2025 Week 7 (Montana & Wyoming)

Week seven took me back to my favorite state for another Thursday night game. Back in Eastern Montana, a little further east than last week, to finally see a game in Circle.

There wasn’t a lot of options for Saturday. So, my Friday was basically whatever was new that worked out best for me. Thursday had two options, Circle and Scobey. And as much as I wanted to go to Scobey, either game was going to be a good choice for a new place for me. And I can save a game at Scobey for the future.

Circle sits at the dividing point between MT200 and MT200S when heading east through the central part of the state. Along most of Eastern Montana, there’s only four main routes east-to-west: US2 also called the Hi-Line; MT200 through much of the sparsely populated middle; I-90 and I-94 continuing east of Billings; and US12, which travels east through Helena between Butte (I-90) and Great Falls (MT200), but then angles south and crosses I-94 as the two pass through Miles City, to traverse Fallon County and two small communities of Plevna and Baker before entering North Dakota and skirting the bottom edge of the state for a while through such towns as Bowman, Scranton, and Hettinger.

On Thursday morning, I was in Moore, Montana. A major junction in the central part of the state called Eddie’s Corner. Located where US191 travels north from Harlowton to meet MT200 and US87. US87, meanwhile, zigzags northwest through the state, following along Route 200 west to Great Falls, before immediately turning northeast on a trajectory with the town of Havre along US2. Where it abruptly ends. Just short of the Canadian border unlike other major US routes. US191, runs North runs east, opposite of US87 north which runs west, to the town of Lewiston before turning true north.

But, it’s an area of the country I’m very familiar with, and left heading east on MT200. Through the flat prairie amid Judith Basin and stopping briefly for something to eat in Lewistown. And then continuing on, past Grass Range to the north, where US87 turns south to Billings, and following MT200 through the much more desolate reaches of Montana and Petroleum and Garfield Counties. Passing through Jordan, where I saw the Jordan Mustangs of Garfield County High School many years ago.

And over an hour later, arrive in Circle. At this point, with major reconstruction of MT200 (which generally doesn’t have any shoulders and they’re slowly widening the road), I was in Circle at nearly 5pm. And the field is located far from the school in the grounds of the McCone County Fairgrounds.

On a personal note, Circle is one of the towns, in my life, where I’ve broken a bone. My thumb thanks to a minor faux pas.

Warning for those squeamish, don’t click this image:

I parked up high on the taller ridge north of the field. As the field had both a lower ring of cars near the sideline, and an upper level. Though most of the crowd settled to the bottom and if not directly be the field, stood and watched or found space on the small stands on the home side.

The junior high game was already going when I arrived. And I took a few photos and got something to eat. As my snack at the Town Pump in Lewiston was not enough.

I bought one of my highest priced stadium burgers for $8. Though it was very good. And this $4 pretzel. At Circle, they have two concessions. One for hot foods. And the other for drinks, candy, and chips. This jalapeno cheese stuffed pretzel was fairly mild, but did have a hint of jalapeno with little spiciness to it.

I stood along the sideline near the pressbox for the junior high game to end. Eating my food and going over the roster. Another one compliments of the ticket taker as you enter the fairgrounds and turn toward the field.

I did learn that Circle really didn’t have a name for their field. As no one seemed to know. And the only hint being Google Maps refers to this area of the fairgrounds as “Circle Park” and that is what I settled on for an official name for this location.

#34 – Circle v. Poplar

This was my first time seeing both teams. And first time seeing a game in Circle. Though obviously not my first time in town. There was a pretty good crowd for the game on a Thursday. And though it was just an hour drive from Poplar, the winless Indians didn’t have a ton of fans for the midweek road trip.

Interesting, also, was that the stadium didn’t have a flagpole. Instead, one man went out to midfield with a flag for the national anthem. And then retired to the sideline. Not sure what the case may be and why it didn’t have a permanently situated post somewhere such as near the scoreboard.

The game itself quickly went lopsided for the visitors. Circle dominated the first quarter, and it continued through the second quarter. Tripp Wahl and Connor Heitz were the big threats for scoring by the Circle Wildcats. Neither reaching the elusive fourth touchdown. But, a 44-0 halftime lead ended with a 51-0 final score as most of the second half was running clock.

Montana 8-Man: Circle trounces Poplar, 51-0 (PHOTO GALLERY)

After the game, I had no intention of calling it a night. It was still early, and I had a round about way of getting to my Friday night game. Following MT200S into Glendive, getting something to drink at a gas station, and following I-94 east into North Dakota and stopping in Belfield. At the trusty Trapper’s Kettle & Inn.

