf: For Cameron Lindell. Lindell tied for the championship at the Buffalo Invitational on Saturday, but how he did it -- with a hole-in-one on the fourth hole -- made his day all the more impressive.

3. Kemmerer volleyball: In case you're keeping track, the Rangers haven't lost yet this season. They won the championship at the Douglas Invitational two weeks ago, then swept both Lyman and Pinedale last week.

4. Kelly Walsh volleyball: Two weeks into the season, the Trojans are still undefeated. KW beat Gillette in the championship of the Camel Volleyball Tournament last week on the Camels' home court, finishing 6-0 in the tournament and moving to 12-0 overall.

5. Lingle volleyball: Want excitement? Go to a Doggers volleyball match. Lingle won a pair of five-game conference matches last week, beating Guernsey 3-2 on Tuesday and Pine Bluffs 3-2 on Friday.

So there they are. If you think you've got some knowledge worth dropping on the world, comment below with some thoughts.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Based solely on what happened tonight, I'm willing to call it now: Nov. 15, 1 p.m., Class 3A championship, Kemmerer at Glenrock.

How can you not like the Herders after how they beat Douglas 27-14, topping their big-brother cross-county rivals for the second year in a row.... and earning mad props from me in the process?

As usual, Glenrock ran more than Harry after Turbo-Lax (ewww, gross!). The Herders ran for 354 yards -- believe it or not, below their average last year -- and had two running backs go over 100 yards.

And Douglas is no pushover -- I had them ranked second in my preseason Class 4A poll this year.

I don't think the loss is a reflection on Douglas as much as it is on Glenrock. Douglas is still good -- good enough to still be one of 4A's top contenders. But Glenrock's victory has convinced me that they're even stronger than I gave them credit for.

As for Kemmerer, they won exactly as I predicted -- by less than a touchdown over Rich County, Utah. I don't have many details on this game, but the final score (26-21) is indicative of another strong team in southern Lincoln County.

Second mad props to Moorcroft, which pulled a big surprise on me in its victory over Lovell. I really thought Lovell would be one of 3A's better teams. They may still be by the end of the season. But I definitely have underestimated Moorcroft.... Maybe I shouldn't have. They're an experienced group. I thought the Wolves might be one year away from their breakthrough. Now I'm rethinking that.

Third mad props to Greybull, which blasted Lyman by 35 at home. Looking back, several coaches listed Greybull as a team to watch this fall. Given the Buffaloes' recent track record (last playoff victory in 1996), I wanted to take a wait-and-see approach. Well, I think everyone in Greybull saw exactly what the Buffs are about tonight... especially Lyman.

Fourth mad props to Evanston, 24-14 winners over Kelly Walsh. The Red Devils aren't going to be anybody's whipping boys. We knew that well before tonight. But down 14-0 to KW early on, Evanston could have folded. Instead, the Red Devils scored three touchdowns in the second quarter and showed the type of resiliency that will be key throughout the season.

Fifth mad props to Rocky Mountain, which knocked off Burlington. The Grizzlies are a better team this year than last year. That was clear long before tonight. What the 14-6 victory told us, though, is that, indeed, Rocky has what it takes to stick around among 2A's top teams this fall.

Sixth mad props to Lingle, which knocked off Morrill, Neb., in a 6-0 shootout. The Doggers didn't need many points, not with the way their defense played. It doesn't matter who you're playing -- a shutout is impressive stuff. Lingle now heads into arguably the toughest part of its schedule over the next three weeks, but now with a little confidence, the Doggers could be trouble.

Added Saturday: Seventh mad props to Thermopolis, which beat Big Piney 7-0 in overtime. Like I said earlier this week, a Bobcats victory here is not surprising. Thermopolis is improved, and it showed big time on Saturday.

And mad props to Custer, Kimball, Miles City and Sidney for winning, too.

