2025 Week 6 (Montana & Wyoming)

Week 6 took me back to Montana. After three weekends in Montana last season, it was good to be back once again. And this time, I had another new place to see. But I wasn’t going to stay in Montana for long, as I had plans for two games on Friday if possible. And a long drive in between.

I had just one real option for Thursday in Montana, and it was up there. In Fort Belknap Reservation, home to the Nakoda and Aaniiih Nations, was going to be my only Thursday game. Hays-Lodgepole was hosting Grass Range/Winnett. It would be my fourth time seeing Grass Range play. But first for Hays-Lodgepole.

And one thing that I am a stickler to is naming convention. Especially for schools. I can overlook whether it’s a “Central School” or “Community School” in name, as I only focus on the name of the school. For instance, New York uses “Central School” instead of High School quite regularly. In Akron, the CLCs are used instead of High School. But a “Local High School” would still be called Beaver Local by me, as they still have High School in the name. Just as Pennsylvania is oft to do with Areas.

But in Montana, that wasn’t the issue. It was the name itself. Was it Hays Lodgepole? Hays-Lodge Pole? Hays Lodge Pole? Hays/Lodge Pole? Hays Lodgepole? I found so many different spellings of this team’s name. The school itself is just one school, not a co-op. And with my convention, means that a ‘/’ won’t be used. Which is fine as must iterations of the school’s name is with a hyphen. But what is it? Both the sign to the school and the school itself had different spellings. So, I settled on what seemed to be the most common spelling: Hays-Lodgepole, and stuck with it. The Thunderbirds. Easy enough.

On Thursday, I left Shelby and headed east along US2 with a quick stop in Havre at one of the few Walmarts in the vicinity. After that, I continued east through Chinook and several long construction delays. Before finally getting to Harlem and just a few miles further to Fort Belknap Agency.

Turning south on MT66 through a new area for me. Heading due south to Hays. The ton sits east of the road by a mile or so, so you follow an Indian Route east also named Hays Road into town. Which doesn’t feel like a town. Everything is dispersed and spread out in Hays. The center of town simply another sign advising drivers to drive slow. As many people do walk these roads. Especially at night without street lighting.

In town, just after the Kills at Night Recreation Center, I turned left on the Lodge Pole Cut Across. Towards a collection of houses called Pine Grove, where the school complex sits with the field between the Cut Across and the school.

I parked, and got ready just as the junior high game was kicking off. I wasn’t too keen on watching the underclassmen play, but I wanted to get some views of the surroundings during daylight. And found a lot of enthusiastic fans for both squads were already on site, cheering on the junior high teams.

I just stayed in the endzone, with the sun to my left, and figured out where I’d be most likely to get good shots for the night game. With the cars encircling the field, it wasn’t likely I would be standing anywhere without blocking anyone. Though I realized later that between the 20s there was no cars, and few people aside from the bleachers to worry about.

At halftime of the junior high game, I made my way to the bleachers and sat for a while. In the third quarter, I did talk to two moms on the sidelines who were photographing with the smart phones. And showed them a few of the photos I had taken, especially one that was of the interception by the junior Thunderbirds.

The game was exciting, and eventually ended when Hays-Lodgepole ran out of steam. Grass Range/Winnett’s Junior High won, 34-32.

There wasn’t a lot of time to turn around for the nightcap. The varsity came out pretty quickly and it became apparent that this mismatch was going to be another one like last week. Though unlike Deerfield, the Thunderbirds would go the distance. But they started the game with just seven players dressed. Grass Range, meanwhile, was underfeated and highly touted.

#31 – Hays-Lodgepole v. Grass Range/Winnett

I situated myself on the home side, to give myself the best view of the hills to the east as the dimming sunlight faded. I had considered going to the visitor side, and face west for the sunset, but the sky never got particular colorful. Instead, just fading quickly from blue to purple to black. Not a lot of dust in the area for orange or yellow skies at sunset.

The game itself started bad. Grass Range scored on the opening play with a 32-yard touchdown run. Then had two straight pick sixes. Not on the next two drives. But on the next two scrimmage plays. Going up 20-0 just 50 seconds into the game. With some more casualness, Grass Range added a fourth and fifth touchdown later in the opening quarter. Going up 36-0 after the first ten minutes (6-man football has 10 minute quarters).

In the second frame, Grass Range added their third pick six of the game, and added two more touchdowns. The final touchdown of the first half was nearly a pick six. Johnnie Shultz got the pick but was tackled seven yards from the endzone. He then ran it in on the very next play. Pushing the Rangers lead up to 56-0.

Despite two more scores in the third quarter, Hays was not giving up. Even when a player went down with an injury and left them with six players. They moved on. And their determination was rewarded in the fourth quarter with a 12 yard touchdown run by Alec Grant. Giving the Thunderbirds faithful who had almost entirely stayed for the conclusion of the night game, a 71-6 deficit. Loud cheers and car horns honking celebrating the score.

Grass Range added one more touchdown later in the fourth to win, comfortably, 77-6.

Montana 6-man Spotlight: Grass Range/Winnett 77, Hays-Lodgepole 6 (PHOTO GALLERY)

After the game, I didn’t intend to stay near Hays. There wasn’t a lot of places to stay, even. I headed south on MT66 toward US191. Then continuing on MT19 toward Grass Range. Going through two really rough dirt sections of the road while it was under construction. After passing by Grass Range and making the turn in Roundup, it was still a long drive to Billings and going past the Metra and Montana State Fairgrounds. Getting onto I-90 and having two more hours to get to Sheridan. Where I would call it a night.

I had my sights set on an afternoon game in Kaycee. And didn’t have much time to spare.

