TORRINGTON – Four weeks of high school football are in the books, with another four weeks to go before the regular season so it is a good time to see how the local teams stack up against teams from across the state.
Torrington (3A)
Record: 3-1 (1-0)
Total Offense: 384.3 YPG (Second)
Total Defense: 245.8 YPGA (Seventh)
The Blazers have had a well-balanced offense so far this season, ranking third in rushing and fourth in passing in 3A. They average 211.3 yards on the ground and 173 yards through the air per game. Sixteen of their touchdowns have come on rushes (second), while seven passes have been caught for scores (fourth).
Breyden Bivens is a key cog of the Blazer offense, raking fourth in the class in passing yards per game (173). He has tossed for seven touchdowns and five interceptions. He also averages nine rushing yards per contest, while getting four touchdowns with his leg so far.
Bryan Lemmon and Nathan Stitt are Bivens’ two favorite targets, combining for 21 receptions this season. They both average more than 50 receiving yards per game, with five touchdowns coming from Stitt and two from Lemmon.
Where Lemmon trails Stitt in receiving touchdowns, he makes up for in rushing touchdowns, with six this fall. He averages 100.8 yards per game rushing, which puts him fourth in 3A. Josh Posten also totes the rock for Torrington, averaging 54.3 yards per game to go with five touchdowns on the season.
The well-oiled machine of the Blazer offense has averaged 43.8 points per game, which is the highest in the class, propelled by 23 touchdowns, another Torrington stat at the top of the leaderboard. the Blazers have given up seven turnovers as a team, which is tied for sixth in 3A.
On the defensive side of the ball, Torrington is stiffer against the pass, ranking fourth by allowing only 80.5 yards per game through the air. Against the run, the Blazers ranked eighth in the class, giving up 165.3 yards per game on rushing attempts. All three offensive touchdowns scored on Torrington have come on the ground. The Blazers have been active on defense, coming away with three interceptions and three fumble recoveries to date.
Lemmon is the top defender for Torrington to date, averaging 15 defensive points per game on 5.9 tackles per game, paired with six tackles for loss and a blocked kick. He ranks seventh in 3A in defensive points per game.
Jake Wamboldt is not far behind Lemmon, putting up 11.3 defensive points per game. He has filled his stat line with 5.1 tackles per game, three tackles for loss, and a sack. Stitt has put his receiving ability to good use on defense, leading the Blazers in turnovers with two interceptions to his credit. He also has three pass breakups, a blocked kick and averages 2.1 tackles a game. Posten tied Stitt in defensive points per game (10), averaging 4.8 tackles per game along with a pass defended against.
The Blazers have forced six turnover this season (10th), but allowed only 14.3 points per outing (seventh).
Southeast (1A 11-man)
Record: 2-1 (0-1)
Total Offense: 408 YPG (Third)
Total Defense: 471.3 YPGA (13th)
The Cyclones had a bye week last Friday, but that did not stop their rushing attack from being the best in 1A 11-man. Southeast averages 357.3 rushing (first) and 50.7 passing (10th) yards per game. Each of the Cyclones’ 11 touchdowns have come on the ground this fall, which ties them for fourth in rushing touchdowns.
Southeast has two of the top-10 rushers in the class. Chase Lovercheck is third, averaging 145.3 rushing yards per game, and Dawson Beck sits sixth, posting 100.7 rushing yards per game. The duo has combined for eight scores on the ground. Brady Fullmer and Mick Steinhausen have combined for 96.7 rushing yards per game and the other three touchdowns.
Fullmer is also Southeast’s signal-caller, averaging 50.7 passing yards per outing. Sterling Werner is Fullmer’s top target, coming down with five receptions for 95 yards. Brant Fullmer has 42 receiving yards and Beck accounts for another 15.
Southeast averages 33.7 points per game, which is good enough for third in the class. Their 11 total touchdowns rank fifth and their nine turnovers is ninth.
The Cyclones’ biggest struggle statistically has been on defense, where they allow 471.3 yards per game. They have given up 276 yards on the ground (12th) and 195.3 yards through the air (13th) in their three games this season. Southeast has come away with three turnovers to date, which ranks them tied for 10th.
Tanner Hort has been a force on defense, ranking second in the class in defensive points per game, with 21. He averages 9.3 tackles per contest, which is the most in 1A 11-man. The senior has rounded out his stat sheet to date with six tackles for loss and a sack.
Werner has also been a defensive menace, accounting for 13.3 defensive points and 5.8 tackles per game, three tackles for loss and a team-high two sacks. He also has blocked several point-after attempts in 2017. Connor Smith is the final Cyclone to average double-digit defensive points per game (10.7). He has racked up three tackles for loss, a sack and averages 4.7 tackles per game. In the turnover department, Hayden Anderson leads the way with two interceptions, while Brant Fullmer has a fumble recovery to his credit.
Lingle-Fort Laramie (1A six-man)
Record: 1-3 (1-2)
Total Offense: 252.5 YPG (11th)
Total Defense: 307.5 YPGA (11th)
The passing attack is the main strength of the Doggers, as they rank fourth in the class with 169.3 yards per game through the air. In the ground game, L-FL puts up 83.3 yards per game, which is 13th. Eleven of their touchdowns have come in the form of rushes (seventh), while another two have come through the air (12th).
Freshman Cordell Forkner has stepped up to be the starting quarterback for the Doggers, accounting for 125.8 passing yards per game. Scott Gilchriest and Cooper Hill have combined to chip in the other 43.5 yards per game. Forkner and Gilchriest each have a passing touchdown to their credit.
Jaden McDuffie has hauled in 21 receptions this season for 172 yards and a touchdown. Ty Mueller has 15 catches of his own. He has two touchdowns and averages 62.5 yards per game. Brandon Hill and Alex Pugsley round out the top receivers, accounting for 48.5 yards per game combined.
Pugsley also leads the Doggers in rushing, with 34 yards per game and another touchdown on the ground. Hayden Hill tops the L-FL stat sheet with three rushing touchdowns to go with his 29.3 yards per game on the ground. Mueller and Brandon Hill also both have two rushing touchdowns this season, with Gaven Niles, Dustin Swartwood and Forkner each adding one of their own.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Doggers have given up only 48.5 yards through the air (fifth) but opponents have found space in the ground game, racking up 259 rushing yards per game against L-FL (15th). The Doggers have given up 17 touchdowns on the ground and three through the air.
Niles is the top Dogger on defense, accounting for 18.5 defensive points per game, which is good enough for 12th in the class. He averages 7.9 tackles per game to go along with eight tackles for loss and three sacks this season. Forkner is not far behind, putting up 17 defensive points per game. He has three tackles for loss, a pass breakup, a fumble recovery, an interception and a blocked his to his credit, all while averaging 5.8 tackles per game.
Brandon Hill is second for L-FL in tackles per game, with six, paired with two tackles for loss and two pass breakups. Mueller, Zane Rising and Hayden Hill round out the top performers on defense. Rising is third in tackles per game, with five and he also has three tackles for loss. Hayden Hill has come up with two fumble recoveries, while Mueller has a pick to his credit.
*Many of the stats used were from WyoPreps.
