WyoPreps Game of the Week: #1 Cody vs. #2 Star Valley [VIDEO]
In what could be considered the best rivalry in the state right now, No. 1 Cody hosts No. 2 Star Valley in the WyoPreps Big School Game of the Week on Friday.
The Broncs are 6-0 on the season, and the Braves enter at 5-1. Both are 2-0 in conference action.
Between these two schools, they’ve won the last nine Class 3A football state championships. Star Valley beat Cody in last year’s title tilt, 14-7, in Laramie.
The Broncs have the top rushing attack in 3A at 288 yards per game, and they average 7.8 yards per rush attempt. Combined with the No. 3 passing offense at 181 yards per game, the Broncs are No. 1 in total offense at 469 yards per game. They score a 3A-best 53 points per game. Cody is No. 1 against the run, allowing 61 yards per game. They are third in total defense and give up only 202 yards and 7.3 points per game.
After last year’s aerial attack, Star Valley is more balanced and is averaging more rushing yards per game (182) compared to passing (159). That’s 341 yards per game, which is sixth in the class. The Braves allow only 240 yards per game (110 rushing, 130 passing). Star Valley scores 30.3 points per game and gives up 15.7 a contest.
Two of the top running backs in 3A, Grady McCarten for Cody and Jesse Leavitt for Star Valley anchor their respective offenses. The signal callers are Maddax Ball and Smith McClure. The top defensive point leaders are Jayden Crook (SV) and Chase Hatch (Cody).
It shapes up to be another great match-up!
Star Valley’s McKay Young and Cody’s Matt McFadden spoke with WyoPreps before the big game. They both discussed how their season has gone to this point, some pleasant surprises, the rivalry, embracing the challenge of facing each other, and what this game might come down to.
This game will be the 40th meeting in the series according to wyoming-football.com. It began in 1957. The Braves enjoy a 26-13 edge in the series. The Broncs won the regular season meeting in Star Valley last year, 35-25.
The kick-off is at 5 p.m. in Cody at Spike Vannoy Field.
Cody-Green River Football
Gallery Credit: Toby Trumble