Posted by (+6122) 12 years ago
I know it's early (both in the day and the week) but I'm bored. And when I'm bored, I ponder high school football. Yes, I know.
Congrats to the Cowboys for their win over Glendive last Friday. The outcome was expected, but it's always reassuring to see a team NOT play down to the level of an opponent.
Looking forward to Friday's game against the Sidney Eagles, a couple of things stand out to me:
1.) The Eagles strike me - as they would anyone with half a mind for football - as paper tigers. That is, neither their 4-1 record nor their 45-31 win over Hardin last Friday impress me all that much. Prior to the 13-point victory over the Bulldogs, the Eagles had won their three games by a total of 4 points and actually had a negative scoring margin (70-73). Including the Hardin game, Sidney's differential looks only slightly better (115-104).
Sidney's wins have come against Williston (0-6 in ND, outscored by their opponents 170-54), Lewistown (1-4, outscored 116-65, only win against winless Browning), Glendive (2-4, outscored 129-98, wins against Lewistown and winless Class B Glasgow), and Hardin (1-4, outscored 193-66, only win against 2-4 Livingston - which, in turn, has defeated only winless Corvallis ... and Glendive).
Sidney allowed 35 points to a team (Hardin) that hadn't scored more than 14 points in a game this season. The Eagles also allowed season-high point totals to Williston, and prior to their win over Browning, Lewistown. They lost to Havre, which Miles City crushed.
Suffice it to say that the parents in Richland County should not be surprised if the Eagles swipe their infants' lollipops. I do not know if there will be a puppy-kicking contest in the parking lot at Swanson Field prior to the game.
2.) That having been said, if there is a team that Sidney gets itself psyched up for, it's the Cowboys. Of the current Eastern A teams, they have (by far) the best record against Miles City since 1980.* The Cowboys and Eagles have faced each other 33 times since that year (including three times in the state chipper). The Cowboys hold a 19-14 advantage head-to-head.
Here's the Cowboys' record against their Eastern A rivals since 1980:
19-14 (.576) vs. Sidney
23-9 (.718) vs. Billings Central
28-5 (.848) vs. Glendive
25-4 (.862) vs. Hardin
27-3 (.900) vs. Laurel
Sidney is the only current divisional opponent against which the Cowboys have never posted a win streak of at least 10 games. Miles City's best unbeaten streak against Sidney is four games, set from 1980-83.
Since Sidney's seven-season championship reign over Class A ended after the 1993 season, the Cowboys and Eagles have traded victories in a very peculiar pattern. Check it out:
1994 - MC, 33-20
1995 - MC, 44-6
1996 - Sid, 26-22
1996 - MC, 14-7 (state championship game)
1997 - MC, 27-0
1998 - Sid, 20-11
1999 - MC, 27-7
2000 - MC, 37-0
2001 - Sid, 33-12
2002 - MC, 26-20
2003 - MC, 24-14
2004 - Sid, 14-7
2005 - MC, 35-28
2006 - MC, 20-0
2007 - Sid, 42-20
2008 - MC, 35-7
2009 - MC, 25-7
As you can see, Miles City has won twice and lost once to Sidney every three games for the last 15 years. Based on the pattern, the Cowboys are "scheduled" to lose this year. But I'm going to go out on a limb and say that ain't gonna happen.
3.) Historically, the Cowboys and Eagles are the two most successful teams in Class A since 1980 in terms of total victories, winning percentage and championships.
By a wide margin, Miles City has the best overall record among all Class A teams over the last 30 seasons (210-76, .734). Ranking second is Sidney (191-88, .685). Third, in case you're curious, is Butte Central (182-97, .652). Unlike the Maroons, however, the Cowboys and Eagles have both been very successful in the postseason. Sidney has 31 postseason wins (1st) and Miles City has 25 (2nd). Sidney has 9 championships (1982, 1984, 1987-93) and Miles City has 6 (1981, 1985, 1994-96, 2008). Dillon, with four titles (2002, 2003, 2005-06), ranks third in championships.
So long as the Cowboys execute their game plan, continue not to play down to the level of competition and run HARD, I don't see any reason why they won't buck the trend and win their third-consecutive game against the Eagles.
My prediction for the game: Cowboys 35, Sidney 7.
* I use 1980 as a cut-off point primarily because it's the first season where the present divisional configurations start to resemble themselves. Granted, there have been 13 changes in conference lineups since that time, but most have been minor in comparison to the changes between 1979 and 1980. For example, Baker and Poplar were divisional foes of the Cowboys in 1979; Billings Central (Southern A) was not.
