The first time Gillette traveled to Riske Field to face Cheyenne Central this year, the Camels fumbled the ball away four times which, in part, allowed the Indians to jump out to a 48-7 third-quarter lead and coast to a 48-14 win back on Oct. 2.

Central coach Brick Cegelski doesn't expect things to go quite so advantageously the second-time around when Gillette travels to Cheyenne for a Class 4A playoff semifinal game today.

"It's one of those games where, I think, it's going to be a good game right down to the stretch," Cegelski said. "Both teams are pretty evenly matched ... but I think when it's all said and done, the team that can win all three phases of the game will win the game."

That was certainly the case for No. 2-seeded Central in the first meeting. The Indians (8-2) forced four Gillette turnovers on defense and amassed 551 yards on offense against what was 4A's top defense at the time.

But the No. 3-seeded Camels (8-2) responded well. The loss to Central capped a two-game hiccup in the middle of the season, but Gillette has since won four straight -- including impressive wins over Kelly Walsh and Green River to cap the regular season.

"We definitely didn't have a good showing [in Cheyenne]," Gillette coach Vic Wilkerson said of the first meeting. "From that game on, we really focused on, each week, improving as a team and fixing mistakes little by little."

Central retains the homefield advantage in the rematch, the first semifinal game the Indians have hosted at Riske Field, Cegelski said. But the onus remains on defending state champion Gillette to figure out how to beat Central.

"They're a team that's coming in that has to figure out how to beat us," Cegelski said. "We're going to come out and be aggressive on both sides of the ball and see what can happen."

Contact sports reporter Clint Robus at (307) 266-0615 or clinton.robus@trib.com. Read his blog at tribtown.trib.com/ClintRobus/blog