A match-up between two of Class 4A’s top tier is our WyoPreps fan-voted ‘Game of the Week’ for Week 0 of Wyoming High School Football.

It is No. 2 Cheyenne East at fifth-ranked Thunder Basin.

These two teams played a pair of tight games in 2019. The Bolts won a thriller with a comeback in Cheyenne during the regular season, 31-30. Thunder Basin kicked the game-winning field goal with about a minute left.

In the playoffs, the two squared off in the semifinals. On their home field, the Bolts jumped out to a 27-6 lead by halftime and held off a Thunderbirds comeback attempt. An interception by Thunder Basin with about 35 seconds remaining stopped Cheyenne East.

Now in a new year, these two square off in the opening game.

Cheyenne East is led by senior quarterback Graedyn Buell. He’s the reigning 4A Offensive Player of the Year. The Thunderbirds also return 9 of 11 starters on defense from last year.

Thunder Basin is led by senior running back Jaxon Pikula. He ran for 1,189 yards and 16 touchdowns last year. The Bolts are led by a 20-member senior class that’s lost only three games in their high school careers.

WyoPreps’ David Settle talked with both head coaches, Chad Goff of Cheyenne East and Trent Pikula from Thunder Basin to get their thoughts on how their team’s preparation has gone for the season, the match-up, and starting with such a big game. You can listen to what the coaches had to say in the audio-based video at the top of this story.

Thunder Basin is 3-1 all-time against Cheyenne East. The Bolts have won the last three meetings.

Kick-off is set for 6 p.m. on Friday in Gillette.

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