I was up and out early from Sheridan, and continued south along I-90 east to Buffalo where I had seen a game in 2011. And earlier that day in 2011, I saw a game in Kaycee. Where I was returning to for the first time since then. I drove south along I-25 from the junction in Buffalo. And got off the exit in Kaycee.

Stopping at the gas station in town, and then heading over to the school. It was quite a bit exactly how I remembered it fourteen years ago. Back when six-man football was relatively new for Wyoming. And Kaycee had just started a football team for the first time. A school far to small to ever really contend at fielding an 11-man team.

I arrived early, but not too early, for the middle school game. As with Hays, I wasn’t interested in this one and stood in the shade and watched near the concession stand and restroom building on the southwest corner of the field.

The interesting thing with Kaycee and their middle school and high school teams is the identities. The High School are the Buckaroos while the middle school are the Broncs. The Broncs wearing mostly red. While the Buckaroos are decked out in mostly blue. With gray the secondary color with just highlights of red.

And just like Hays the night before, I realized I was going to be in for a one-sided game. Kaycee had just seven players on their roster. And only six of them were dressed. Meaning the entire game would have to go perfectly to not end early.

And we know my luck after Kansas last week.

Unlike other states, Wyoming does not have a sudden death rule for six-man football. Just a 45-point rule for a running clock. And seeing one team with six players and another with 23, made me realize I would be lucky to get the entire 40 minutes in (once again, 6-man uses 10 minute quarters).

#32 – Kaycee v. Riverside

It was interesting being back here again. It was 14 years ago and it looked surprisingly just as I had remembered it. Being able to photograph on the field here was a unique honor for myself.

Since my first visit to Kaycee, the Buckaroos had won three state championships in a row from 2015 through 2017. But those days were in the past as six very determined players took the field.

At first, they held their own. Only trailing by a score of 12-6. But as the game continued, the punishing toll of playing six players all game caught up with Kaycee. And Riverside ran away with it.

Kaycee trailed 50-6 at the break. Just below the running clock rules of Wyoming. There is no sudden death in six-man here. In the second half, after their drive stalled, the Kaycee defense gave up another touchdown to start the running clock. But on the ensuing play, an injury to a Buckaroo brought things to a halt. Riverside’s coach offered to play 5 v. 5, however the Kaycee squad decided it was time to call it a day. With the game ending, 58-6 with 4:51 left in the third quarter.

Wyoming Six-Man Spotlight: Riverside 58, Kaycee 6 (PHOTO GALLERY)

Wyoming Six-Man Spotlight: Riverside 58, Kaycee 6 (PHOTO GALLERY)

After the game, I now had plenty of time to reach my night game. Originally, I was concerned that if the game took longer than the 2.5 hours I had allotted, getting to Casper may be troublesome. That was not the case now.

I left town back through the dusty streets I had come in on. And leaving onto I-25 south. Just an hour or so south to Casper. Located in the hillier southeastern side of the city it’s closer to the community of Evansville, which it serves as part of the eastern Natrona County school in the district.

Across town, the Natrona County Mustangs were hosting a game and it was a toss-up between these two which I would attend. And I went with game featuring the Sheridan Broncs, who were on a 47 game win streak heading into this one. Though I do plan to see a Natrona County game at some point in the future.

#33 – Kelly Walsh v. Sheridan

As with all Wyoming schools, there is no charge for admission. Which made stadium grounds different than other states. Such as no fencing or entrances. You would just walk up to the stadium and enter. But for security reasons, many do have some sort of fencing around now, though still free admission. For Kelly Walsh’s Harry Geldien Stadium, pedestrian barricades were setup along the side of the access road behind the stadium to the school. Funneling all fans to a single entrance behind the 50 yard line.

Fans enter from the top of the stadium, as the area around Kelly Walsh is quite hilly. With a very small visitor stand across the field. Kelly Walsh, itself, is named after a former Natrona County principal when it opened.

I knew the projection for this game was one-sided. And I hoped it wouldn’t be. But Sheridan came out with two scores in the first quarter and though they didn’t run away with it, they did make it difficult for Kelly Walsh to do much.

After going down 21-0, Kelly Walsh Trojans scored on a 23 yard run. But Sheridan returned the kickoff to immediately take and then extend their lead, 28-6 late in the first half.

At halftime, I went up into the very sparsely crowded visitor stands to do my first half tweets, as well as to relax my feet. Coming back down to the field for the third quarter.

The third quarter moved slowly, and Kelly Walsh trailed 37-13. Inevitable at this point, the home fans didn’t give up though the stands grew spottier. The student section stayed into it. A long touchdown late in the game, down 24, but opting not for the two-point conversion ended any chances of a comeback. Sheridan won their 48th straight game, 37-20 over Kelly Walsh.

Wyoming Spotlight: Sheridan Extends Nation’s 3rd Best Win Streak to 48 with 37-20 win over Kelly Walsh (PHOTO GALLERY)

Wyoming Spotlight: Sheridan Extends Nation’s 3rd Best Win Streak to 48 with 37-20 win over Kelly Walsh (PHOTO GALLERY)

After the game, I had no other plans. Other than I wasn’t spending the night in Casper. Instead, I headed out to Douglas about a half hour east of Casper and called it a night.

ECONOMICS

For the weekend, I drove 641 miles between Shelby, Montana and Douglas, Wyoming. With stops in Hays, Kaycee, and Casper along the way. I did not spend much money on food. As I spent just $8 in Shelby for some chicken. And on Friday spent $4 for water at Kaycee and $5.27 for a sprite. I did eat after the games Friday. But didn’t include that as I had stopped and it was no restaurant fare.

Total cost of the weekend was just $17.27, all for food as the rest was work related.

I did add four new teams. And two new stadiums. Having been to Kaycee back in 2011. And having seen Grass Range/Winnett and Kaycee in the past, as well.