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