2023 Wyoming High School Football 1A 9-Man Title Game Preview [VIDEO]

The only game in Laramie that features two new teams is in the Class 1A-9 Man State Championship. The Wind River Cougars face the Big Piney Punchers on Saturday.

These two schools have never played each other for a state football title.

Wind River is making its first appearance in a football championship game since 1997. Big Piney is back in a title game for the first time since 2006.

These two squared off in Week 4 of the 2023 season in Pavillion. The Cougars held off the Punchers, 28-21. A kick-off return for a TD and an interception return for a TD were key plays in the game.

WyoPreps received more insight into both teams from the two head coaches before the game. We spoke to Jeromy Moffat from Big Piney and Wind River head coach Rod Frederick.

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Team Info & Series History:

Wind River (10-0) – Rod Frederick: 2nd year as head coach; 1 state championship in school history; the Cougars won the Class 1A-Division II crown in 1997 (18-0 over Upton). Wind River is making their 3rd title game appearance. They are 1-1 in championship games. This is the Cougars’ first trip to Laramie for a title game.

Big Piney (9-1) – Jeromy Moffat: 2nd year as head coach; 8 state championships in school history; the Punchers last won it all in their most recent championship game appearance in 2006 (21-18 over Tongue River, 3A). This is their 11th appearance in a state title game. Big Piney is 8-2 all-time in championship football games. The Punchers have won the last six championship games they’ve been a part of. This is Big Piney’s first trip to Laramie for a title game.

The Punchers are 6-2 in the all-time series. They first played each other in a varsity game in 2001. This is the first postseason game between the two schools. The Cougars have won the last two games in the series.

Team Stats per game:

                             Wind River                                        Big Piney                                     

Rush Offense = No. 1 (274 yards per game)            No. 2 (257)

Pass Offense = No. 8 (114)                                        No. 3 (132)

Total Offense = No. 3 (388)                                        No. 2 (389)

Scoring Offense = No. 1 (45.6 pts per game)            No. 2 (40.6)

Rush Defense = No. 5 (160)                                       No. 1 (85)

Pass Defense = No. 11 (123)                                      No. 10 (121)

Total Defense = No. 7 (283)                                        No. 2 (206)

Scoring Defense = No. 5 (20.2)                                  No. 1 (12.8)

Key Players:

Wind River = Cooper Frederick – 1,008 rushing yards, 15 TDs & 109.8 passing yards per game with 14 TDs & 1 INT, his 235.8 all-purpose yards per game ranks No. 1; Frederick – 22.2 defensive points per game – ranks No. 2.

Big Piney = Caden Clifford – 128.8 rushing yards per game, 15 TDs; Ruben Stoutenberg – 111 rushing yards per game, 14 TDs; Champ Snively – 111.9 passing yards per game, 15 TDs, 3 INTs; Karsyn Gurr – 31 rec. for 566 yards, 9 TDs; Zack Murphy – 11.3 defensive points per game – ranks No. 38.

This game starts on Saturday in Laramie at 1 p.m.

Series history information is Courtesy of Wyoming-football.com.