It wasn’t the prettiest offensive game but the Braves defense pitched a shutout and Star Valley improved to 4-1 with a 21-0 final in Evanston.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Braves got on the board with a four-yard rushing touchdown from Jayden Crook. McKell Merritt knocked through the PAT for a 7-0 lead.
The Red Devil defense was stingy but the Braves defense was stifling as the two teams swapped possessions. Heading into halftime the Crimson & Gold found some offensive balance which culminated in another touchdown on the ground from Chase Stewart with just 1.5 seconds left in the second quarter.
After taking a 14-0 lead into the locker room, the running game found its footing on the legs of Kaleb Spaulding, Crook and Wylie Wilkes. The lead swelled to 21-0 after a 16-yard Taft McClure touchdown pass to Stewart.
The Braves defense held Evanston to just 89 total yards and collected interceptions from both Crook and Derek Astle. The Star Valley offense finished with 312 yards overall.
The Star Valley win took the luster off the Evanston Homecoming as well as handed the Devils a loss on their first varsity contest on their new field turf.
The squad will have yet another road game next Friday as they travel to Powell to take on the Panthers. PHS is coming off a 26-14 win in Green River. In other 3A scores, Buffalo defeated Lander 29-21, Cody blasted Jackson 54-7, Douglas defended the home field against Worland 24-7 and Riverton picked up their first win of the season in Rawlins 14-6.
