JAYDEN STRONG: Strong safety Jayden Crook puts a block on a Preston player during the 2nd game of the year. The Braves would go on to win the game. Five weeks later Crook would break his jaw against Cody on the road.

Last Friday Star Valley faced Cody for the first time since defeating them in the state title game last season.

The action took a turn for the worse when starting player Jayden Crook was injured, breaking his jaw in the 2nd quarter.

“I was just tackling the kid and we both hit pretty hard, and I wasn’t sure what happened. But my head was ringing and I could tell my jaw was out of place,” said Crook.

The injury sent trainer Kelley Hansen rushing out to check on him. Multiple people came out and helped him off the field. “Thankfully, Dr. McClure was there and he looked at me and tried moving it back in place but it didn’t work.

A Cody orthodontist stepped in and offered to take Crook to his office. “They took x-rays and found out I had fractured my jaw in two places.”

Crook underwent surgery to fix his jaw with 2-3 plates on the morning of Octorber 11th. Crook hopes to return to the field before the football season ends. “Dr. Lee said I could possibly play in a couple weeks; it just might be pretty dangerous and risky,” said Crook.

Senior Simon Gaskell also suffered an injury against Cody when he suffered nerve damage to his shoulder.

Hopefully, #24 will make a quick recovery and return to the field to play in another state title game.