Cheyenne East Football opens 2022 preseason practice

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - Wyoming 4A football teams started preseason practices this week.

The first three days of two-a-day practices are not full-contact. Wednesday, for instance, was shorts, shoulder pads, and helmets for Cheyenne East. Their first full-padded practice will take place Thursday morning.

The East T-Birds went (8-3) in 2021. They also beat the eventual state champion (Sheridan) in Week 4 and won a state playoff game, before the team’s season came to an end in the state semifinals.

Thunderbirds Head Coach Chad Goff said the most important part of preseason practice is ‘what you do next’.

“The most important part is, are better than you were two and a half hours ago [in the day’s first practice],” said Goff. “And that to me, doesn’t matter whether you’re doing it with pads or without.”

One of the biggest story lines heading into this season is how Camden Hayes will perform under center.

Last year the then-sophomore and backup quarterback was thrust into the spotlight during the Central game. Hayes replaced All-Stater Gavin Goff in that game, who got injured and missed the last four games of the season.

Hayes stepped in and secured both the rivalry victory over the Tribe, and eventually a state quarterfinal win over Campbell County. Hayes said he plans to build on that late season experience in 2022.

“Before [I stepped in last season], I hadn’t played with any of these guys in a long time, since we were kids, so I had to get some chemistry with them again and that little part of the season I played is gonna help a ton this season just to build that chemistry before the season and hopefully big things will come,” said Hayes.

Cheyenne East kicks off the regular season at home versus Campbell County on August 26.

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