Defending 6-man champs Cheyenne Wells looking to bounce back from loss, start new win streak
By Brent New/BoCoPreps.com
Photo: Gabe Christus/Denver Broncos
Cheyenne Wells finally reached the pinnacle of six-man football last fall, defeating the same Stratton program that ended its season in the previous two state semifinal rounds.
In a town of less than 1,000 people, it had been a long time coming.
“It was insane,” senior Ty Scheler grinned. “We got back to town (after beating Stratton in the championship game) and Main Street was lined with people. I didn’t know we had that many people in Cheyenne Wells.”
As they sat in front of reporters, the coach and his players answered questions on ‘what was’, and more so ‘what could be’ as they look to repeat in 2022.
Their 53-6 opening-season loss to CHSAA No. 1 Stratton last week magnified the difficult road ahead.
“Knowing that target is on our back there’s a little more sense of urgency,” Smith said at the media day. “This senior group is the first group we coached as a staff, so they know what it’s going to take to get there.”
The loss was Cheyenne Wells’ first since falling in the semifinals to Stratton/Liberty on Nov. 28, 2020. The 47-point margin was the worst defeat for the Tigers since their 64-0 loss to Kit Carson in 2018.
Scheler threw a touchdown with his only completion of the game in the first quarter against Stratton, getting it to Carson Noe for the 55-yard score. The Eagles answered with the next 53 points, using the strength of a rushing attack that managed 296 yards and five scores.
Blake Gilmore added 43 rushing yards and 10 tackles in the loss. Scheler also had an interception on defense.
Overall, it was one-sided, but just Week 1.
At Media Day, Cheyenne Wells’ core said it worked through plenty of jams prior to its 2021 title. Now, it has another.
“My freshman and sophomore year we got to the point where we were just about there and then (2022 Colorado six-man player of the year Cade Mitchek) got hurt both years,” Scheler said. “It was unbelievable, the feeling, once we finally got there.”
Following its Week 1 loss, Cheyenne Wells slipped down to fifth in the latest rankings poll. Stratton received 17 of the 18 first-place votes and remained atop the class. No. 2 Fleming, No. 3 Granada and No. 4 Cheraw followed.
