Plainsmen Ready For Showdown With Number One Sheridan [VIDEO]
Different challenges come up during a season, and for the Laramie Plainsmen a major one is Friday night versus the top-ranked Sheridan Broncs at Deti Stadium.
Laramie (3-4) has already clinched a berth in the class 4A playoffs that begin in two weeks. They’ve won two of their last three, but are now vying for a higher seed to possibly stay away from a match-up with No. 2 Natrona or this No. 1 Broncs team in the first round.
Sheridan (7-0) has won 13 straight games dating back to last season. They haven’t lost since week 5 of 2016 in a three-point set-back to Gillette.
The Plainsmen enter off a 27-8 win at South last week, while the Broncs hammered the Camels 72-7 in one of the most lopsided Energy Bowl games ever.
Heading into this game, Laramie head coach Clint Reed is excited about this opportunity for his team. He visited with KOWB’s David Settle and provided a recap of last week’s victory after reviewing film, broke down some of their issues, knows that this is a very, very tough Sheridan team they’re facing and shared how he’s looking forward to this game.
The Broncs have an edge in every statistical category going into this match-up. They’re ranked in the top three of all team stats with the exception of pass defense, where they are No. 8. The Broncs are No. 1 in offense at 407.9 yards and 46.3 points per game. They are No. 3 in defense and allow only 258.6 yards and 11.7 points per game.
The Broncs’ offense is led by senior QB Aaron Woodward who is tied for first in passing yards at 164.7 yards per game. He’s throw 14 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Woodward is No. 2 in 4A in total offense at 199.3 yards per game. His top target is the No. 1 receiver in senior Aaron Session at 82.7 yards per game with 6 TD’s. The 1-2 punch in the backfield of senior Kyle Custis and junior Parker Christensen are averaging 147.9 yards per game combined with 15 total TD’s.
Sheridan also has one of the best special teams units. Custis and Sessions have six combined kick returns for scores.
Laramie counters with the No. 8 offense at 255.4 yards and 23.3 points per game. They have improved defensively in the last month and are up to No. 7. They’re giving up 340.9 yards and 23.7 points per game.
Senior Garrett Worden is coming off a single-game best of 38 defensive points for class 4A in last week’s win at South. His No. 2 in defensive points at 18.4 per game. Fellow senior Daylon Puckett is close behind in fourth at 16.3 defensive points per game.
Offensively, senior Nate Burman leads the offense at 164 pass yards and 182.9 all-purpose yards per game. Those numbers put Burman third and fifth, respectively. Senior Chad Browning is No. 4 in receiving at 70.6 yards per game, but continues at an impressive 23.5 yards per catch. Laramie will try to match the Broncs special teams with their own, as Browning and junior Jason Upton have each run back a kick for a score.
This hasn’t been a great series of late for Laramie. Sheridan has won 12 straight against the Plainsmen and 13 of the last 14.
Laramie tries to stop the streak in their showdown with the Broncs Friday night from Deti Stadium. Kick-off is at 6 p.m.
KOWB (AM 1290) will provide live game coverage with David Settle and VerDon Hoopes calling the action. The broadcast will begin at 5 p.m. It’s also available through KOWB’s stream and on the new KOWB app.