[This message has been edited by Brian A. Reed (10/5/2010)]
Congrats to the Cowboys for their win over Glendive last Friday. The outcome was expected, but it's always reassuring to see a team NOT play down to the level of an opponent.
Looking forward to Friday's game against the Sidney Eagles, a couple of things stand out to me:
1.) The Eagles strike me - as they would anyone with half a mind for football - as paper tigers. That is, neither their 4-1 record nor their 45-31 win over Hardin last Friday impress me all that much. Prior to the 13-point victory over the Bulldogs, the Eagles had won their three games by a total of 4 points and actually had a negative scoring margin (70-73). Including the Hardin game, Sidney's differential looks only slightly better (115-104).
Sidney's wins have come against Williston (0-6 in ND, outscored by their opponents 170-54), Lewistown (1-4, outscored 116-65, only win against winless Browning), Glendive (2-4, outscored 129-98, wins against Lewistown and winless Class B Glasgow), and Hardin (1-4, outscored 193-66, only win against 2-4 Livingston - which, in turn, has defeated only winless Corvallis ... and Glendive).
Sidney allowed 35 points to a team (Hardin) that hadn't scored more than 14 points in a game this season. The Eagles also allowed season-high point totals to Williston, and prior to their win over Browning, Lewistown. They lost to Havre, which Miles City crushed.
Suffice it to say that the parents in Richland County should not be surprised if the Eagles swipe their infants' lollipops. I do not know if there will be a puppy-kicking contest in the parking lot at Swanson Field prior to the game.
2.) That having been said, if there is a team that Sidney gets itself psyched up for, it's the Cowboys. Of the current Eastern A teams, they have (by far) the best record against Miles City since 1980.* The Cowboys and Eagles have faced each other 33 times since that year (including three times in the state chipper). The Cowboys hold a 19-14 advantage head-to-head.
Here's the Cowboys' record against their Eastern A rivals since 1980:
19-14 (.576) vs. Sidney
23-9 (.718) vs. Billings Central
28-5 (.848) vs. Glendive
25-4 (.862) vs. Hardin
27-3 (.900) vs. Laurel
Sidney is the only current divisional opponent against which the Cowboys have never posted a win streak of at least 10 games. Miles City's best unbeaten streak against Sidney is four games, set from 1980-83.
Since Sidney's seven-season championship reign over Class A ended after the 1993 season, the Cowboys and Eagles have traded victories in a very peculiar pattern. Check it out:
1994 - MC, 33-20
1995 - MC, 44-6
1996 - Sid, 26-22
1996 - MC, 14-7 (state championship game)
1997 - MC, 27-0
1998 - Sid, 20-11
1999 - MC, 27-7
2000 - MC, 37-0
2001 - Sid, 33-12
2002 - MC, 26-20
2003 - MC, 24-14
2004 - Sid, 14-7
2005 - MC, 35-28
2006 - MC, 20-0
2007 - Sid, 42-20
2008 - MC, 35-7
2009 - MC, 25-7
As you can see, Miles City has won twice and lost once to Sidney every three games for the last 15 years. Based on the pattern, the Cowboys are "scheduled" to lose this year. But I'm going to go out on a limb and say that ain't gonna happen.
3.) Historically, the Cowboys and Eagles are the two most successful teams in Class A since 1980 in terms of total victories, winning percentage and championships.
By a wide margin, Miles City has the best overall record among all Class A teams over the last 30 seasons (210-76, .734). Ranking second is Sidney (191-88, .685). Third, in case you're curious, is Butte Central (182-97, .652). Unlike the Maroons, however, the Cowboys and Eagles have both been very successful in the postseason. Sidney has 31 postseason wins (1st) and Miles City has 25 (2nd). Sidney has 9 championships (1982, 1984, 1987-93) and Miles City has 6 (1981, 1985, 1994-96, 2008). Dillon, with four titles (2002, 2003, 2005-06), ranks third in championships.
So long as the Cowboys execute their game plan, continue not to play down to the level of competition and run HARD, I don't see any reason why they won't buck the trend and win their third-consecutive game against the Eagles.
My prediction for the game: Cowboys 35, Sidney 7.
* I use 1980 as a cut-off point primarily because it's the first season where the present divisional configurations start to resemble themselves. Granted, there have been 13 changes in conference lineups since that time, but most have been minor in comparison to the changes between 1979 and 1980. For example, Baker and Poplar were divisional foes of the Cowboys in 1979; Billings Central (Southern A) was not.
[This message has been edited by Brian A. Reed (10/5/2010)]
