TORRINGTON – The Torrington Trailblazers have a new non-conference schedule for 2018, while also adding newcomer Worland to the 3A East conference schedule after Buffalo drops to 2A.

The Blazers kick off their 2018 campaign on the road against a tough 2A opponent in Glenrock. The Herders have reached the playoffs in each of the past three years, including runner-up finishes in both 2015 and 2017. This past season, Glenrock posted a 9-2 record.

Torrington and Glenrock played each other 16 times between 1974-1989, with the Blazers going 11-5 in those games. Recently, the two teams have played each other three times from 2013-2015, with Torrington posting a 2-1 record against Glenrock. In 2015, the Blazers picked up the 21-6 win.

“When you look at Glenrock, that’s a tough game out of the gate,” coach Mark Lenhardt said. “It’s hard to replicate the double-wing offense they run.”

Because an emphasis was made to limit travel for the 2018 schedule, the Blazers requested to host Gering, Neb. in Week 2. A season ago, the Bulldogs went 2-7, but against stiff Nebraska opponents. Torrington and Gering are no strangers to each other on the gridiron, with 54 meetings between the two programs, but it is a series that has not played out since 2008 when Gering beat Torrington 21-9.

The Blazers return to Wiseman Field for Week 3 action against an opponent from the west they have gotten familiar with over the past several years in Green River. Since 2014, Torrington and Green River have played each other five times, including two playoff matchups, with the Blazers holding the 3-2 edge. This past season, Torrington bested the Wolves in the semi-finals, 17-14, getting revenge from a 27-21 playoff loss from a year ago.

The Wolves have reach the semi-finals in each of the past three seasons, including a runner-up finish in 2015. Over the past three years, Green River has a 21-10 record.

“It’s a tough three-game stretch that’ll hopefully prepare us for the conference schedule,” Lenhardt said of the non-conference opponents.

The Blazers hit the road to open their conference schedule against Lander. The Tigers will be under new management for the 2018 season, as their coach for the past four years, John Rounds, resigned at the end of the 2017 campaign. In the past four years, Lander has a combined record of 2-31, but that span includes a trip to the playoffs in 2016.

Lander and Torrington have played each other eight times, including once in each of the past seven seasons. Since 2011, the Blazers are 4-3 against the Tigers, winning each of the past four matchups.

In Week 5, the Blazers return to Torrington for a home game against Douglas. The Blazers and Bearcats have a storied history, with the game in 2018 scheduled to be their 93rd meeting. As of late, both teams have been battling for the conference title. The last time neither Torrington nor Douglas was the 3A East champion was in 2012.

Since 2012, the two teams have met seven times, including a playoff game in 2014. In those seven games, Torrington is only 2-5, but that includes a 41-0 win over the Bearcats this past season.

Douglas has been a stiff opponent for several years. The Bearcats have not missed the playoffs since 2002. In that span, they have won three championships and finished runner-up four times. Over the past five seasons, Douglas has posted a 36-14 record.

Following the contest against Douglas, the Blazers have their final home game in Week 6 against Riverton. The Wolverines hit a skid this past season, going 2-6. It was their first time missing the postseason since 2008. Over the past five years, they are 23-24.

The two programs have 20 matchups throughout history, including once in each of the past nine years. In those nine games, the Blazers are 3-6, but they have won each of the past three years, including a 42-14 victory in 2017 that was called at halftime due to weather.

“We are happy to play Douglas and Riverton at home,” Lenhardt said. “The only problem is you have to play them on the road the next year.”

Torrington ends its regular season with two road games for the first time since 1999. Their Week 7 opponent is Worland, who is the newcomer to the conference. Buffalo moved down to 2A, making only five teams in the 3A East. Worland was a member of the 3A West, which had seven teams, but now moves to the east to balance the conferences.

Although they were in different conferences, Torrington and Worland often played non-conference games. The two teams have met in each of the past nine years, with Torrington going 7-2 in those games. Most recently, Worland came to Torrington for the first round of the playoffs this year, a game Torrington won 46-21.

This past year was the first time Worland has made the playoffs since 2009. Since that season, the Warriors have gone 22-47.

“It’s a program that has had a lot of coaches in a short amount of time. Now they are getting some stability and that has really helped them,” Lenhardt said. “They’re going to be a tough team and we are going to have to play our best ball.”

The eight opponents that the Blazers will face in 2018 had a combined record of 37-36 this past season. According to Lenhardt, many of the teams run different styles of offenses, so the 2018 Blazer defense will need to stay sharp from week to week.

“We are going to be playing a lot of specialty offenses throughout the season,” he said. “But, any time you can face a lot of varieties of football, it’s a good thing.”

Exact dates and times for the games have yet to be determined.

*The game histories used were compiled by Wyoming-Football.com.