The Braves overcame a 14-point deficit and scored 21 unanswered points to shock the Sugar-Salem Diggers with a come from behind 28-21 win on Friday night that set a new school record for consecutive wins.

The last time the two teams met in 2024 in Sugar City, then sophomore Roman Erickson caught the game-winning touchdown on the road to snap a four-game skid in the series against their Idaho rivals. This Friday night, he did it again. But long before that play, the circumstances of the game were stacked against Star Valley who overcame plenty of adversity on their way to the win column.

Star Valley had an uncharacteristic cluster of turnovers in the first half and Sugar-Salem capitalized on the first one with a short field and took the lead on a short passing touchdown from Frank Fillmore to Ace Clark. A Latrell Markel PAT put the score at 7-0. 

Cooper Lancaster took the ensuing kickoff near midfield to set up the Braves’ first scoring drive which came from a three-yard run from Nathan Haderlie. Tayt Lawson knocked through the PAT to make the score 7-7. 

The running game was very effective for the Diggers as Kimball Tonks racked up 51 of his game-high 158-yard total to put his team deep into Star Valley territory. Clark finished the drive with a 12-yard run and the PAT made the score 14-7 Sugar-Salem. The Star Valley passing game ran into trouble in the second quarter as SSHS’s Josh Peterson collected one of his two interceptions on the night to claim another possession. Clark scored his third touchdown of the half as he carved through the Star Valley defense on a 52-yard scamper and a 21-7 lead. 

The Braves had a chance to cut into the lead just before the half as they moved the ball down the field but a third interception by the visitors closed the door. 

The third quarter was chewed up by the Digger ground game as Tonks was the workhorse of the night with consistent yardage and a running clock. Star Valley was able to force a 30-yard field goal attempt by Markel which went wide right, a miss that loomed large for the rest of the contest. 

The Braves offense found some rhythm at the end of the third quarter and into the fourth as Coach McKay Young dug into his play book with a double pass from Hovey to Lancaster to Roman Erickson to draw the score to 21-14 with 9:59 left in the game. 

Sugar-Salem burned through more than five minutes of game clock on the next possession before Star Valley was able to force a turnover on downs to get the ball back with just under four minutes to go. Hovey found Travis Thomson for a huge 35-yard gain to flip the field and put the Braves in scoring position as the they tied the game on a three-yard plunge from Kyan Watson and a pressure-filled PAT from Lawson. 

Knotted up 21-21, the Star Valley defense was able to put some pressure on Fillmore on the next drive as a pass was tipped downfield by Thomson and intercepted by Krew Morgan with just over 40 seconds left in the game. 

Then, just like last year, Roman Erickson tore the hearts out of Sugar-Salem faithful as he hauled in a 41-yard bomb from Hovey for the stunning go-ahead score with just 27 seconds left on the clock.

Now leading 28-21, the Braves defense clamped down again and ended the game with a batted pass and a win to open their home schedule. 

“In the locker room we talked about coming together the and playing better and doing our jobs,” replied Hovey after the game. “I think that showed in the second half and we relied on each other and did our jobs.”

Hovey and a group of seniors also praised the huge home crowd.

“The crowd was amazing tonight,” he noted of an atmosphere which resembled a playoff game in November rather than a non-conference game in early September.

Coach Young noted that this year’s senior class continues to dig deep. 

“We were going into the fourth quarter and obviously with Josh Allen with the Bills; a lot of guys watched that Bills and Ravens game and we pointed up the scoreboard and said we got ‘em right where we want ‘em,” he stated. “We had guys make plays when we needed them. We could have hung our heads but these seniors won’t allow that. These guys have never lost a game in high school and they weren’t about to let it happen tonight so I’m super proud of them.”

Star Valley has been working to fill an open date next Friday September 19 after a game with Teton High School fell through. That game will now be filled with a road contest in Soda Springs.  The Braves will return home on September 26 against the Jackson Broncs. 

Friday Night Roundup – 

In the 3A class, #2 Cody defeated #4 Douglas 28-9. #3 Riverton bounced back from a loss to Cody last week with a 42-13 win against Evanston.  Jackson defended their home field against the Buffalo Bison with a 38-7 victory while Lander roughed up Powell 48-7. Finally, Green River blanked Rawlins 45-0. 

In the highly competitive 2A West, #4 Cokeville shut out Lyman 22-0 while #2 Mountain View fended off #3 Lovell 21-12. Pinedale protected their turf with a lopsided 50-15 win over visiting Kemmerer and Thermopolis got past Worland 14-10. 

For more scores and rankings, visit Wyopreps.com.