In the morning, I headed to Hettinger. From there, heading into South Dakota on what becomes SD73 to SD20. A barren stretch of road through northwest South Dakota. Taking SD79 south into Sturgis. Though luckily not during bike week. Today, I felt like going through the mountains as it was cooler, by nearly 20 degrees, than the flat lands to the north of the Black Hills.

From Sturgis, taking US14A west through Boulder Canyon and north to Deadwood and Lead via Central City. And then kept going until US14A turned north to snake through the Spearfish Canyon, and stayed on US85 southwest over another mountain into Wyoming.

Where the land mostly flattens out again as you pass by Four Corners and WY585, on your way now south to Newcastle. With just a small hill before descending into the town. By this point, I was already running closer to kickoff than I would’ve liked, so I wasn’t about to turn around as I nearly missed the welcome sign for Newcastle. Though the photo did show up, I was not expecting it so far north of town.

So, I got into town, and took the bypass around the south side toward the school. Stopping for something to drink and a pre-made burrito and salad at the Maverik next door. Their salads are the best for quick serve at a gas station. And then going back to the school and walking up to the stadium.

As I’ve said before, games in Wyomming are different in that they don’t charge admission for regular season games. So the stadiums are not built for charging for tickets. There is no fence around the stadium. Just the field. There then isn’t any ticket booths, entry ways, arches, gates, or anything reminiscent of a game almost anywhere else. You just approach the stadium from any direction and walk up and take a seat if you’re so inclined.

#35 – Newcastle v. Glenrock

This was my first time seeing Newcastle. And first time here at Schoonmaker Field. However, it was not my first time seeing this place. Years ago, I saw a game in Moorcroft, hosting Glenrock, when I also had the option to see a game here. But chose Moorcroft at the time. Mostly because Newcastle was down that season, and it was not projected to be a great game. And though this one was now one-sided for Newcastle, it at least gave me something new to see.

I got to the field just after six, and made my way to the far side. The field only sits stands on the west side. The east side being a railyard filled with tanker cars. An overpass and high berm sloping down to the west sits at the south endzone. And looking west from the far sideline, the refinery is clearly visible between the open gaps of the stadium and school.

It still was nice to finally see it. And I was mistaken, somehow, that this was going to be a 9-man game. I’m not sure why or how I didn’t notice when checking on the game. Maybe because Moorcroft was 11-man when I saw them host Glenrock, and knew that at least for the first year of 9-man they had not opted up. But they had now. And Glenrock and Newcastle were both 11-man as well.

As the prediction went, this game wasn’t living up to the billing at first. Glenrock scored and looked to be making a game of it. But attrition finally did them in. As Newcastle kept plugging away at it, going up 34-7 at the half. It was one of those games where I started hoping they’d just reach the running clock. As the game had stalled with Newcastle having a big lead. But the 45 point rule not able to achieved. Instead, Glenrock added one last touchdown. And Newcastle won, 54-14.

Wyoming Spotlight: Newcastle 54, Glenrock 14 (PHOTO GALLERY)

After the game, I made a quick exit as I didn’t want to waste time. It was still early and I didn’t want to spend the night in Newcastle. Another town long on my bucket list–Lusk–was just an hour-plus away. And I wanted to spend the night there. So, I got a sprite at the Maverik again, and then headed out over the overpass by the field. My photos did not turn out as I had accidentally put the camera into 1/4000th without realizing it. Only a faint hit of light showing up that was the green field. It would’ve been a nice shot, had the speed stayed where I had set it before driving by. I only had one shot at it. And it wasn’t a big deal that I missed it.

Overall, it was a fun weekend even if the two games I chose–or had to choose–were one-sided. I had looked it up to see that Hettinger had absolutely crushed Standing Rock in their homecoming game that night. Though any thought of seeing it was short-lived.

One day, though, I will see a game in Lusk. Niobrara County, or Lusk as they’re better known, played at Cokeville in a state playoff game in 2011 that I had attended.

ECONOMICS

Overall, I spent $46 on food. Everything else was for work. That included $12 for the burger and pretzel in Circle, and $5 for two gatorades. $5 for two Mexican Sprites at Town Pump in Glendive. $19 for my first stop at Maverik before the game. Mostly the cost of the salad and burrito. And $5 after for two 16 ounce sprite cans.