It took a couple of extra stanzas but the Braves were able to nip an extremely tough Lander squad with a 23-yard field goal by John Strang.

The Braves improved to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play as they put a serious dent into Lander’s playoff consideration.

The two defenses took center stage as the teams respective offenses tried their best to eek out some points for the scoreboard.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Braves marched down the field and punched it in on a three-yard plunge from William Buckley.  The Strang PAT put Star Valley up 7-0.

The score was set up by a pair of big catches from Mark Van Slyke.

Buckley also came out and put a big hit on Lander QB, Garrett Irene who had to be helped off the field but also showed his toughness as he continued to take big hits and return to the game.  Irene orchestrated a touchdown drive of his own after returning, scrambling for two key third down conversions and then hitting Jarrod Tamez on an 18-yard touchdown strike.

After being tied at the break, the two teams traded turnovers.  Star Valley forced four Lander turnovers but could not convert, while Lander forced two interceptions of their own but also could not find the scoreboard.

The two teams went into overtime where the Braves struck first on a ten-yard touchdown run by Darin Taylor.

Lander answered on a fourth down plunge by Hawk Cain to tie it up at 14 apiece.

And then the game got really interesting.

Lander took possession in the second overtime, only to be stifled into a field goal attempt.  On the ensuing field goal, the Braves’ Bill West blocked the kick which was then scooped up by Alex Cooper and run the entire length of the field for a touchdown and the win.

Or so it seemed.

An inadvertent whistle on the Lander sideline by the referee nullified the play, forcing the Star Valley offense back onto the field.

The Tiger defense did their best, forcing a field goal attempt but Strang calmly booted it though the uprights to make up for a missed 36-yard attempt in the first quarter.

“We can’t control that,” stated SVHS Head Coach Chris Howell referring to the botched whistle.  “All we can do is make the plays we can make.  I was proud of our kids for their hustle and being aware that they could advance that ball.  We were really physical tonight and there were a lot of white shirts on the ground.”

The Braves now have an extra day to prepare for the Jackson Broncs who will be coming onto Braves Field to try and win for the third consecutive time in the series.  It’s an event that has never happened as Star Valley leads the all-time rivalry, 56-14.

“Jackson, much like Lander is better than their record,” concluded Howell.  “They have a really good athletic quarterback, they probably have the best kicker in the state.  It’s the Jackson game.  You can throw out the records.”

Statistically, Logan Abrams threw for 153 yards to five different receivers.  Mark Van Slyke caught five balls for 80 yards, pushing his career total to 37 receptions.  The school record is 48, set by Orrin Schwab in the early ’80’s.

Darin Taylor accounted for 90 yards of offense, a touchdown and two pass breakups on defense.

Defensively, Trenton Walters and T.J. Guild each had interceptions while Sean Smith had a fumble recovery and two quarterback sacks.

Hawk Cain ran for 106 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries including six carries for 15 yards and the score in the overtime periods for the Tigers.