Big Horn And Tongue River Football Teams Prepare To Start 2023 Playoffs Vs. Lovell And Lyman

The Big Horn and Tongue River football teams will start the 2A playoffs against some of the best of the 2A West.

BH plays at home at 6pm against Lovell, which is both a rematch of last year’s state championship game, and a rematch from the beginning of this season.

The Bulldogs would prevail in the season-opening September game in 2 overtimes, but the Rams say that was 8 weeks ago, and a lot has changed between then and now.

Coach Kirk McLaughlin says the biggest thing that Big Horn learned was not to under-estimate your opponent at any point of the season and that was mostly on him.

“The difference now, I understand their personnel a little bit better. I really underestimated a few of their kids. I thought they had lost a lot from their state championship runner-up team. I thought they had lost a lot and didn’t know how they would replace it, but they replaced well and I underestimated a few of their kids. which won’t happen this game and we’re going to be little bit more prepared for what they have from a personnel stand point and feel a lot more confident with what we’re facing.”

Both Big Horn and Lovell are in the top 2 in Class 2A, both in terms of passing offense and total offense.

Meanwhile, Tongue River will take on their Eagle opposites in a 1pm game at Lyman.

TR has the top rushing and passing defense, while their opponents have the top rushing attack.

Tongue River Coach Steve Hanson says the 2 differences between the 2 teams, is that Lyman has the 4th worst passing defense, but they a lot of experience in playing in close games.

This means Tongue River needs to get a good lead on Lyman early and keep them down, because the longer the score stays close, the more the game tips into Lyman’s favor.

“Lyman has won numerous games by 1 score. That is very very comfortable for them to be in. They’re physical, they’ve got multiple guys who run the ball with tremendous physicality and they’re really comfortable in a 1-score game. 13-6 up or down, does not change their game plan one bit. It’s going to be a slugfest. It’s going to be a punchout, solid matchup. I like their athleticism, I love their physicality. I think we can match their physicality and I don’t think they can matchup with our athleticism.”

The Tongue River/Lyman winner plays the Lovell/Big Horn winner next week in the semi-finals.