Staff Report
MaxPreps.com
Best Player: Tommy Earl, Sr, RB, Natrona County
Earl was the offensive player of the year in Wyoming last season and he is the leading returning rusher in the state with exactly 1,800 yards as a junior. Included in that total was a 325-yard effort against rival Kelly Walsh in a 49-7 victory. Returning Stat Leaders – Rushing: Tommy Earl, Natrona County, 247-1,800 yards, 14 TDs.
Top All-Time Player: Boyd Dowler, Cheyenne
Dowler was a standout receiver for the Packers throughout the 1960s and was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame. He caught 474 passes in his career for 7,270 yards and 40 touchdowns.
2008 Must See: Evanston at Cheyenne East
A rematch of last year’s 5A championship game takes place on Sept. 20 in Cheyenne. East won two matchups with Evanston last year, winning the state final 24-14 and a regular season contest 35-26.
On The Throne: Natrona County
The 5A division in Wyoming has had five different champions over the past five seasons, including Cheyenne East, Campbell County, Cheyenne Central, Green River and Natrona County. However Natrona County, which won the title in 2003, has the best record over that five-year span with a 40-12 mark.
Best Rivalry: Kelly Walsh vs. Natrona County
With Wyoming only sporting 57 football schools, there aren’t a whole lot of cross-town rivalries in the state; however the Casper rivalry between Kelly Walsh and Natrona County is a good one. Natrona County has gotten the better of Kelly Walsh the past few seasons, winning five of the last six meetings, including one playoff game.
Future Star: Sean McDonald, Jr, QB-LB, Jackson
McDonald earned all-conference honors as a sophomore thanks to his kicking prowess as the team’s punter and kicker. He had several field goals over 40 yards including a gamewinner in the playoffs against Douglas.
Fun Fact
The small town of Rock Springs is the birthplace of two of the best receivers to play in the NFL during the 1960s. Boyd Dowler was born in Rock Springs in 1937 and later went on to fame as a receiver for the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile Jack Snow was born in Rock Springs in 1943, although he later moved and went to high school in Long Beach. He was an all-pro receiver for the Los Angeles Rams.
MaxPreps Preseason All-State Team
WR – Hazen Davis, Evanston
WR – Spencer Bruce, Campbell County
WR – Gavin Mills, Powell
TE – Robby Trabing, Buffalo
OL – Jordan McCollough, Cheyenne East
OL – Miles Nixon, Evanston
OL – Nathan Bayles, Green River
OL – Austin Wisroth, Torrington
OL – Jon Archibald, Kemmerer
QB – Tyler Gibbs, Buffalo
QB – Dallon Henkel, Kemmerer
RB – Tommy Earl, Natrona County
RB – Nate Tuft, Cheyenne East
RB – Ryan Lee, Glenrock
ATH – Dan Long, Buffalo
K – Sean McDonald, Jackson
DL – Kameron Olson, Cheyenne East
DL – Derek Thrall, Campbell County
DL – Aric Parkinson, Glenrock
DL – Clint Huff, Evanston
DL – Spencer Steele, Jackson
LB – Andrew Meredith, Green River
LB – Chris Honken, Natrona County
LB – Tyler Anderson, Lovell
LB – Casey Hoskinson, Glenrock
DB – DJ Hacklin, Moorcroft
DB – Cory Anthos, Evanston
DB – Drew Martinez, Green River
DB – Grant Geiser, Lovell
P – Derek Cutler, Green River
