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 35-27 final. That defense endured a huge gap in plays run with the hometown Stars owning a 79-29 advantage in offensive snaps.
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.
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.
Hilton finished the game going 11 of 14 for 258 yards and the score with no turnovers.
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. Richards finished the contest with all four Soldotna touchdowns.
The Braves wasted no time going deep again as Hilton found junior Kai Frazier on 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 more than 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.
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 road is no easier next week as the Braves will be at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello where they will face the Raymond Comets out of Alberta, Canada before traveling to rival Sugar-Salem in their third contest of the campaign.
