LARAMIE — In one of the most suspenseful finishes the 3A state football championship has seen in years, the Star Valley Braves held off a late surge from the Cody Broncs to claim their fourth consecutive state title on November 14, 2025. The final score — a tight 26–21 — reflected just how evenly matched and fiercely determined both teams were. Fans on both sides spent the final minutes on their feet, nerves high as the lead shifted and momentum swung back and forth.
For Star Valley, the win was more than just another state trophy. It was the culmination of months of sweat, discipline, and the kind of unbreakable team unity that players and coaches say defined their season.
Sophomore lineman Chuck Erickson, who battled through an early-season injury, said the team’s evolution off the field was just as important as their improvement on it. “I think as a team we improved the most this season in our brotherhood,” Erickson said. “At the start of the season we weren’t as close but at the end we all bonded and worked harder for each other. I’m most excited to play a full season next year and do the summer stuff because I was injured at the start of this season.”
That bond was evident throughout the championship game. With Cody pressing hard in the fourth quarter, the Braves relied on trust and grit — values that coach Tyson Balls said lie at the heart of the program. “The things I most prioritize are our core values as a football program: trust, love, and commitment,” Balls said. “If the boys have those three values, they are going to gain the skills to be successful in their day-to-day lives, which then allows us to be successful on the football field.”
Senior quarterback Phoenixx Hovey, who played a crucial role in managing the offense under immense pressure, reflected on what it took to reach this moment. “It has taken many hours, hot days, cold practices, early mornings, and late nights together, but that’s what makes it special — the memories with everyone that makes winning so fun.”
For seniors like Hovey and wide receiver/defensive lineman Cooper Lancaster, the victory carried extra meaning. Lancaster said motivation came not just from personal goals, but from proving doubters wrong after the team graduated a large senior class the previous year.
“I would say that all of the workouts in the spring and all throughout the summer along with just playing for the people around me is what kept me motivated throughout the season, and the fact that we lost a lot of seniors and people thought that we might not be able to win another one,” Lancaster said.
While winning this year’s championship was unforgettable, Lancaster’s favorite memory from his Star Valley career goes back to his freshman season — a moment as chaotic as it was joyful. “My favorite memory besides winning the chip this year would most likely be my freshman year when we were not expected to win at all but we ended up winning, and in the locker room all of the glass bottles got shattered from celebrating and cut people’s feet and Taft McClure’s eye.”
This year’s championship had its own share of intense emotion. Star Valley entered the fourth quarter with a narrow lead, but Cody refused to go quietly, scoring late and forcing the Braves’ defense to come up with a crucial final stop. Parents, students, and community members held their breath as Star Valley fought to secure the win.
When the clock finally hit zero, the celebration began — with hugs, helmets raised high, and tears from players who had given everything to keep their state title streak alive.
With the 26–21 victory, Star Valley cemented itself as a true dynasty in Wyoming high school football, claiming its fourth straight 3A state championship — a feat built on trust, hard work, and a brotherhood strong enough to withstand every challenge thrown their way.
