WyoPreps Previews the 2026 Star Valley Braves Football Season

The Star Valley Braves are no strangers to success. The four-time defending 3A state champions are expected to contend for the title again in 2026. Football practice started on Monday for the Braves. WyoPreps stopped by on day No. 1 to see how preparation is going for the new season.

WYOPREPS PREVIEWS THE 2026 STAR VALLEY BRAVES

Star Valley returns 11 total starters from the 2025 title team. They have 4 back on offense and 7 on defense. That includes four returning all-state players in Roman Erickson, Travis Thomson, Krew Morgan, and Nate Haderlie. Erickson was also the 3A West Defensive Player of the Year last fall and is a two-time all-state selection. The Braves also have numbers on their side. Around 120-125 players are out for the team this year. At the same time, eight all-state players are gone from the 2025 squad, along with several other key seniors.

Star Valley could lean on its defense early on. With more experience back on that side of the ball, including Erickson, the Braves will be tough on opposing offenses. The offense will need to progress as it breaks in a new QB and more key positions. WyoPreps visited with Erickson, Thomson, and the new QB, Ross Hilton, in our second stop of the preseason football tour. We discussed how things look at the start of practice, what the focus has been early on, replacing key players, dealing with high expectations, the history and tradition of the program, and more. WyoPreps also got the point of view from head coach McKay Young, who is in his 11th season at the helm.

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Star Valley enters the 2026 season on a 33-game winning streak. That's the third-longest in state history. Their first three games are against top-notch competition from out-of-state. It will include a trip to Soldotna, Alaska, for the season-opener on August 29. We have some photos from the Star Valley practice on Tuesday that are below.

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