A game that hasn’t been played since 2004 but is renewed thanks to the new reclassification cycle has No. 3 Worland hosting fourth-ranked Lovell in a key Class 2A West Conference matchup on Friday. The fan-voted WyoPreps Game of the Week features the 3-1 Warriors, who are 3-0 in conference games against the Bulldogs, who enter at 2-2 on the season and 2-1 in league action.

About 70 minutes apart on the eastern side of the Big Horn Basin, these two aren’t truly rivals, but since they square off in other sports and middle school and sub-varsity football, they are familiar with each other. Worland lost its season-opener against 3A Powell, but they’ve bounced back with victories over Thermopolis, Pinedale, and Lyman. Lovell has lost to the top two teams, Mountain View and Big Horn. Their two victories came in the last two games against Lyman and Thermopolis.

WyoPreps spoke to head coaches Nicc Crosby and Marty Wrage to preview the game. Both discussed their season up to this point, areas where they have improved, a few concerns, what they see from each other’s squads, and a few keys.

Lovell comes in as the top passing team in Class 2A at 231 yards per game. They add 117 on the ground. That’s a total of 348 yards and 34.2 points per game for the Bulldogs. Defensively, Lovell allows nearly 350 yards and 26.5 points per game. Davin Crosby guides the Bulldog attack. He’s No. 1 in passing at 231 yards per game. Crosby has 9 TDs to only two interceptions on the season. Matthew Newman and Owen Walker have emerged as his top targets. They are No. 1 and No. 2 in 2A in receiving. Braxton Felkins anchors the Bulldogs on defense and averages 17.8 defensive points per game, good for No. 7 in Class 2A.

Worland is averaging 159 yards per game through the air. They add 113 yards rushing each game. That’s a total of 271 yards and 25 points per game. The Warriors are No. 2 in total defense and give up 163 yards and 5.8 points per game. Colt Weber triggers the offense at Worland and is No. 3 in passing at 158.5 yards per game. Brody Thiel leads the Warriors defense at 13 defensive points per game.

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This will be the 41st meeting on the football field. Worland leads the all-time series 25-13, and there have been two ties, and three games canceled or not played. That information is courtesy of wyoming-football.com.

The kick-off is at 7 p.m. in Worland.

Worland-Lyman Football

Worland-Lyman Football

Gallery Credit: James Yule

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