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