Wyoming High School Football Rankings: Week 8, 2017 [POLL]
At this point in the season, teams are probably more concerned with playoff seeds, than how they are ranked by the coaches and media.
It's unanimous across the board in the latest 4A rankings. Sheridan is #1, Natrona #2, Cheyenne East #3, Kelly Walsh #4 and Thunder Basin #5. As it stands, those would be the seeding heading into the playoffs, but there's 1 more regular season game to be played. East could stir the pot, if they can pull off the win at Sheridan. TB needs to be careful of an unranked Laramie team, that is trying to get a better spot in the post-season.
All the playoff spots in 3A are filled, but there's still the matter of figuring out which team is seeded where. The top 2 spots in the west are up for grabs, when #1 Star Valley visits #3 Green River. The last time SV visited GR (2 years ago), the Braves needed a last second field goal to escape with a win, after giving up a touchdown about 1 minute prior. Chances are the Wolves haven't forgotten that game. #2 Torrington will use Riverton as a tune-up game for the post-season. #4 Douglas know that unranked Buffalo will be targeting them and their #2 seed in the East. Cody's playoff spot in locked in, but anything can happen when the Broncs play arch-rival Powell.
The top 4 ranked teams in 2A have their playoff spots set, and will host games next week. #1 Glenrock and #2 Mountain View have the top seeds from the East and West. Meanwhile Wheatland and Big Piney share the #3 rankings. Both teams have secure #2 seeds. The voters are starting to take notice of the Bulldogs. Their 3-4 record is mis-leading considering their losses are either to Glenrock, or against 3A opponents. That leaves Greybull at #5 and they have the toughest task going into week 8. It's Buffalos vs. Buffalos as MV comes to town. There are 3 teams battling for the last 2 playoff spots in the west, and if Greybull doesn't win, they'll have to cheer hard for either BP or Kemmerer, to help get them into the post-season.
Like 3A, the 1A playoff picture is almost set, but there's some unscrambling to do. #1 Cokeville has the west #1 seed, and will be paying attention to matchup between Lusk at #5 Southeast, because they will host the winner of that game. All of the attention will be focused on the east, because the top 3 seed are still to be determined. #4 Upton-Sundance visits #2 Pine Bluffs, and the Thunder Bowl returns as #3 Big Horn hosts Tongue River. The outcomes of those 2 games could either clear things up, or force coaches to get their coins out and practice their flips.
Unlike 11-man, the 6-man playoff bracket won't be ready until Saturday, because there are 3 big games that could make a difference on that day. Those games are #2 Farson-Eden at #4 Little Snake River, and #5 Midwest at H.E.M. There are many scenarios that could unfold and that will affect seedings. #1 Kaycee and #3 Burlington will keep an eye on things, as they try to take care of business vs. NSI and St. Stephens.
Disclaimer: The rankings have no official say on post-season positioning, and are only to be used as a measuring stick on the regular season. Please don't read too much into the rankings.