Allowing the University of Wyoming to host the state's five high school football championship games Nov. 13-14 was a successful experiment that should be rewarded with a longer commitment.

The Wyoming High School Activities Association gave UW and Laramie only one year to prove they were up to the challenge, and they proved in a big way they could handle it even after a storm left the city -- and War Memorial Stadium -- blanketed in snow.

But the weather didn't keep the teams' fans away for any games over the two historic days. They were there to cheer them on from beginning to end, even if they had to thaw out later. Official figures still weren't available from the WHSAA on Friday, but it was clear that attendance was solid.

And it may be a bit self-serving on our part, but the single site for the five championship games allowed us to provide expansive coverage in print and online -- which wouldn't have been possible if we'd had to send reporters and photographers throughout the state.

One of the reasons Laramie could successfully bid for the games is the increase in available rooms for travelers. There's been an influx of new and renovated hotels in the Laramie area in the past few years that virtually guarantees fans can find places to stay. That's good news, given the likelihood of mid-November storms in the region.

For players, coaches and fans, there was definitely a championship atmosphere in the air as everyone recognized that it was a special honor to play at the university.

Before the games, a lot was said about the great incentive playing at UW would be for the state's high school players, especially those from the state's smaller communities. That proved to be true.

No one was more thrilled than the teams from Guernsey and Kaycee, which met Saturday for the Class 1A six-man championship. The Guernsey Vikings defeated the Buckaroos, who were in their first season, 76-16.

Both teams were excited about introducing the sport, which has a more wide-open style than 11-man football and more big-play and scoring potential, to a whole new audience in Laramie. War Memorial's staff managed to adapt to a different-sized field and different rules without any problems.

"As soon as the kids walked out from underneath, through that tunnel there, and out on the field, they were excited," said Guernsey Coach Casey Moats. "I hope that (UW) gets the chance to keep it here and let other kids have the opportunity to get down there on that field. ... It's a great experience."

Guernsey senior Clay Cundall told Star-Tribune sports reporter Clint Robus that he'd been dreaming of scoring a touchdown in Laramie since he was 8 or 9 years old. "It was awesome. A dream come true for sure," the player said.

Even though his team lost, Kaycee senior Ashton Buckingham managed to stay upbeat. "[Guernsey's] had a program for years and years, and we got to come here and compete with them," he told Robus. "You can't beat that, dude."

No, you can't. And even after only one year, it's difficult to imagine the association going back to playing the title games in five different communities. Going to Laramie wasn't a hardship for local fans, it was an adventure. Now, the WHSAA should lock in Laramie as the site of the games for at least several years.