Now, for some stuff I picked right:

It was kind of a rough night to be in Fremont County. Riverton (48-0), Lander (42-0), Shoshoni (42-0) and Dubois (46-0) all lost big. Wind River was the county's saving grace, 20-14 winners over Pinedale. (Also, Wyoming Indian beat Midwest 48-8 in a 9-man game.)

And.... Wyoming's longest active winning streak has come to an end. Southeast's 18-game streak (don't look, Ethel!) ended with a 27-18 loss to Burns. Was it just coincidence, or was it fate that the Cyclones' 18-game streak ended in a game in which they scored 18 points? Nevertheless, Southeast's credibility atop the 1A rankings is not damaged at all by the loss -- they're still the odds-on favorite to three-peat -- and Burns proved that the No. 2 spot they have in the 2A poll is deserved as well.

(By the way, Jackson now has the state's longest active winning streak at 12 games. The Broncs thumped on Teton, Idaho, tonight, to make it an even dozen in a row.)

That's about it for now. What stuck out to you in Wyoming's first full week of football? Comment below with some thoughts.

This week: 24-11 (69 percent). This year: 30-16 (65 percent).

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

It's time to resurrect an old Sports Goulash favorite: football picks. Already, yours truly is behind the 8-ball in trying to catch up to last year's mark. I finished 215-76 last year, picking right 74 percent of the time. And 76 slices of Humble Pie made me a shareholder in Tums.

Last week, the official start of picking times for 2008, I went 6-5. Here's to better choices this week.

Week 1 Upset Special: Burns to win on the road over Southeast. If Southeast's 18-game winning streak is going to be challenged this fall, it'll come this week. (Remember the Cyclones' 8-6 victory in Week 1 last year?) On paper, Burns has one of its best teams in years. Southeast, too, has a ton of experience back, which makes this pick that much more difficult. Either way, both teams will have a much better idea of how they stack up after this one is done -- but I'll give the Week 1 edge to the Broncs. (By the way, if Southeast wins this game, is there any team on its schedule that can give them a serious challenge -- and beat them in a victory that wouldn't be considered an upset? Lusk? Pine Bluffs?)

Here are this week's other picks. Projected winners in bold. But just because I pick you to lose doesn't mean I don't like you:

