The odds say that throwing five interceptions in a game means that your team has about a five to seven percent chance of winning that game overall. As Star Valley has done many times over the course of the last decade plus of Wyoming high school football, they continue to beat the odds more often that they don’t. This was on display on Friday night as the Braves overcame one of those five turnover games to hang on and then use the last 90 seconds of game time to score a clutch touchdown and a two-point conversion in order to force overtime. After scoring the overtime touchdown and the PAT, it took the Cody Broncs just one play to score their touchdown and then make the decision to go for two and the win. The final pass was knocked down by Weston Crogg to salvage a 28-27 Star Valley win.
The Braves and Broncs have built one of the most entertaining rivalries in high school sports in the region with one or the other having won the last 11 Wyoming 3A state titles. The most recent numbers have tilted toward Star Valley who have won the last four of those titles at Cody’s expense, including a 27-22 battle in Laramie last November.
“I would thank Braves nation,” remarked head coach McKay Young in the post-game comments. “Homecoming in Afton, Wyoming the stands are packed; the campfires were cooking and the [championship] guys from ten years ago were here. It was a magical night. There’s a quote that adversity introduces a man to himself and we faced some adversity tonight. The defense was lights out, they kept giving us the ball back. Inside the ten-yard line I feel like thats where we live and the boys proved that tonight. “
The community was out and about in their Crimson & Gold for the contest which started off with a thrown interception by the Braves and punt by the Broncs. Star Valley eventually struck first as they were able to move the ball down the field and score on a six-yard rush from Crew Lancaster. The Owen Brown PAT was good to put the score at 7-0 with 4:56 left in the first quarter.
The Broncs answered quickly in the form of a beautiful pass from Cache McFadden to Griffin McCarten on a 57-yard touchdown the score was tied just 43 seconds after the Star Valley score. McCarten finished with a monster night of two touchdown receptions and three interceptions on defense.
Turnovers were a theme in the game as Ross Hilton threw his second of five interceptions on the night to Logan Richards who returned it 70 yards for the defensive touchdown and a 14-7 Cody advantage. Star Valley didn’t have much trouble gaining yardage but they did collect the turnovers and a pile of penalties in the game which started in the second quarter. Despite the challenges, Hilton found Travis Thomson on a third and goal from the 16 for a score but the PAT was no good, leaving the Braves trailing 14-13. Star Valley also had a chance to put points up before the half but another turnover ended that threat.
The Broncs used great field position in the third quarter to score on another deep touchdown, this time from McFadden to Lane Stevenson from 28 yards out. The PAT gave the Broncs a 21-13 lead midway through the third quarter.
With the giveaways piling up and the Broncs using up clock, the Braves were given several additional chances by their defense who were backed up all night. The break through finally came with just 1:30 left on the clock and 70 yards to go. After moving the ball down the field and the clock ticking away, Hilton threw a beautiful touchdown pass to Thomson with just 20 seconds left in regulation. Then the Braves pulled out a multiple pitch special for the two-point conversion which resulted in a completed pass from Roman Erickson to Kai Frazier and a tie game.
“We’ve been saving that play, we wanted to use it at Sugar-Salem,” Young added. “The Philly Special. The kids executed it when we needed it.”
Thomson saw his first game action since Week Zero in Soldotna, Alaska and finished with six catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
Cody needed just one play to score their touchdown as McFadden hit McCarten from 10 yards out and then opted to go for the win. The two-point conversion was swatted away by Crogg.
“When I heard my brothers tell me they loved me and we were running on the field and we have each other’s backs,” said senior running back Zach Delgado. “I had no doubt. We were united, I knew we were going to pull it out.”
Delgado finished with nearly 150 yards of offense including 105 on the ground.
“We put in hard work and did not give up,” exclaimed senior Carson Clapp. “When it came down to the last minute we performed because we’re dogs baby!”
Hilton, who led the game winning drive, noted “even though we were down and made a lot of mistakes and did a lot of things we shouldn’t have, we trust in the brother beside you and it’s all you can do.”
Ryker Dana, who is battling brain cancer and has been the focus of the program’s fundraising efforts this season put a bow on the night with the phrase, “too good to be true.” Dana was presented with his own Braves jersey before the game.
“These kids have bled together and sweated together and sacrificed together,” Young concluded. “So as long as there’s time on the clock I believe in how these guys feel about each other.”
The win improved the Braves to (5-1)(2-0) on the season. They will be back on the home field next Friday, October 9, as they host the Green River Wolves in a 7 p.m. kickoff. This will be followed by a short week and a game on Wednesday, October 14 at Evanston before wrapping the regular season in Jackson on October 23.
3A West Roundup (Scores provided by WyoPreps.com
The #3 Jackson Broncs rolled over #4 Evanston to solidify their ranking in a 41-14 final. #5 Riverton came from behind to defeat Lander 24-21 in the final 67 seconds of their game and the Green River Wolves defeated Powell 27-21.
In 2A West action, the Cokeville Panthers routed the defending champion Mountain View Buffalos 41-0 in a #3 versus #2 battle that will have voters putting CHS up a notch. Lovell outlasted Lyman 16-14 and #4 Thermopolis demolished #5 Pinedale 41-8.
