AFTER COUNTLESS WEEKS OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS THE CODY BRONCS FOOTBALL TEAM IS JUST ONE GAME AWAY FROM PLAYING FOR A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. THE BRONCS BATTLED THEIR WAY THROUGH THE REGULAR SEASON FINISHING 7-1 AND DISMANTLED A QUALITY WORLAND TEAM 55-26 IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS. NOW THE BRONCS HAVE THEIR SITES ON A RE-MATCH WITH THE POWELL PANTHERS. I SAT DOWN WITH HEAD COACH OF THE BRONCS MATT MCFADDEN AND HE PUTS THIS GAME INTO CONTEXT.
“WHEN YOU’RE PLAYING IN NOVEMBER AND YOU’RE PLAYING AND IT’S COLD AND IT’S IN THE DARK, YOU KNOW YO’VE DONE SOMETHING RIGHT. YOU’VE HAD A GOOD SEASON. TO DO THAT AT HOME, WITH HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE AND TO DO IT AGAINST PARK COUNTY RIVAL IS… YOU COULDN’T WRITE A BETTER STORY FOR OUR SENIORS. THAT’S EXACTLY HOW WE WANT IT. WE WANT TO PLAY AT HOME, WE WANT TO PLAY POWELL AT HOME. WE WANT A CHANCE TO GO TO LARAMIE ON THE LINE. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT. I COULDN’T HAVE WRITTEN IT UP ANY BETTER.”
WITH ALL THE SUCCESS THE BRONCS HAD OFFENSIVELY IN THEIR GAME VS. WORLAND, 55 POINTS WAS THEIR HIGHEST OUTPUT OF THE SEASON, THEY STILL BELIEVER THEY’RE CAPABLE OF MUCH MORE.
“OUR FOCUS THIS WEEK HAS BEEN TO PLAY 48 MINUTES. WE DON’T FEEL LIKE THIS TEAM HAS PLAYED 48 MINUTES YET. WE’VE PLAYED A HALF, WE’VE PLAYED SOME GOOD QUARTERS AND MAYBE EVEN THREE QUARTERS OF A GAME, BUT WE’VE NEVER PLAYED A FULL 48. SO OUR FOCUS THIS WEEK HAS JUST BEEN LETS PLAY A FULL 48. LET’S SEE WHAT WE’RE CAPABLE OF, CAUSE IF WE PLAY 48 MINUTES THIS TEAM IS SCARY. SO IT REALLY JUST COMES DOWN TO MAKE SURE WE’RE LOCKED IN, IN OUR FOCUS AND OUR DISCIPLINE FOR 48 MINUTES.”
AS FOR THE OPPONENT ON THE OTHER SIDE… POWELL COMES INTO THIS CONTEST HEALTHIER THAN THEY WERE A MONTH AGO. COACH MCFADDEN ON WHAT THIS PANTHERS TEAM HAS IMPROVED ON SINCE THEIR LAST MEETING.
“THEY HAD SOME KIDS, SOME KEY OFFENSIVE LINEMEN THAT WERE INJURED. THEY’RE BACK NOW AND WHAT YOU SEE IS A TEAM THAT’S GOING TO LINE-UP AND PLAY SMASH MOUTH FOOTBALL AND GO DOUBLE TIGHT ENDS, TWO BACKS IN THE BACKFIELD AND JUST RUN RIGHT AT YA. IT’S THROWBACK FOOTBALL. THAT’S THE BIG THING THEY’RE DOING WELL. THEY RAN ALL OVER LANDER, TOOK IT TO THEM. JUST A NORTH-SOUTH RUN GAME. GOT TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT. IT’S GOING TO BE A FIGHT IN THE PHONE BOOTH AND WE GOTTA BE READY TO ROLL.”
PARK COUNTY RIVALS, CODY AND POWELL WILL MEET ON THE GRIDIRON FOR A SECOND TIME THIS SEASON AS THE BIG HORN BRAWL PART TWO TAKES PLACE AT SPIKE VANNOY STADIUM TONIGHT. YOU CAN TUNE INTO THIS SEMI-FINAL BOUT ON THE HOME OF BRONCS SPORTS, KODI AM 1400 AND 96.7 FM. PRE-GAME GETS UNDERWAY AT 5:30 WITH KICK-OFF AT 6PM.
“WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT IT. I DON’T THINK THEIR’S ANYTHING BETTER GOING ON FRIDAY NIGHT IN PARK COUNTY. PUT YOUR BLUE AND BLACK ON AND COME DOWN HERE AND SUPPORT YOUR TEAM, WHATEVER SIDE OF THE LINE YOU FALL ON. IT’S GOING TO BE A GREAT GAME.”