High School Football Previews 2023: South High School

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - It has been 1,407 days since October 11th 2019, that was the last time The South High School Bison won a football game.

How do you turn around a program and break a years long losing streak? You change the culture.

“Our whole senior class has been bought in all offseason,” Head Coach, Eli Moody, said. “It’s trickling down to our younger kids too. That is just the biggest thing, we are going to play our game and we are going to come out full force and give them everything we’ve got, go all four quarters and see how it ends in the game. The old school South way of giving up in games, it’s not here anymore. We got rid of it and our seniors did a great job at helping us get rid of it.”

“We’ve improved the most in teamwork in general, we are more locked in we look after each other more this year,” Senior Safety and Running Back, Damien Pino, said.

“I think our leadership has changed a lot, I think we built upon last year, even better than years past,” said Senior Middle Linebacker, Noah Haggberg. “We’re just changing the culture day by day. With these coaches and these kids I think we can make a statement.

A culture shift is pivotal in getting over the hump and ending the losing streak. But, you also need performance on the field.

The Bison gave up an average of 43 points a game last season, defense was a big focus in the offseason. That showed at Friday’s scrimmage, there were three defensive takeaways in the first 30 minutes.

“I think we’ve got to live up to the name, we’ve gotta be aggressive, violent. We gotta have swagger!” Haggberg said.

“We’re keeping it pretty simple, just letting our athletes fly around and make plays. Obviously Pino and Noah, a lot of experience in three year starters back there, Pino coming off an All-State. It’s good that we can lean on those guys and the younger guys that are up in the rotation are matching their speed a lot quicker because they know what it is supposed to look like. Simple defense flying around making plays.” Coach Moody said.

In just one week it will be time to prove that on the turf against thunder basin in Gillette. The beginning of this season feels different for The Bison and you can tell just how bad they want to end their losing streak week one.

“I’m looking forward to just making a statement that first week. Come through with a win, hopefully and just show everybody that we are not the same old South.” Pino said.

“Oh it would mean everything! I want to end this streak, I think we can definitely make a statement against Thunder Basin. I think we have practiced hard during these two-a-days. We have really changed the culture. I think we can really go out there and punch them in the mouth.” Haggberg said.

“The kids are excited right now and hopefully that is trickling out into the community I am hoping we can fill up the stands next Friday and just have a lot more energy in this stadium than we’ve had in awhile.” Coach Moody said.

The bison will play under the Friday Night Lights for the first time at home this season against Sheridan on Sept. 1st.

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