3A Football Championship Preview: #1 Star Valley vs. #2 Cody

In the first of three title games that pit the same two teams against each other for the third straight year, the Class 3A state championship game features two-time defending champion and top-ranked Star Valley playing No. 2 Cody on Friday in Laramie. The Braves have beaten the Broncs in the last two title tilts, 14-7 in 2022 and 27-0 last year. One of these schools will win the 3A football championship for the 11th season in a row.

WYOPREPS CLASS 3A FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW 2024

It is the fourth overall meeting between the two programs for a title in Laramie. Star Valley is 2-1 in those head-to-head matchups. The two 3A West Conference rivals squared off in Afton during Week 6 of the 2024 regular season. The Braves rallied past Cody, 52-35.

WyoPreps had conversations before the game with both head coaches, Star Valley’s McKay Young and Matt McFadden from Cody.

Team Info & Series History:

Star Valley (11-0) – McKay Young: 9th year as head coach; 14 state championships in school history; the most recent was in 2023 (27-0 vs. Cody). Their first title came in 1961. Five championships have come under Young (2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023). This is Star Valley’s 25th appearance in a state championship game. The Braves are 13-11 in title games all-time. It is SV’s ninth trip to Laramie, and the Braves are 6-2 in the previous eight championship games.

Cody (9-1) – Matt McFadden: 12th year as head coach; 7 state championships in school history; the most recent was in 2021 (41-24 vs. Jackson). Their first title came in 1958. Four championships have come under McFadden (202014, 2017, 2020, 2021). Three of those were in Laramie (2014, 2017, 2021). This is Cody’s 15th appearance in a football state championship game. The Broncs are 7-7 in title games all-time. Cody is making its seventh trip to Laramie, and the Broncs are 3-3 in their previous appearances.

Star Valley has the series lead of 29-13. They first played each other in a varsity game in 1957. In the postseason, this marks the ninth meeting between the two schools. The first one was a semifinal game in 1990. The Braves hold a 5-3 advantage in the playoffs. They also met for a state championship in 1991, and Cody was victorious, 25-7.

Team Stats per game:

Star Valley Cody

Rush Offense = No. 3 (190) No. 1 (261)

Pass Offense = No. 1 (258) No. 3 (210)

Total Offense = No. 2 (448) No. 1 (470)

Scoring Offense = No. 2 (47.1) No. 1 (51.7)

Rush Defense = No. 1 (93) No. 3 (115)

Pass Defense = No. 4 (135) No. 12 (175)

Total Defense = No. 1 (228) No. 6 (290)

Scoring Defense = No. 2 (13.2) No. 1 (12.7)

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Key Players:

Star Valley = Grant Thomson – 61 rush yards per game, 11 TDs; Smith McClure – 239 passing yards per game, 30 TDs, and 5 INTs & 284.4 all-purpose yards per game; Bryson Nield – 79 rec. for 1259 yards, 13 TDs & 51.6 yards per kick return, 2 TDs; Cooper Lancaster – 33 rec. for 488 yards, 6 TDs, 20.8 yards per punt return & 27 yards per kick return, 1 TD; Grant Thomson – 10.8 defensive points per game – ranks No. 27.

Cody = Owen Petersen – 84.8 rushing yards per game, 14 TDs – has 17 total TDs = No. 1 in scoring; Maddax Ball – 202 passing yards per game, 20 TDs, 3 INTs, 54.6 rushing yards per game, 11 TDs, & 256.6 all-purpose yards per game; Trey Smith – 62.7 receiving yards per game, 6 TDs; Chase Hatch – 60.2 receiving yards per game, 6 TDs, 10.8 yards per punt return, 2 TDs; Boston Cronebaugh – 29.3 yards per kick return, 1 TD; Hatch – 10.7 defensive points per game – ranks No. 28.

The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start on Friday in Laramie.

Series history information is Courtesy of Wyoming-football.com.