With a trip to the State Championship game on the line the Braves jumped out to a 20-0 lead in dominating fashion and then had to endure some tough momentum shifts before logging a 30-19 win to earn their return trip to Laramie next Friday.
Star Valley was carried early by Jesse Leavitt and the running game as the powerful senior went over 1,000 yards on the season early in the first quarter and scored the game’s first touchdown. For the vast majority of the first half the game was just about as one-sided as possible with the Braves rolling up nearly 300 yards of offense while the visiting Buffalo Bison had less than 20.
Things changed a bit when the Bison got a 60-yard touchdown pass from Eli Patterson to Bryce Camino who skipped away from a pair of would-be tacklers to get the visitors on the scoreboard. The momentum continued to shift in favor of Buffalo when a 26-yard TD strike from Smith McClure to Simon Gaskell was called back due to a holding penalty. Two plays later, Patterson intercepted McClure and ran it back on defense to cut the lead 20-13 at the break.
The two teams had a bit of a scuffle at midfield before the beginning of the third quarter, resulting in unsportsmanlike conduct flags on both program. The fracas seemed to throw a bit of fuel on the fire with the team and fans stepping up their energy level. Star Valley took the initial third-quarter possession and put it into the end zone to push the lead 27-13. Kristoff Buehler added a 24-yard field goal in the fourth quarter and Patterson scored a rushing touchdown for Buffalo for the final.
Statistically, McClure finished with 23 completions on 30 attempts for 215 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed 12 times for 80 yards and a rushing touchdown.
Leavitt carried the ball 27 times for 156 yards and a touchdown. Simon Gaskell caught four passes for 59 yards and a score. Tristen Hilton scored a rushing touchdown.
Bailee Kallgren led the team with nine receptions totaling 65 yards. Seven different players caught a pass for the Braves who finished with over 500 yards of offense.
Defensively, Star Valley allowed just 155 yards and Kash Lancaster collected a key interception in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.
The win pushes the Braves total to 10-1, the seventh time since 2015 the program has compiled at least ten wins. It also puts Star Valley into the 3A title game against the Cody Broncs in a rematch of last seasons’s championship clash. The Broncs thrashed Evanston 52-14 to earn their trip. The two programs have combined for the last nine Wyoming 3A state titles.
Watch the game again:
• Semifinal Roundup by wyopreps.com
In the 2A Class, Torrington made the long trek to Uinta County and defeated Mountain View 25-19. They will face off against defending champion Big Horn who smashed Lyman, 34-14.
The Sheridan Broncs crushed Thunder Basin with a score of 62-7 to return to the title game where they will have to wait until Saturday afternoon to discover their opponent with Natrona at Cheyenne East and a 1 p.m. start.
Big Piney is at Lingle-Ft. Laramie in the other Saturday game with the winner facing Wind River in the 9-Man championship.
Finally, Little Snake River knocked off Dubois, 47-22 and will face Burlington who won a 80-73 shootout against Encampment.
SVI Media will once again be working with the WHSAA and the NFHS to provide streaming coverage of the five championship games in Laramie at War Memorial Stadium.
Class 2A and 3A are scheduled to play on Friday, November 10 at noon and 3 p.m. respectively.
6-Man, 9-Man and 4A will play on Saturday, November 11 at 10 a.m., 1 .m. and 4 p.m.
