Posted by (+6125) 9 years ago
Mellow greetings, Miles City dot commers. It's been awhile, but now that it's time for Cowboy Football, it's also time for me to suspend my hiatus from MC.com.
Without further ado, here's the series history between the Custer County Cowboys and the Powell Panthers:
2009 (A) - Miles City 7, Powell 0
2010 (H) - Game canceled due to lightning in the second quarter, but the Cowboys were leading, 20-0 after the first quarter.
2011 (A) - Miles City 21, Powell 20
2012 (H) - Powell 38, Miles City 0
The Panthers are the two-time defending Wyoming Class 3A state champions. They haven't lost since the final game of the 2011 regular season, a span of 14 games. After officially going 9-2 in 2011 (the season-opening non-conference game against the Cowboys is considered "Zero Week" by the Wyoming High School Activities Association and does not count in the standings for Powell), the Panthers rolled to an undefeated (11-0) record in 2012. Powell was absolutely dominant last season, as the Panthers outscored their opponents by a 442-53 margin. Powell posted five shutouts and allowed only two teams to score in double digits (Buffalo (a 41-14 win in Week 2) and Star Valley (a 13-10 victory in the state championship game)).
According to the Powell Tribune's preview (http://www.powelltribune....hird-title), the Panthers return most of their starters from last season, including their quarterback, primary running back and four out of five offensive linemen from an offense that ranked second in Class 3A and averaged 360 yards per game (219 ypg rushing and 141 ypg passing).
Powell quarterback Hayden Cragoe was the most efficient quarterback in Class 3A last season, having completed 93 of 170 passes for 1518 yards and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 22 to 6. He also ran 66 times for 258 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Panthers also return the leading rusher in their option attack, Cory Heny, who ran for 785 yards and nine touchdowns on 121 carries last season. He was also the team's second-leading receiver, catching 25 balls for 406 yards and four scores. He was one the best return specialists in 3A last season, accumulating 337 yards on 19 returns.
Powell's Class 3A-leading defense allowed only 162 yards per game (93 ypg rushing and 69 ypg passing) in their 11 official contests in 2012. The Panthers' per game averages would have been even more impressive if their season-opening 38-0 win over the Cowboys counted in the standings, as Powell held Miles City to 103 yards of total offense.
(Powell stats source: http://wyopreps.townsquar...t_2012.pdf)
Miles City is coming off a 4-5 season that saw the team finish a game out of the playoffs. An exceedingly young team last year, the Cowboys return most of their starters from a year ago and should be much improved this season.
Ben Herzog returns for his third year as the Cowboys' signal-caller and is in position to rewrite the CCDHS record book as early as the season opener. Finally a senior, Herzog is two touchdowns and 71 yards shy of Chris Morford's long-standing marks of 2,181 career passing yards and 29 career touchdowns. Herzog already holds the Cowboy records with 148 completions and 331 attempts.
With the team primed to go all-in with an offense that was once foreign to Miles City - the spread - the Cowboys are in a position to again shatter team passing records.
The team's leading receiver from last season is Alec Haughian, who caught 25 passes for 358 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore. Haughian ranked second on the team in catches, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, rushing yards (324), passing yards (318) and passing touchdowns (6). He led the team with four rushing touchdowns.
The Cowboys will have to improve their rushing attack this season to have a legitimate chance to make a deep run into the Class A state playoffs. Herzog (334 yards, two TDs) and Haughian led the team in rushing last season, chalking up most of their yards from under center. Evan Haughian - Alec's twin - was the Cowboys' second-leading ground gainer from the running back position last year and should have much more of a role this season.
Personally, I think the Cowboys have a chance to be very good this season. Their numbers aren't quite what they were a few years ago, but if the players who DID come out play to the level of which they're capable, I think a divisional title isn't out of the question. Miles City is in a position to surprise a few teams and a strong showing against Powell would go a long way in showing what we can expect from the Cowboys this season.
Good luck and safe travel this weekend, Cowboys!
Without further ado, here's the series history between the Custer County Cowboys and the Powell Panthers:
2009 (A) - Miles City 7, Powell 0
2010 (H) - Game canceled due to lightning in the second quarter, but the Cowboys were leading, 20-0 after the first quarter.
2011 (A) - Miles City 21, Powell 20
2012 (H) - Powell 38, Miles City 0
The Panthers are the two-time defending Wyoming Class 3A state champions. They haven't lost since the final game of the 2011 regular season, a span of 14 games. After officially going 9-2 in 2011 (the season-opening non-conference game against the Cowboys is considered "Zero Week" by the Wyoming High School Activities Association and does not count in the standings for Powell), the Panthers rolled to an undefeated (11-0) record in 2012. Powell was absolutely dominant last season, as the Panthers outscored their opponents by a 442-53 margin. Powell posted five shutouts and allowed only two teams to score in double digits (Buffalo (a 41-14 win in Week 2) and Star Valley (a 13-10 victory in the state championship game)).
According to the Powell Tribune's preview (http://www.powelltribune....hird-title), the Panthers return most of their starters from last season, including their quarterback, primary running back and four out of five offensive linemen from an offense that ranked second in Class 3A and averaged 360 yards per game (219 ypg rushing and 141 ypg passing).
Powell quarterback Hayden Cragoe was the most efficient quarterback in Class 3A last season, having completed 93 of 170 passes for 1518 yards and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 22 to 6. He also ran 66 times for 258 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Panthers also return the leading rusher in their option attack, Cory Heny, who ran for 785 yards and nine touchdowns on 121 carries last season. He was also the team's second-leading receiver, catching 25 balls for 406 yards and four scores. He was one the best return specialists in 3A last season, accumulating 337 yards on 19 returns.
Powell's Class 3A-leading defense allowed only 162 yards per game (93 ypg rushing and 69 ypg passing) in their 11 official contests in 2012. The Panthers' per game averages would have been even more impressive if their season-opening 38-0 win over the Cowboys counted in the standings, as Powell held Miles City to 103 yards of total offense.
(Powell stats source: http://wyopreps.townsquar...t_2012.pdf)
Miles City is coming off a 4-5 season that saw the team finish a game out of the playoffs. An exceedingly young team last year, the Cowboys return most of their starters from a year ago and should be much improved this season.
Ben Herzog returns for his third year as the Cowboys' signal-caller and is in position to rewrite the CCDHS record book as early as the season opener. Finally a senior, Herzog is two touchdowns and 71 yards shy of Chris Morford's long-standing marks of 2,181 career passing yards and 29 career touchdowns. Herzog already holds the Cowboy records with 148 completions and 331 attempts.
With the team primed to go all-in with an offense that was once foreign to Miles City - the spread - the Cowboys are in a position to again shatter team passing records.
The team's leading receiver from last season is Alec Haughian, who caught 25 passes for 358 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore. Haughian ranked second on the team in catches, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, rushing yards (324), passing yards (318) and passing touchdowns (6). He led the team with four rushing touchdowns.
The Cowboys will have to improve their rushing attack this season to have a legitimate chance to make a deep run into the Class A state playoffs. Herzog (334 yards, two TDs) and Haughian led the team in rushing last season, chalking up most of their yards from under center. Evan Haughian - Alec's twin - was the Cowboys' second-leading ground gainer from the running back position last year and should have much more of a role this season.
Personally, I think the Cowboys have a chance to be very good this season. Their numbers aren't quite what they were a few years ago, but if the players who DID come out play to the level of which they're capable, I think a divisional title isn't out of the question. Miles City is in a position to surprise a few teams and a strong showing against Powell would go a long way in showing what we can expect from the Cowboys this season.
Good luck and safe travel this weekend, Cowboys!