EVANSTON — Red Devil football was originally scheduled to begin play a week later, hosting the Rawlins Outlaws on August 31. That game and the rest of Evanston’s 3A schedule will remain, but Evanston will travel to Altamont, Utah, this Friday, August 24, to do battle with the Longhorns, who will return the favor at the start of the 2019 season.

While the coaching staff is excited to have picked up an additional game, it does force a time-crunch for implementing offensive, defensive and special teams schemes and game plans. The game will not count in the standings for Evanston, but the Red Devil coaching staff is not looking past the Utah team, noting how success in wrestling often equates to success on the gridiron and Altamont has a top-notch wrestling program.

The Red Devils have approximately 70 athletes from freshmen through seniors to begin the 2018 campaign. This will be the Red Devils’ second season competing in the 3A ranks after decades in the 4A division. They ended the 2017 season with a record of 4-4, winning 63-16 over Jackson in their last game played.

After the home-opener against Rawlins on August 31, the Red Devils will travel to Fremont County on back-to-back weekends for games against 3A East teams in the Riverton Wolverines on September 7, and the Lander Valley Tigers on Sept. 14. From there, it’s all 3A West Conference games.

Evanston will host the Powell Panthers on Sept. 21, travel to the Cody Broncs on Sept. 28, host the Green River Wolves on Oct. 5 for Homecoming at EHS, travel to the Jackson Broncs on Oct. 12 and will close out the regular season playing host to the Star Valley Braves on Oct. 19.