The Jackson Broncs shouldn’t lack for motivation on the football field Friday. Senior Night, last game of the year in front of the hometown fans, and facing their archrivals in the Star Valley Braves. If that’s not enough, a playoff spot is on the line. Win and you’re in. Lose and you are going to need help just to grab the last spot.
Eight games into the 2022 and questions still persist. Who is this team? An overall 4-4 record, sporting 2-2 in conference has the Broncs where inaugural coach David White said he was kind of shooting for when he took the reins: Finish playing at least .500.
But the numbers lie. This team has been anything but a model of consistency. An upset win in the second week of action over the beast from the east in Douglas (Jackson remains the only blemish on the Bearcats’ record this season) was cause for celebration. Then the Broncs hit a 2-game skid away from the Mac and some were wondering could this team win on the road?
A crazy double-overtime win on homecoming, blowing a 20-point lead against a last-place team Jackson was supposed to have thrashed was another one that left fans happy but apprehensive: Who are these ’22 Broncs?
The Broncs had to be two-touchdown overdogs against the Wolves on October 7 if Vegas handicapped such events, yet Jackson limped home licking their wounds after a 33-17 defeat at the hands of lowly Green River (still their only conference win of the season).
And then these mystifying up-and-down Broncs board a bus for five hours and knock off the 3rd best team in the 3A at their field in Powell. Certainly, leaving the Panthers wondering: Who are these ’22 Broncs?
“It’s been that way all year. It’s hard to figure out. It’s been frustrating—overachieving at times and underachieving at others,” White said. “It was a proud moment, with all the injuries, to get that win last week. And this week, we’ll see which team shows up and get after ‘em.”
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White said practice this week has been encouraging. “Uptempo, guys flying around,” and some players finally stepping up to be leaders on the field without coaches having to push them. Senior leadership taking shape just in time for then to be honored Friday at the final regular season home game.
That, and it’s Star Valley.
The ‘want’ to beat the Braves never needs much stoking. The rivalry dates back to 1931 when Jackson defeated the then-Cheesemakers 12-0. By 1948, Star Valley would change its name to the Braves and have gone on to win the majority: 64 of 82 matchups in the clash of western heavyweights.
The Broncs will be challenged to score on the conference’s top-ranked defense. The Braves also take a page out of the Broncs playbook this season and are slinging it around behind the arm of QB Taft McClure, who leads all quarterbacks in TD passes (27), yards passing per game (312), and attempts per game (33).
The Broncs would like to win the time-of-possession battle and keep McClure on the bench for long stretches, but sustained drives against Star Valley will be difficult.
“That front seven is the strength of their program. They’re physical. As an offensive guy you want to run around, use the whole field and play fast, but at the same time you have to control the clock a little bit, which we will try to do,” White said. “And their offense…we expect them to throw it around the yard a whole bunch. We’ve struggled with the ground-and-pound bigger teams, but I think we can pass defend halfway decent and get pressure on the quarterback here.”
Jackson will need another big game out of junior linebacker Justin Castagno. He’s been the team’s leading tackler (91 total, 25 solo) by far all season. On offense, Sebastian Brunner has become a marked man, often drawing double-coverage as Owen Janssen’s favorite target. Can Xander Witt get behind this heavy defense with his speed for a deep shot? Or can Jack Jenkins pound the rock and eat the clock in the ground game?
Playoff picture
The crazy scenario that is high school football has Jackson at least controlling its own destiny. Win and your in. But the Broncs can also go from a potential #2 seed to missing the cut if the wrong dominoes fall Friday. A loss to Star Valley means the Broncs will have to scoreboard watch and hope for the Evanston Red Devils to knock off the Green River Wolves at home in their rivalry matchup.
Star Valley vs Jackson. William T. McIntosh Stadium. Friday, October 21. Kickoff at 6pm. Game will be broadcast live on Jackson Hole Radio YouTube channel and audio on KZ95.
The Jackson Hole Radio staff has been covering news in Teton County, WY since 1963. Our editorial team is committed to providing readers, and listeners, with first-hand accounts of everyday life in one of America's most beautiful towns.
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