Bridger Scouts

Coach: Mike Mathis, 3rd season (13-5 at Bridger).

Record last year: 9-1.

Returning starters: Elliott McCarthy (Sr., RB/LB, second-team All-state offense, first-team all-conference offense and second-team defense); Stetson Schwend (Jr., QB/S, second-team all-conference offense); Kevin Denney (Jr., E/RB/DL/LB, eight sacks last year).

Others to watch: Chris Price (Sr., OL/DL; Andy Grue (Jr., E/DL); Dillon Thomas (Sr., OL/DL); Brock Watson (Sr., RB/S); Travis Tucker (Soph., QB); Trever Christean (fresh., RB/LB).

Coach Mathis says: "We lost a few extremely talented players from last season. We need to find our new leaders out of a very eager group of athletes. We have a few experienced returners and overall team speed has increased. I am very pleased with the focus and intensity they are bringing to practice as we look to repeat as the South 6-Man champions."

Noteworthy: The squad went 9-1 last year, including 8-0 in the regular season.

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Custer-Melstone Cougars

Coach: Brad Hoffman, 12th season (76-29 at Custer-Melstone).

Record last year: 5-4.

Returning starters: Justin McClure (5-7, 165, Sr., FB/L); Corey McClure (5-6, 155, Sr., S); Andrew Cybulski (6-2, 220, Sr., E/E); Troy Keeney (5-9, 175, Sr., C/L); Andy Kicker (5-9, 160, Sr., E/S); Jase Renova (5-10, 170, Jr., QB); Bo Harrison (5-5, 240, Jr., FB/ML); Tony Narioni (6-1, 170, Jr., E/E).

Others to watch: Justin Ruth (6-2, 220, Jr. transfer, FB/LB); Kyle Arneson (6-3, 260, Jr. newcomer, C/NG).

Coach Hoffman says: "We are returning a bunch of players who saw action last year. We will have good size, adequate speed and pretty good depth. New teams will make for a tough league."

Noteworthy: The Cougars will be aiming for an 11th straight playoff appearance. A strong junior class will be led by Harrison, Renova and Ruth.

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Grass Range-Winnett Rangers

Coach: Colt Garrell, 1st season.

Record last year: 2-6.

Returning starters: Joe Solf (5-11, 160, Sr., TB/LB); Kelby Hoge (5-11, 160, Sr., FB/LB).

Others to watch: Austin Gee (5-8, 155, Soph., C/LB); Gage Iverson (6-3, 175, Jr., RG/DE); Kalin Hoge (5-11, 184, soph., LG/DE); Jace Solf (5-7, 142, Soph., C/NG); Travis Fortner (5-7, 116, Sr., QB/S).

Coach Garrell says: "I know that the numbers are a little low, but the seven players I have are the type of players we need to turn this thing around."

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Roberts Rockets

Coach: Jeff Bermes, 3rd season (17-5 at Roberts).

Record last year: 8-2.

Returning starter: Alex Hidalgo (Sr., First-team All-State and all-conference defense).

Coach Bermes says: "We are a very young team. We are going to catch some other teams off-guard due to our size and strength."

Noteworthy: Graduation took its toll on the Rockets, who graduated nine seniors from last year's team.

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Fromberg Falcons

Coach: Jim Goltz, 1st season.

Record last year: 1-7.

Returning starters: Cody DeRudder (6-foot, 180, Sr., E/E); Cullin Wallman (5-8, 150, Jr., RB/LB); Jaymin Paugh (5-11, 142, soph., QB/S); Tyler McFate (6-0, 161, soph., RB/LB); Andrew Tucker (5-11, 150, Sr., E/LB).

Others to watch: Buster Kern (6-3, 205, fresh., C/E); Dylan Lee (6-foot, 152, fresh., RB/LB).

Coach Goltz says: "We have five returning starters from last year's team. We will start there. We are going to be fundamentally sound, have fun, take pride in yourself, your team and your school."

