-This version of this story includes quotes from Coach McKay Young which were not part of the original post last Saturday.
A new look Star Valley Braves defensive unit showed miles of heart on Saturday afternoon as they endured and countered the powerful running attack of Alaska’s top team to open the 2026 football season.
Traveling more than 3,000 miles to Soldotna, Alaska to face the state’s three-time Division II state champs, the visitors from Wyoming more than held their own as they defeated the Stars in a 35-28 final.
“I told the kids right after the game I’ve been coaching for 20 years and that was one of the more fun games we’ve ever played,” stated head coach McKay Young. “Our guys were resilient and tough and I was very proud of what our defense did.”
Both squads opened up with the defenses controlling the action as the two powerhouse programs traded early jabs. An early key moment came as senior Travis Thomson intercepted quarterback Andrew Fielden’s first pass attempt and returned it nearly 60 yards for the defensive touchdown. Owen Brown knocked through the PAT for a 7-0 Star Valley lead which they would never relinquish.
Soldotna moved the ball very well at times on the ground as they leaned on their Wing-T offensive prowess, but the Braves’ defense did not break despite giving up more than one big play. The Stars settled for a 24-yard field goal to cut the lead 7-3 in the final moments of the first quarter.
“They’re just so good physically and use really good deception,” Young said of the Stars’ offense. “How many times did we tackle the wrong guy and stuff. They do a good job hiding the football.”
Thomson returned the ensuing kickoff near midfield to aid the Braves’ next possession, a theme throughout the game as he proved very difficult to tackle in the open field. While a consistent running game proved difficult to establish for Star Valley, the passing game was highly efficient in Ross Hilton’s first varsity start. A 38-yard bomb to senior Roman Erickson made for a quick touchdown and the Brown PAT gave the Braves a 14-3 advantage.
The Stars put together one of their best drives of the game as they marched down the field and punched in their first touchdown with just over five minutes remaining in the half on the legs of Eli Richards and a 14-10 score.
The Braves wasted no time going deep again as Hilton found junior Kai Frazier won catch and rumble that extended 67 yards. The run game followed that up with four straight efforts up the middle as junior Crew Lancaster scored to help the Braves take a 21-10 lead.
The Stars tried to wear down Star Valley’s defense in the third as they took their first possession more than 70 yards and used up nine minutes before settling for a 28-yard field goal and a 21-13 score. The Braves answered with another set of big plays including a 37-yard catch by Thomson before Lancaster scored again from five yards out and a 28-13 advantage.
With time starting to become a factor, the Stars drew to within 28-20 after another Richards touchdown run. After getting the defensive stop they needed, the Stars were in possession before Roman Erickson sacked Fielden and forced a fumble which was scooped up by Frazier who returned it 38 yards for the dagger touchdown.
Soldotna did manage one more late touchdown with just 11 seconds remaining but could not convert with the onside kick and Star Valley knelt to preserve the victory.
At the final buzzer, the home team ran 50 more offensive plays than Star Valley, 79-29, but the Braves found a way to win with a full team effort.
“I talked to coach Merritt afterward and said we have a lot of film to evaluate,” Young added. “You’re not going to see a lot of games that play out like that.”
The win helped the Braves extend their school-record winning streak to 34 games and was Coach Young’s 99th win for the program.
The Alaska Experience
Yes, there was a game. Two in fact with the junior varsity handling Soldotna 34-12 in their contest. But the experiences of the few days in the Kenai Peninsula will last far beyond any memories of the games themselves. Coach Young emphasized that if football is all that anyone remembers from this past week, that is not a good thing.
“We take ourselves way to seriously if we only talk about football,” he said. “Our kids catching salmon in the river, seeing some orcas and seeing those vistas and the mountains and lakes and the plane rides and the adventure we will never forget.”
Young was also emphatic about how the trip happened because of local support.
“We are just grateful for the supportive community and administration,” he explained. “My heart is full of gratitude after this trip after the life experience these boys had. There was a little bit of football mixed in there too.”
Finally, Young thanked the community of Soldotna.
“I really can’t image anyone treating us better than we were treated,” he concluded. “I hope as a community we can return the favor a year from now. Just above and beyond and welcome and accommodating. We are just very thankful for them for opening up their community to us.”
The Braves will face another non-traditional, high-powered opponent this Saturday as they take on the Raymond Comets out of Alberta, Canada. This game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello. Look to the SVI Sports Network for streaming coverage.
