The Star Valley Braves jumped on the Shelley Russets early with a 20-point first quarter and then gradually pulled away for a 33-7 final in the second half to open up the 2025 football season.
It was the 22nd straight win for the program who look to ride the wave of a huge 28-member senior class as they look for their fourth straight Wyoming 3A title. The seniors showed out against Shelley in the first varsity start for many of them.
One of those was Phoenixx Hovey who put up huge numbers for the Braves at quarterback, completing 22 of 33 passes for 304 yards and five touchdown to lead the way. Cooper Lancaster picked up where he left off last season as he led the receiving corp with 10 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. Roman Erickson had five catches and found the end zone twice. Travis Thomson and Kyan Watson were the recipients of the other two scores.
On the ground, Watson and Nathan Haderlie both finished with 58 yards.
Defensively, Star Valley held the Russetts to 212 total yards and turned the team over three times on downs. Dylan Hirschi also collected a second-quarter interception.
Hovey was picked off twice in the second quarter by Shelley’s Conley Bennett but threw two touchdowns in the second half to cap an impressive evening.
The Braves (1-0) will be back in eastern Idaho next Friday as they face the Preston Indians (1-1) who fell 28-7 to Blackfoot in their second game after routing the Russets last week, 37-17.
Wyoming High School Roundup –
Week Zero has a mix of real games as well as scrimmages and other options. The Jackson Broncs traveled to Temecula, California to open their season as they faced Linfield Christian and picked up a 24-22 win. The Riverton Wolverines who appear to be poised to win the 3A East this season easily handled Powell 52-14. Evanston flooded Ben Lomond 53-6.
The 4A Class began their round-robin format. Sheridan stomped Cheyenne South 59-0, East blanked Laramie 55-0, Campbell County took care of Kelly Walsh 28-10, Cheyenne Central ran away from Rock Springs 32-6 and Natrona County pounded Thunder Basin 37-14.
