Playing on the home turf for the first time in the 2026 season, the Star Valley Braves turned in a dominant performance on both offense and defense in a 56-0 shutout of the Lander Tigers.
Despite cold, windy and wet conditions at the beginning of the game, the Braves attacked the visitors through the air early and often on their way to a prolific outing that moved them to (3-1) overall on the season heading into 3A West conference play.
On the very first offensive play of the night, Ross Hilton went deep to Roman Erickson for 55 yards to set up the first touchdown of the night which ended up being a two-yard touchdown pass to Crew Lancaster. The Braves were very aggressive on offense, going for conversions on fourth down on multiple occasions despite being deep in their own end. The defense shut down the Tigers on on the night, allowing just 50 total yards. With 7:32 left in the second quarter, Hilton connected with Krew Morgan on a long fourth down play which set up a 19-yard touchdown pass to Erickson.
This was the beginning of a theme as Hilton finished with six touchdown passes. Four of them went to Erickson which ties a school record set by Cole Critchfield. Hilton joined Reese Hiibel and Taft McClure as Star Valley quarterbacks who have thrown for at least six touchdowns in a game. Erickson finished with seven catches for 144 yards.
Leading 28-0 at the half, the Braves defense suffocated the Tiger offense setting up short fields until the score swelled to the point of the running clock. Hilton hit Kai Fraizer from 20 yards out to put the team up 35-0 before Zach Delgado returned a punt 68 yards back to the Lander 11-yard line where he later scored on a rushing touchdown. After the fourth touchdown to Erickson and a 49-0 score, the reserves came in but that didn’t stop the offense. Treydon Romrell broke a 25-yarder for the final score of the night with less than six minutes left in regulation. Owen Brown went a perfect 8 for 8 on PATs for the night. Lancaster finished with career-high 149 yards rushing on just 13 carries.
The Braves are back on the road next week to open conference play in Powell before returning home on the first weekend in October to face the Cody Broncs for Homecoming.
• Roundup (Scores courtesy wyopreps.com)
In the 3A class, #2 Cody had no issues with #5 Riverton, blanking the Wolverines 38-0. #3 Jackson rolled over Rawlins 58-13 to move to 4-0 and #4 Evanston also pitched a shutout 24-0 over Worland. Douglas edged Green River 21-20 in overtime and Powell outlasted Buffalo 14-6.
In the 2A West, #5 Cokeville protected their home field as they stopped the #3 Thermopolis Bobcats on a two-point conversion in a 14-13 win. Pinedale roughed up Lovell 42-14 and Lyman bounced back from back-to-back losses to win at Kemmerer 34-16.
