The Wyoming regular season came to a close on Friday night as Star Valley routed the visiting Green River Wolves 61-7 to move to 9-0 on the season and extend the program’s winning streak to 18 games.
On Senior Night it was indeed the oldest SVHS class that shined as 24 different players handled the football with 22 of them recording either a rushing attempt or a reception.
Smith McClure was incredibly efficient spreading the ball around to all of the different personnel as he finished the night by completing 24 of 29 passes for 265 yards and a career-high five touchdowns.
Bryson Nield caught a half-dozen of those completions for a total of 90 yards and two scores. Other receiving touchdowns went to Cooper Lancaster, Jayden Kunz and a crowd-pleasing 35-yard screen pass to Cooper “Big Country” Lawson who moved from his tackle position to find the end zone.
Fellow lineman, Kolter Martinson, also scored on a five-yard rushing touchdown. Grant Thomson and Kyan Watson added rushing touchdowns of their own. A total of 12 different players split up 19 carries for 117 yards on the ground.
The win was the 12th straight over the Wolves in the series and gave McKay Young his 83rd victory as head coach which ties him with Jerry Hart and Robert Linford for the most in school history. Young and the Braves will enter the post-season next weekend by hosting the Lander Tigers who fended off the Buffalo Bison 42-35 for the final playoff spot out of the 3A East.
According to SVHS Activities Director, Rob Erickson, the game with the Tigers next Friday will have a 5 p.m. kickoff time.
Lander has been a common post-season opponent recently with Star Valley winning in Fremont County 50-20 in the 2021 quarterfinals and then then the following year in Afton, 41-17.
Friday Night Roundup (Scores provided by WyoPreps.com)
Cody had no trouble in Jackson in a battle of the Broncs in a 41-14 win. Cody will also host a quarterfinal game next week. Riverton handled Rawlins 37-13 and Douglas held off Torrington, 28-21. Powell got the better of Evanston, 14-6.
In the 2A class, Mountain View beat Lyman in the Battle for Bridger Valley, 20-6. Worland grabbed the final playoff spot by taking care of visiting Kemmerer, 35-6. Lovell outscored Cokeville 47-20.
