TORRINGTON – The first round of the WyoPreps coaches and media poll was released Wednesday, with Torrington as the only Goshen County team to reach the top five.
The Trailblazers come into the season ranked third in 3A. They received one first-place vote, four votes for both second and third, five fourth-place votes and two fifth-place votes. Torrington ended up with 135 points, which was behind 2016’s 3A champion, Star Valley (282) and runner-up, Green River (168).
Powell, with 105 points, and Douglas, with 78 points, rounded out the top-five teams in 3A. Cody was narrowly edged out for the fifth spot, racking up 69 points. Riverton, Buffalo and Evanston all also received votes.
Looking at Torrington’s schedule, the Blazers play three teams that are ranked in the preseason poll. They open against Wheatland, who is ranked fifth in 2A, followed by a game against Star Valley on the road in Week 2. The Bearcats are the final ranked team that Torrington faces when the Blazers head to Douglas in Week 6.
In 1A 11-man, the Southeast Cyclones received one fifth-place vote, but that was not enough to get them into the top-five. Cokeville tops the class’ rankings, receiving four first and four second-place votes, along with a third-place vote. Big Horn, last year’s 2A champion, slid into second just behind Cokeville. Big Horn received more first-place votes (5), but rounded out the poll with a second-place, two third-place and one fifth-place vote.
2016’s 1A 11-man champions slid into third, raking in 81 points. Upton-Sundance (66) and Rocky Mountain (27) are the final two teams to reach the top five. Shoshoni and Southeast each received one fifth-place vote, but three points apiece was not enough for a top-five spot.
Southeast’s schedule this fall has three top-five teams in 1A, including two state championship teams from last year. The Cyclones host Big Horn in Week 2. The back half of the season includes Upton-Sundance at home in Week 5 and a trip to Pine Bluffs in Week 7.
In the first year that the Lingle-Fort Laramie Doggers are eligible for the playoffs in 1A six-man, they failed to receive any votes in the preseason poll. Last year’s six-man champions are riding a 20-game winning streak and received all first-place votes in the poll. Farson-Eden, 2016’s runner-up, finished second in the poll.
Little Snake River picked up the majority of third-place votes, with six, and sit third in the preseason poll with 81 points. Guernsey-Sunrise (48) and Burlington (33) both cracked into the top-five. Midwest, Meeteetse and Hanna-Elk Mountain all received votes, but found themselves still behind the top-five.
The Doggers begin the season against Little Snake River at home, followed by a trip to Guernsey-Sunrise. Kaycee is the final game against a ranked opponent that LFL has on its schedule. The Buckaroos come to Lingle in Week 6.
According to Wyoming-football.com’s preseason predictions, Torrington and LFL should make the playoffs. Torrington is listed as the top team in the East in 3A, with the Doggers sliding into fourth in the East in 1A six-man. Southeast sits fifth in the preseason prediction in its conference in 1A 11-man.
All three Goshen County football teams begin their hopeful runs to the playoffs at home on Sept. 1. The Doggers take on Little Snake River at 3 p.m. Southeast and Torrington both start at 7 p.m., with the Cyclones hosting Bayard, Neb. and the Blazers taking on Wheatland.
