Kevin Coyle of Sheridan Media Sports brings the latest high school football preview for Week 4 of the 2026 season. The report, compiled from data on wyoming-football.com, focuses on the upcoming contests involving Sheridan, Big Horn, Tongue River and Buffalo, with a special look at the historic series between each pair of schools.
Sheridan vs. Natrona County – Friday, September 25, 6 p.m.
Sheridan travels to Natrona County for the first game of the weekend. The two programs first met in 1921, a year when Sheridan claimed the inaugural victory. Natrona County recorded its first win five years later, in 1926. Since then the series has been tightly contested, with Natrona County holding a narrow lead of 59‑55, including six ties that span regular‑season and postseason play.
Despite the overall series deficit, Sheridan has dominated the recent stretch, winning the last seven meetings and thirteen of the past sixteen contests. When the games are played at Natrona County’s field, the home team leads the series 37‑18, but Sheridan’s current seven‑game winning streak, which began in 2021, underscores the Wildcats’ recent superiority.
Defensive milestones also feature in the rivalry. Sheridan has shut out Natrona County sixteen times, the most recent shutout occurring in the 2021 regular season. Natrona County’s best defensive effort against Sheridan came in 2014, when they held the Wildcats scoreless.
The largest margin of victory for Sheridan was a 46‑point win in 1991, while Natrona County’s biggest blowout was a 56‑point triumph in 1994. The highest point total recorded by Sheridan against Natrona County was 56 points in the 2016 state championship game (a 56‑28 win). Natrona County’s top offensive output versus Sheridan was also 56 points, achieved in the 1994 matchup.
The two schools have met in overtime twice, splitting those contests. Natrona County won the most recent overtime game in 2020, prevailing 38‑31 after four extra periods.
Big Horn vs. Moorcroft – Friday, September 25, 6 p.m.
The second game of the evening pits Big Horn against Moorcroft at Moorcroft’s home field. Their first encounter dates back to 1952, when Big Horn secured the opening victory; Moorcroft recorded its first win seven years later, in 1959.
Big Horn currently leads the series 30‑20 with one tie and has won the last sixteen meetings. The most recent Moorcroft victory occurred in the 2001 regular season at home. The series record does not include the 1993 and 1994 contests, which featured the schools’ junior varsity squads.
When the games are played at Moorcroft, Big Horn holds a 13‑game advantage and has won each of its seven visits to the venue. The longest winning streak for Big Horn against Moorcroft is the ongoing sixteen‑game run that began with the 2001 playoffs. Moorcroft’s longest streak against Big Horn was eight straight wins from 1980 to 2001.
Big Horn has shut out Moorcroft six times, the last shutout coming in 2009. The two programs have never required overtime to decide a game.
Other Week 4 Matchups
The Week 4 schedule also includes games for Tongue River and Buffalo, though detailed historical data for those pairings was not provided in the source material. Fans can expect the same level of competition and community spirit that defines high school football across Wyoming.
As the season progresses, these historic rivalries continue to shape the identity of local schools and bring together families, alumni, and neighborhoods. The enduring records—spanning more than a century—highlight the deep roots of high school football in Sheridan County and the surrounding region.
Stay tuned for post‑game recaps and updated series statistics as the Wildcats, Big Horn, and other teams take the field this Friday.
Original reporting: Sheridan Media (Sheridan WY) — read the source article.
