Cowboys vs. Sidney
Posted by Brian A. Reed (+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)]
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supporter
Posted by Bob Netherton II (+1908) 12 years ago
There's a lot of stuff in there, Brian! My prediction(and we all know how valuable they are): MC 45, Sidney 7
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supporter
Posted by Stone (+1588) 12 years ago
28-7 MC
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supporter
Posted by JCF (+397) 12 years ago
30-10, Cowboys
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supporter
Posted by Richard Bonine, Jr (+15405) 12 years ago
14-10 Cowboys
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Posted by Slosh (+693) 12 years ago
42-6 (late score).
I think it takes a little longer to get the running clock than last week, but not much longer. And don't forget, I'll be doing updates from Sidney on twitter @MCStarSports
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Posted by Josh Rath (+2309) 12 years ago
The game just came on, and Power 95 in Sidney just informed us Miles Citians that they "apologize ahead of time, but the eagles will be kicking cowboy butt tonight" That is so mean! Go get 'um cowboys! Wipe the floor with eagle beak!
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Posted by Josh Rath (+2309) 12 years ago
COUGH

1 Minute left 1st QTR.

Cowboys 13

Eagles 0

COUGH
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moderator
founder
Posted by David Schott (+18387) 12 years ago
With 5:36 left in the first half.

Miles City 27, Sidney 0
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moderator
founder
Posted by David Schott (+18387) 12 years ago
Missed the exact time but just before the end of the 1st half:

Miles City 34, Sidney 0
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supporter
Posted by Denise Selk (+1674) 12 years ago
[Removed - duplicated Dave's post]

[This message has been edited by Denise Selk (10/8/2010)]
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moderator
founder
Posted by David Schott (+18387) 12 years ago
Halftime:

Miles City 34, Sidney 0
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Posted by Smiley (+851) 12 years ago
Prediction,
Cowboys win by a great margin, Sidney thinks before they trash talk next time!! Go cowboys!
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supporter
Posted by Shu (+1798) 12 years ago
Another TD in the third qtr...score is now 41-0 Cowboys. WOW! I didn't think it would be this one-sided.

BTW, is Mike Gear still the head coach at Sidney, or someone else? Been away from there a few years, so I'm not sure.
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Posted by Josh Rath (+2309) 12 years ago
Not that i am poking at Sidney too much... but yeah. They are whooping Sidney. Maybe they saw what Power 95 said about them? :P
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supporter
Posted by Shu (+1798) 12 years ago
and, it's final. 41-7 Cowboys...and it was Sidney's homecoming, too! I could be wrong about this, but it seems that the loss to Billings Central a couple weeks ago lit a fire under these boys. I know that Glendive isn't much, but they recovered well against them and then dominated a pretty good Sidney team. Maybe the Central loss was just what they needed...any thoughts?
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Posted by WATTS (+215) 12 years ago
wow Slosh great prediction!
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