The Green River defense closes in on a Star Valley running back in first half action last week. The Braves defeated the Wolves 38-17. Green River will travel to play Cody Friday night at 7 p.m.
It appeared for a few minutes last Friday night that the Green River High School football team might leave Star Valley with their first victory of the season.
After falling behind 14-0 early in the first quarter, a resilient Wolves team battled back and took at 21-17 lead when junior quarterback Tyler Vendetti found the end zone from two yards away.
The joy however was short lived as the home-standing Braves answered with 21 straight points on their way to a 38-17 victory.
After digging the 14-0 hole early, Green River got on their first points of the game when Vendetti scored his first touchdown of the game on another two-yard run. The Wolves tied the game with 6:09 left in the first half when Jacob Olsen continued his strong run of defensive play and picked off the Star Valley quarterback for the second Green River touchdown of the night.
Green River head coach Don Maggi said that Olsen made one heck of a play on the touchdown.
"They had been running some bubble stuff and we had him out in the flat. He turned the momentum," Maggi said.
The Braves would connect on a short-field goal just before the half to take a 17-14 lead into the break.
Following the Green River score in the third to take the lead, Star Valley scored the three touchdowns sparked by play from Jesse Sanders, who had a huge night with 253 yards rushing, 82 yards receiving and three touchdowns. Maggi said big plays have been hurting Green River all season long and the Star Valley touchdown right after the Wolves had taken the lead really changed the momentum of the game.
Even with the loss, Maggi said he appreciated the way his team competed.
"We got down early and our kids fought back and took the lead," he said.
He added he would have liked to run the ball better.
"We need to be more consistent with our run and not give up big plays, which we did," he said.
Vendetti was the leading rusher for Green River with 30 carries for 103 yards and the two touchdowns. He was also nine of 17 passing for 79 yards. Green River will play on the road next week at Cody. The Wolves must win the final two regular season games of the season to qualify for the Wyoming Class 3A Playoffs.
Maggi said he told the team that because of all the hard work they have put in, they owe it two themselves to come out the next two weeks and work hard and do things the right way.
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