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Cowboys aiming high in ‘15

Wyoming head coach Aaron Hancock has every reason to smile about his 2015 squad. The Cowboys are loaded with talent and experience. This could be a very special season on Pendery Avenue.

Tucker-Berger-Wyoming

“We have 14 returning starters. We return four offensive linemen, five of our seven on the defensive front and some key skilled positions players. We have good senior leadership,” Hancock states.

Making the playoffs will not be easy. Realignment has 12 teams that made the playoffs now bunched into Division IV’s Region 14. Throw in several other schools that are on the rise and the eight playoff berths are going to be highly coveted in 2015.

Don’t expect this team to fold under pressure and that is what will set them apart from their peers come November. Wyoming is a legitimate contender for the regional title.

Division IV, Region 14
2014 RECORD: 10-2, 7-0 CHL
COACH: Aaron Hancock (25-8 at Wyoming, three years, 25-8 overall)

HONOR ROLL
Andrew Marty, Jr, QB – Marty did not disappoint in his highly-touted debut throwing for 1,801 yards, running for 296 more while throwing 18 touchdowns and running for four more scores. He was named Second Team All-Southwest District for his efforts as a sophomore.

Mason Rogers, Sr, DB/ATH – A huge weapon on defense and special teams Rogers had five unconditional touchdowns in ’14. On defense he was in on 43 tackles with five interceptions including two pick sixes. As a kick returner he averaged 57.0 yards per return with three kickoff returns for touchdowns. Rogers was named First Team All-CHL as a junior.

Eric Perry, Sr, OL – A Second Team All-CHL pick as a junior the 6-foot-2, 260 pound Perry has offers from Morehead State and Butler.

Justin Shields, Sr, RB –The Cowboys leading rusher in ’14 Shields ran for 769 yards and 15 touchdowns. He garnered Second Team All-CHL honors for the performance.

Ken Larkin, Sr, DL – The lanky Larkin had a bust out junior campaign getting in on 72 total tackles with seven sacks. He garnered Second Team All-CHL acclaim for the work. Larkin has an offer from Morehead State.

Jake Edmonds, Jr, WR – After catching 22 balls for 253 yards and a touchdown as a sophomore Edmonds will elevate to the Cowboys top receiver in ’15. He was a Second Team All-CHL selection a year ago.

Cooper O’Gara, Sr, DL/OL – O’Gara is a handful to deal with on the d-line. He is coming off an 86 tackle 3.5 sack season in which O’Gara was named Honorable Mention All-CHL.

Tucker Berger, Sr, LB – A two-time Honorable Mention All-CHL pick Berger is a tackling machine. He had 126 total tackles (64 solo) with three sacks and a fumble recovery as a junior.

Sam Strom, Sr, OL – Strom is coming off an Honorable Mention All-CHL season as a junior. He is a vital member of the Cowboys o-line.

OTHER RETURNEES
Seniors Hogan Baird and Eddie Warren will add leadership on the offensive line.

Max Tash, Sr, LB – An unsung hero of the ’14 Cowboys. Tash finished the year with 89 total tackles, a sack, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Jamal Fox, Sr, DL – Fox isn’t the largest d-lineman and uses his speed and quickness to offset the girth factor. He was in on 42 tackles with two sacks and a fumble recovery in ’14.

NEWCOMERS
Jack Gildea, Jr, TE/DL – The 6-foot-4, 215 pound Gildea adds more depth and size to the ends of the lines on both sides of the ball.

Elijah Kemper, Jr, DB – After waiting in the wings Kemper get his shot to star in the secondary. He had one interception in limited time as a sophomore.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(20 appearances, 15-19 overall) – 2014, 2013, 2010, 2009 (Regional Champions), 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998 (Regional Champions), 1997, 1996, 1994, 1992, 1988, 1977 (State Champions), 1975 (State Runner-up)

2015 SCHEDULE
Wyoming will have to stay on its toes. The first seven weeks will see the Cowboys face four playoff teams and three other schools that finished .500 or better in ’14. Opportunities for grabbing big Harbin points is in Wyoming’s favor. It all comes down to the Cowboys closing the deal.

CHL DOMINANCE
Wyoming has gone undefeated in CHL play in each of the past two seasons. A streak of 14 consecutive victories. The Cowboys have gone unbeaten in league play four times in the last five years. They have gone 51-5 in CHL tilts since 2007. In seven of those eight campaigns Wyoming has started league play at 6-0.

UNCONVENTIONAL SCORES
The Cowboys scored 11 unconventional touchdowns in ’14 – six on kickoff returns, four on interception returns and one on a punt return. Mason Rogers was responsible for five of those.

GO-TO RUNNING BACKS
Since 2008 Wyoming has had a running back in every season find the end zone 13 times or more.

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