The Star Valley Braves’ quest for a fourth straight state title took another step on Friday afternoon as they hosted the Buffalo Bison in quarterfinal action. On paper the game was a mismatch and that is how the contest played out as well in a 54-7 final which gave the program it’s 31st consecutive win. 

Star Valley opened up the scoring with the running game as Nathan Haderlie and Kyan Watson gashed the Bison at a clip of nearly 15 yards per carry. The first touchdown however was through the air with wide receiver Roman Erickson finding quarterback Phoenixx Hovey for a six-yard score. Ross Hilton handled the majority of the kicking duties for Star Valley on Friday night.  

Buffalo could not make any headway against the Star Valley defense with their own running game, finishing the contest with just six yards on 25 attempts. The most effective weapons the Bison had was quarterback Hayden Geis and wide receiver James Ihnat with the latter compiling ten catches for 56 yards. Ezekiel Ramirez had 71 yards on three catches with the majority of that total coming on one 62-yard heave from Geis. That drive came late in the fourth quarter as the Bison were able to avoid the shutout with a score to Ihnat. 

Those were the only positives for the Bison in a game dominated by the Braves who rolled up over 550 total yards. 

Hovey finished with 189 yards passing and a touchdown and also ran for 63 yards and a score, giving him the pass/rush/catch touchdown trifecta. 

The special teams were incredible with Travis Thomson returning not one but two punts for touchdowns in the game, one for 58 yards and the other from 76 years. Thomson also caught a 50-yard touchdown bomb from Hovey. 

Haderlie finished with 105 yards rushing  and a touchdown on just five carries while Watson had 69 yards on six carries. Erickson finished with three catches for 65 yards. Will Walker scored the game’s first touchdown from one yard out. Star Valley’s final score came on a. 39-yard sprint from Caleb Erickson. 

The win pushes the Braves one step close to a trip to Laramie for a chance to defend their  state title run. Standing in the way will be the Lander Tigers who handled the Jackson Broncs in their own quarterfinal game, 55-35. 

Kickoff time for that game has not yet been determined but Star Valley will host as the #1W seed.

The other top seeds took care of business as well as Riverton defeated Green River 31-13 and Cody beat Douglas 40-13. The Broncs will now travel to Riverton in the other semifinal game.