High School Football Previews 2023: Pine Bluffs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - Pine Bluffs Football has lost one football game over the last two years and that was the 2021 State Championship. Since then they have gone undefeated and won the ‘22 State Championship. But, they lost a big senior class going into this year, so now, it’s up to the younger guys to keep the streak rolling.

“My older brother was pretty good and he carried a pretty high bar for the whole team around him and for how he held everyone accountable,” Junior Quarterback, Justin Lerwick, said. “I just am really trying to make sure I am being my best in being a great example to the ones around me that they can be their best too and carry the torch.” “

I think we are welcoming in seven or eight freshman, which is a good class for us,” Head Coach, Will Gray, said. “If we can average eight kids per class. That’s a good number. It’s the simple things of showing up everyday ready to work. If you can find a core group of guys that are willing to do that, then the sky’s the limit.”

“Just got to keep that fire rolling, you can’t get stagnant,” Junior Wide Receiver and Defensive back, Shawn Shmidl, said. “You just have to play week by week. Coach Gray says it best ‘We go one swing at a time. Don’t do too much. Don’t do too little. Don’t be Superman’”

“We’re trying to keep that fire from last year,” Senior Full Back and Defensive End, Mitchell Birkhofer, said. “We want to keep that rolling throughout our season and just keep the intensity we had last year.”

Pine Bluffs first game of the year is slated to be one of the best regular season games of the season. A 2022 9-Man State Championship rematch against Shoshoni.

“Our line is good sized but the rest of them are pretty skinny,” Coach Gray said. “We gotta figure out who wants to be physical and who wants to tackle. That’s going to be a big matchup because they are going to run it right at us and force us to tackle and see if we can.

“We might have a target on our back but that’s how we like it. We like having that edge on the field. It keeps it competitive and gives us that fire,” Shmidl, said.