Thursday
Interclass
Normative Services at Big Horn: Wolves have never beaten the Rams.
Saratoga at Hanna: I remember Hanna's upset last year. Doesn't change my pick, though.
Friday
Class 5A
Laramie at Cheyenne East: T-Birds have been consistently good the past three years.
Gillette at Cheyenne Central: A complete toss-up here. Maybe the Camels took something from last week's loss... other than the sting. Something positive. We'll see.
Green River at Riverton: Could Coach McCormick at Riverton ended up with a worse Week 1 game? Prolly not.  
Kelly Walsh at Evanston: Evanston got hit with injuries this week...
Rock Springs at Natrona County: Rock Springs is still feeling its way with a new offense.
Class 4A
Buffalo at Lander: Hey, speaking of rough first draws for new coaches in Fremont County....
Powell at Worland: This one could be a good one -- maybe the game of the week by the time it's all said and done.
Class 3A
Moorcroft at Lovell: Moorcroft really got the short end of the stick on its schedule. First two games are conference games, and they're both like 800-mile trips (at Thermopolis next week). OK, maybe not 800. They just feel that long.
Class 1A
Cokeville at Shoshoni: Weird scheduling quirk -- it's Cokeville's first visit to Shoshoni since 2004.
Hulett at Upton: If you believe the chatter, this game could end up being for a home playoff game by October. Folks in Guernsey and Sheridan beg to differ.
Midwest at Wyoming Indian: Don't know if this'll be a 9, an 8 or a 6. Whatever, I'll take the Chiefs.
Interclass
Burlington at Rocky Mountain: Grizzlies are improved this year. Trouble is, so are the Huskies.
Douglas at Glenrock: No. 2 in 4A vs. No. 2 in 3A. And yes, I remember last year. Just call it the revenge factor.
Lusk at Guernsey: I think Lusk has the potential to go deep into the 2A bracket. I also think this game is a potential land mine for the Tigers.
Lyman at Greybull: Long trip... no problem.
Mountain View at Rawlins: No reason why the Outlaws shouldn't be optimistic about the season. They could trip up some teams this fall -- starting with the Buffalos.
Pinedale at Wind River: A lot of 2A coaches are high on the Cougars this fall. Time to see if they've got it right.
Riverside at Dubois: They say defending the championship is tougher than winning it....
Tongue River at Wright: Eagles are still a little young; Panthers, not so much.
Interstate
Cody at Hardin, Mont.: Bulldogs beat Powell last week.... and that's all I'm basing this pick on.
Hill City, S.D., at Sundance: Last time Hill City beat Sundance was 1979. Of course, there was that 20-year gap when they didn't play each other....
Jackson at Teton, Idaho: What happened to Teton? From perennial state title contenders a few years ago to getting beat by 35 by North Fremont? Paging coach Richins... (Sorry, I don't get the chance to drop my eastern Idaho knowledge that often in Wyoming. I take the chance whenever I can.)
Kemmerer at Rich County, Utah: But it'll be close. Think a touchdown or less.
Kimball, Neb., at Pine Bluffs: OK, Hornets. I was the only one to vote for you in the preseason statewide poll. Time to prove me right.
Miles City, Mont., at Sheridan: Turf!!!! Broncs break it in with a victory.
Morrill, Neb., at Lingle: Lions have beaten the Doggers six consecutive times.
Newcastle at Custer, S.D.: Newcastle has that scary word: potential. Time to show it.
Sidney, Neb., at Wheatland: If you like defense, go to Platte County. Remember the 6-0 slugfest these two teams had last year? And how they had to go to OT to decide it?
Snake River, Idaho, at Star Valley: Uh oh, eastern Idaho time.... I'll just say that year in and year out, the Panthers are among the top teams in the Gem State.
Torrington at Chadron, Neb.: Same deal with Chadron. They're usually pretty solid.
Saturday
Class 3A
Big Piney at Thermopolis: Watch out for the Bobcats this year. Seriously. They could be a spoiler for several teams, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them win this one.
Six-man
Meeteetse at Lima, Mont.: With some juggling, the Longhorns are now in a seven-team South Conference up in Montana. Seven teams? Here in Wyoming, we call that a classification.

So there you go. Dissect away. Where did I go right? Where did I go wrong? Let me know, and then we'll all have fun watching the scores roll in on Friday.

And remember, the best place to watch the scores roll in is at The Blitz, the Star-Tribune's high school football headquarters. Check it out on Friday night for scores and recaps and throughout the week for chatter.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com

Without going into too much detail, this has been one of the longest, weirdest days of my life. That said, you've been waiting all week for the Sports Goulash Trio, and here it is, hot off the sidewalk:

VOLLEYBALL: Camel Invitational, Friday and Saturday, Gillette. This is one of the premiere tournaments in the state, and it's all due to the field. Right now, I've got nine of the 12 Class 4A teams scheduled to attend the tournament, plus last year's 3A runner-up, Rawlins, plus last year's 2A champ, Big Horn. The field is always stacked in Gillette, and that makes it fun to see who's already on top of their game and who has a ways to go.

CROSS COUNTRY: Rawlins Invitational, Friday. There will be 15 Wyoming teams heading down Carbon County way, and the eclectic mix of small schools and big schools should make for some interesting races.

GOLF: McDonald's Invitational, Kingsport, Tenn., Saturday through Monday. The Cheyenne Central boys were the only team to earn a spot at the prestigious invitation-only tournament in Tennessee. Congratulations, Indians -- the invitation alone says a lot about the caliber of program that has been built in the Capital City.

'Tis it for now. More tomorrow. I'm going to go home and rest until my eyes stop spinning.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com