Not the 2020 Season the Laramie Plainsmen Had Hoped For [VIDEO]

To say the 2020 high school football season didn’t go the way the Laramie Plainsmen had hoped would be an understatement.

After struggling with injuries and low numbers in 2019, Laramie saw an influx of players and had several returners back for 2020. There were higher expectations and goals within the program. What happened? The result was a 2-8 record and a blowout loss to eventual 4A state champion Cheyenne East (49-7) in the first round of the playoffs.

KOWB’s David Settle had a chance to visit with Plainsmen head coach Clint Reed after the season to get his perspective on how the season went in the video at the top of this story.

Laramie had one of the biggest offensive lines in the state this year. After the Maiava triplets moved in over the summer, the smallest starting lineman was at 240 pounds. With Colter Nunn and Isaac Sell back after running the ball in 2019, big things were expected on the ground.

In 2020, Laramie ran the ball for 2091 yards, an average of 209 per game, which ranked no. 4 in the big-school division. That success came to fruition.

Even with some experience at quarterback with junior Jake Vigen, the Plainsmen were looking for weapons on the outside. They had seven players that returned with a catch from 2019, but 25 of those were between Sell and Nunn. The rest combined for only 10 catches.

The Plainsmen finished with just 106 yards per game through the air, which was eighth in Class 4A. Vigen threw for over 125 yards just twice, against Kelly Walsh (236) and Cheyenne Central (220).

The biggest struggle came on defense. Laramie finished No. 9 in total defense and allowed 441 yards and 39.9 points per game. They also finished minus seven in turnover margin.

When a team goes 2-8 and is blown out in several games, the off-season is filled with a lot of questions and reflection. Only 2021 will answer those questions and whether the reflection was time well spent.