The Green River Wolves took on the new number one ranked football team in 3A, the Star Valley Braves, this past Friday. The Braves beat the previously undefeated number one ranked Cody Broncs 41-14 before taking on the Wolves.
Prior to the game, Green River's Head Football Coach Blaine Christensen characterized Star Valley as filled with strong, fast, physical players, but the Wolves played probably their best game of the season before falling to the Braves 47-6. The Wolves had a minimum of penalties, two for a total of thirty five yards, to Star Valley's seven penalties for 65 yards. The Wolves also had just two turnovers, with Star Valley committing no turnovers.
Green River had a balanced attack on offense, with 114 yards rushing and 114 passing. Star Valley had 213 yards passing and 246 yards running the ball. Before a large crowd on Senior Night, the Wolves had three big pass plays of 22, 15 and 24 yards and a long run of 10 yards, along with a three-yard pass for a touchdown. The offensive player of the game award went to the offensive line, who kept the Braves out of the backfield for the most part and provided some good blocking for the running game. The defensive player of the game went to James Herwaldt, who played hard all night on both sides of the ball and led the Wolves in defensive points, getting in for a big play as he sacked Star Valley's quarterback for a loss and led the team in rushing with 51 yards on eight carries. Also coming up big on the defense were Adrian Ruiz, Jayce Stewart, Axel MacKinnon, Garrett Smith and Christian Lee.
The Wolves kicked off to Star Valley to start the game. The Braves promptly marched down the field in eight plays to score and take an early 7-0 lead. The Wolves then mounted a drive of their own of nine plays, including a 10-yard run by Jaxxon Gomez and a 22-yard pass completion to Axel MacKinnon, but were stopped on fourth down and had to punt the ball back to Star Valley. The Braves then had a another successful drive, including bringing in a 6'2," 245-pound lineman to run the ball before completing a pass to the end zone to up their lead to 14-0.
The Wolves then took over and mounted a long drive of their own, but after two sacks, one by a 6'6," 250-pound Star Valley defensive lineman, the Wolves had to punt the ball away toward the start of the second quarter.
Star Valley again mounted a drive, but an 11-yard sack of their quarterback by Herwaldt slowed them down before two big pass completions moved them into scoring territory and a 10-yard run took the ball into the end zone for a 21-0 lead.
Star Valley then kick to the Wolves, who got a good return by Axel MacKinnon. The Wolves again moved the ball on a six-play drive, but an interception by the Braves stopped the Wolves once more, and just six plays later the Braves scored on a 14-yard shovel pass to up the score to 27-0, which was the way the first half ended.
Unfortunately for the Wolves, to start the second half they were unable to move the ball on their first possession. Star Valley came up with two big offensive plays before a short pass was completed into the end zone to up the score to 34-0 at the beginning of the second half.
The Wolves got a big run from Herwaldt, but again Star Valley's size was wearing down the Wolves. They once again punted the ball to Star Valley, who again gave the ball to a big offensive lineman, and the 6'2," 245-pounder barreled his way in for another score to make it 41-0.
Star Valley scored once more late in the game to make it 47-0, but the Wolves were playing hard and came back with a long drive that ended in a 10-yard run by quarterback Max Hintz. This kept the Wolves from being shut out, with the final score being 47-6.
After the game Coach Christensen observed that his team played probably their best game of the season against a very powerful team and that he was proud of their effort right up to the very end.
Next week, because they could not get referees for the "normal" Friday night game against Evanston, the Wolves' final game of the season has been moved to Thursday night. If the Wolves can defeat Evanston by at least 12 points and number one ranked Star Valley beats Jackson, the Wolves will make it to the playoffs.
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