East Thunderbirds prepare for State Championship Football game vs Sheridan

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - The East High Thunderbirds are now less than 24 hours away from their State Championship game, with the stakes as high as they can get in Wyoming’s High School Football.

The T-Birds are used to having a short drive to Okie Blanchard Stadium, but the magnitude of these State Title games required a venue change. Not only is it for the top spot in 4A, but it’ll be played in War Memorial Stadium.

While the task of playing in the home of the Wyoming Cowboys can be a daunting one, East Football Head Coach Chad Goff brought up some players’ experience inside “The War.”

“A lot of these kids played or were around for the 2021, and some of these kids grew up in the other ones. It’s obviously different, there’s no doubt about it, but we’ll get there early enough to see it and try to get that to go away, and then it’s just focus and game time,” said Coach Goff.

This matchup offers East the chance at some revenge, seeing as how the Sheridan Broncs are the only team that’s managed to beat them during this season. That game finished within three points, ending with the Broncs on top 42-39.

Sheridan back Colson Coon stole the show in the semi-finals, rushing for over 500 yards and 7 TDs to help grab this spot in the championship. While he’s earned a lot of buzz heading in to this game, East is not without talent in their skill positions.

Drew Jackson, Dom Kaszas, and Garet Schlabs have all stood out on the T-Bird’s offense. These playmakers have made QB Cam Hayes’ life a little bit easier, but much harder for defenses to prepare for.

“It makes me feel great because when you scout us, you can’t just look at one person and be like ‘oh we can stop him.’ You gotta look at all our guys and try and stop them,” said the Junior gunslinger.

East and Sheridan are set for a 4 PM kickoff time on Saturday, making it the finale for the 2022 Wyoming High School Football season as a whole.