In a season where the program talked openly about their goal to complete a third straight championship season, the Star Valley Braves met their own expectations as they capped a 12-0 season and wrote their own chapter in a storied football history. 

Star Valley met the Cody Broncs in the Wyoming 3A championship game for the third straight season and for the third straight season collected a win, this time 20-7. 

It was not a game that went according to previous match up norms. In their October clash in Afton, the two teams combined for 87 points and over 1,000 yards of offense. On Friday night, the two aerial assaults did not produce a single passing touchdown. Instead, the two defenses made the squads grind out their yardage which was capped off by rushing scores. 

Both teams felt each other out as they tried to gain an advantage with both teams punting early. Later in the early moments, facing fourth down with the Broncs anticipating the punt return, Kristoff Buehler threw a fake to Travis Thomson for a big gain as Star Valley kept the ball.

The first quarter nearly elapsed with no points before the Braves found pay dirt with just ten seconds left on a Smith McClure quarterback sneak. The Kristoff Buehler PAT made the score 7-0. 

In the second quarter, the Broncs made their way down the field into Star Valley territory when Trey Smith had the ball punched away by Roman Erickson which was recovered by Bryson Nield. The ensuing possession took more than eight minutes as Star Valley found the end zone again on a McClure sneak. The Buehler PAT made it 14-0 with just over a minute before the half. The Broncs had a shot with a deep throw to the end zone off the fingertips of Grady McCarten who returned from injury after not playing against the Braves in the previous meeting. 

The Broncs defense forced a Star Valley punt to start the third quarter followed by McCarten ripping off a 46-yard run which set up a drive that ended in Cody’s only score as he slid into the end zone from four yards out. 

With momentum tilting toward Cody’s favor, McClure threw a pinpoint 47-yard bomb reeled in by Roman Erickson. A key third-down and long was converted on a pass from McClure to Wyatt Martiny to keep things rolling. The Braves finished the drive with a short score from Grant Thomson but the Broncs blocked the PAT making the score 20-7. 

In the final possessions of the game, Star Valley ate up the clock with long, sustained drives and Cody’s opportunities came to an end in a dramatic fourth-down measurement that went the Braves’ way, prompting a sideline celebration along with the east-side stands filled with Lincoln County faithful. 

McClure finished his stellar career by completing 10 of 13 passes for 115 yards and also ran 19 times for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Grant Thomson finished with 70 yards rushing on 17 carries and the other Star Valley touchdown. Bryson Nield finished with six catches totaling 25 yards. Roman Erickson finished with a pair of catches for 50 yards and Travis Thomson added two catches for 46 yards. 

• By The Numbers – 

It was Star Valley’s first three-peat since the program did so in 1967 during the “mythical” championship era. It was also the 21st straight win dating back to last season. The program’s longest winning streak is 23 games as players begin to prepare for next season. The longest unbeaten streak, which includes ties, is 35 games. 

It is the 19th title for the program which first won in 1961. The 2024 season also matches the program-high for wins with a 12-0 mark, tying the 2019 squad. It is the seventh title in the last ten years and the program’s sixth unbeaten season. McKay Young now has 86 wins as the SVHS sideline leader. 

Individually, Bryson Nield set new program marks as a receiver with career totals of 126 catches for 1,946 yards. He also set season program record with 14 receiving touchdowns and 1,317 yards. McClure wrapped his football career in second-place in career passing yards and touchdowns. 

• Next Up – 

The junior varsity program went undefeated with wins over Idaho 6A program counterparts Highland and Rigby. The sophomore team went 6-1 with their only loss coming on a two-point conversion against Sky View out of Utah. The freshmen team went 5-3 with two of their losses to powerhouse Sugar-Salem.