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Reed Point-Rapelje Renegades

Coach: Rick Adsit, 1st season.

Record last year: 5-6 competing in the 6-Man West.

Returning starters: Kyle Schneidt (Sr., WR/S); Jake Bare (Jr., QB/S); Brian Purdam (Jr., C/NG).

Others to watch: Tyler Goddard (Sr., coming off two years of injuries); J.D. Reynolds (Jr.); Stac Andrews (Soph.); Nate Booth (Soph.).

Coach Adsit says: "We have lost a few good players from last year but we have a core of young kids that are excited and working hard at practice. The coaching staff is happy with the work ethic so far and excited for a fun year."

Noteworthy: Last year the Renegades were a state semifinalist.

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Winifred-Roy Outlaws

Coach: Dave Udelhoven, 4th season (16-7 at Winifred).

Record last year: 4-4.

Returning starters: Joe Econom (5-7, 200, Sr., LB/RB, first-team all-conference LB); Tel Foran (6-2, 200, Sr., E/LB, first-team all-conference end); Dillon Udelhoven (5-7, 155, Sr., QB/S, second-team all-conference safety); Brandon Udelhoven (5-7, 170, Sr., E/LB); Porter Sturm (6-1, 165, Jr., QB/LB); Brandt Lee (6-4, 175, C/DL).

Others to watch: Weston Leininger (6-2, 270, Jr., E/DL); Kip Kinkelaar (5-10, 190, Sr., E/DL); Walter Wichman (6-2, 230, Jr., C/DL); Dylan Knerr (5-8, 130, Jr., RB/S); Luke Stulc (6-3, 240, fresh, C/DL).

Coach Udelhoven says: "It will take us a little while to make the adjustment to 6-Man, but we have enough good athletes they should adjust quickly. We have good team speed and enough size that we should be very competitive."

Noteworthy: Winifred-Roy begins its first year of a co-op. Last year Winifred competed in the Southern C-North, while Roy was in the Southern 6-Man with Grass Range and Winnett. Winifred was the state 6-Man champion in 1991 with Udelhoven the coach. In '92 Winifred again made the 6-Man title game, but Udelhoven was not on staff. The Red Raiders moved up to 8-Man in the mid 90s. Udehloven, who after last year had three different one-year stints as head coach at Winifred, enters his fourth season as head coach of the team and has also been an assistant at the school. This will be his second year as head 6-Man coach. Udelhoven was also Winifred's boys basketball coach during its undefeated championship season of 2007-08.

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Denton Trojans

Coach: Scott Sparks, 5th season (23-11 at Denton).

Record last year: 9-1 in the Southern C North.

Returning starters: Jordan Lahr (6-2, 205, Sr., QB/S, All-State last season with 862 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. On defense Lahr had seven interceptions); Robert Todd (5-11, 200, All-State last year with 59 tackles and nine sacks); Cole Jelinek, (6-1, 165, WR/LB).

Others to watch: Brandon Bury (5-6, 140, Jr., RB/S); Joel DeVries (5-6, 145, Soph., RB); Garrett Bronec (6-3, 185, Jr., OL/DE); Jarryd Lahr (6-2, 250, Soph., C); Kyler Phelps (5-9, 140, JR., WR/DE); Christian Coppedge (6-2, 255, fresh., OL/DL).

Coach Sparks says: "We have two four-year starters that were all-staters for us a year ago in Lahr and Todd to go with some pretty talented juniors and sophomores. The biggest key for us is making the adjustment from 8-Man to 6-Man. If the kids make the transition smoothly we should have a pretty good year."

Noteworthy: The Trojans lost three all-state players in Damon Heble, Jake DeVries and Darik Coppedge to graduation. Bronec started as a freshman but was injured most of last year. Bury and Phelps each started three games last year. This is Denton's first year back in 6-Man. Denton was state runner-up in 6-Man in 1985, '86 and '87 and again in '89. Denton was the 6-Man state champion in 1990.