CHEYENNE — A week that featured a handful of surprises, several blowouts and multiple nail-biters reshaped playoff outlooks across Wyoming high school football as teams head into the final two weeks of the regular season.
Big results, bigger implications
Week 6 produced a series of headline outcomes: a couple of upsets in the 4A ranks, additional surprises in 2A and 1A 9-man, and eight shutouts statewide. Tight contests were common as well — six games were decided by one score or less, increasing the pressure on teams and coaches heading into the stretch run.
With postseason seedings on the line, several results stand out for their potential to alter bracket positions and regional matchups.
- 4A saw top programs flexing their muscle while a few favorites fell: No. 1 Natrona County blanked Campbell County, 46-0, while No. 2 Sheridan edged No. 3 East, 31-24. Laramie recorded a road victory over No. 4 Central, 20-9, and Kelly Walsh defeated No. 5 Thunder Basin, 23-7.
- 3A remained dominated by the top seed as No. 1 Star Valley rolled, 48-0, while other ranked clubs — Cody and Jackson among them — picked up important wins.
- 2A and 1A included last-minute drama: Kemmerer upset No. 5 Pinedale by a single point, 29-28, and several large-margin wins padded some teams’ resumes for the postseason.
Complete scoreboard (selected classifications)
| Classification | Matchup | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 4A | Natrona County vs. Campbell County | 46-0 |
| 4A | Sheridan vs. East | 31-24 |
| 4A | Laramie vs. Central | 20-9 |
| 3A | Star Valley vs. Green River | 48-0 |
| 2A | Big Horn vs. Wheatland | 70-7 |
| 1A 9-man | Rocky Mountain vs. Wyoming Indian | 83-0 |
Shutouts and blowouts
Eight teams recorded shutout victories this week, a testament to dominant defensive performances or lopsided matchups in several classifications. The largest margins included Big Horn’s 70-7 win in 2A and Rocky Mountain’s commanding 83-0 result in 1A 9-man. Other shutouts across the state underscore disparities between some programs and their opponents this season.
While blowouts grab headlines, the prevalence of close games — six decided by eight points or fewer — shows that many playoff races remain unsettled. Single-possession outcomes, like Kemmerer’s 29-28 victory over No. 5 Pinedale, can swing seedings and momentum for the rest of the year.
Notable individual and team threads
Top-ranked teams largely held serve. In 4A, No. 1 Natrona County added a shutout to its résumé, while No. 2 Sheridan’s win over No. 3 East kept those programs tightly bunched near the top of the standings. In 3A, the highest-ranked squads continued to separate from the pack, with Star Valley, Cody and Jackson each posting decisive wins.
Conversely, several underdog wins suggest the playoff maps will not be set until the regular season’s final fortnight. Those outcomes will test whether favored teams can regroup and whether lower-seeded clubs can sustain late-season runs into November.
What to watch next
- How the top seeds protect home-field advantage and their seeding over the next two weeks.
- Whether teams that registered large wins can maintain consistency entering the postseason.
- How one-point and two-point margin games affect tie-breakers and regional pairings.
With the regular season nearing its conclusion, every game — from lopsided victories to last-second finishes — will carry heightened consequence. Local rivalries and playoff positioning will intensify as teams across Wyoming chase better seeds, favorable matchups and the opportunity to extend their seasons.
This scoreboard summary reflects Week 6 results reported around the state. Local papers and school athletic departments will publish updates, statistics and postseason scenarios as league play concludes over the next two weeks.
Cody Marsh is the state correspondent for WE NEWS.
