JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The Jackson boys enjoyed a laugher over Star Valley in Afton Tuesday in what looked like a Harlem Globetrotter game at times with the Braves playing the role of the hapless Washington Generals.
The 15-1 win moves the Broncs to 9-1, 7-1 on the season as they get set for rematch with the only team that has beaten them this season: the Kelly Walsh Trojans.
Jackson 15, Star Valley 1
A Rutley Heinemann hattrick was more than enough for Jackson who dazzled the Braves with their passing and ball possession. Like a cat toying with a mouse, when the Broncs grew satisfied it was time for the kill shot they made no mistakes finding the back of the net.
The opening goal of the game came off a Braves own goal off the foot of defender Hayden Burton early with Jackson’s Heinemann taking the credit. It wouldn’t get much better for the Braves in a fast and furious opening 15 minutes.
Cesar Jimenez Vazquez added a screamer from the top of the 18 that Star Valley keeper Derek Astle could not get to. That made it 2-0 Broncs 7 minutes into the match.
Minutes later, Star Valley would get its lone goal after a mysterious penalty called on Jackson goalkeeper Owen Beninga who came out to play a ball and collided with Braves midfielder Kayson Haderlie. Haderlie converted the penalty kick to make it a 2-1 game, but all that seemed to do was anger the Broncs.
Thirteen minutes in Vasquez found Heinemann in the box with a nice centering pass and it was 3-1 but only briefly as Heinemann notched his 3rd goal of the game just 30 seconds later.
Jackson keeper Beninga, who was up from JV to give Javy Huta a day off during a busy week of soccer, was tested early and looked sharp. The freshman made two huge saves to take the air out of a Star Valley pushback midway through the 1st half.
Jackson just schooled the Braves with tic-tac passing and ball possession. Support from midfield kept the pressure on in Star Valley’s third of the field for virtually all of the opening half.
Players like Jensen Smock did a disciplined job of staying wide, stretching the field sideline-to-sideline, and opening things up for the switch of field crossing passes.
“Jensen does a nice job at outside back,” coach Hoelscher said.’ He’d rather play forward but we are so stacked there.”
The typical Jackson goal came 24 minutes in when Smock worked the ball to Jared Perez-Pluma who fed Hunter Dewell, who gave it back to Smock, whose crosser found Heinemann for the header at the back door. Picture perfect ball movement for the 5-1 lead.
A Charlie Hoelscher rocket, top shelf far side with 5:35 left made it 6-1 and caused Star Valley announcers covering the game to comment on the Broncs shooting.
“It looks like there is NOS (nitrous oxide booster) behind their shots; the ball just jumps off their foot.”
“And I’m just impressed by the placement. None of these shots have been savable,” the color guy added.
As good as the shooting was Tuesday, it was the passing that opened everything up. With 3:10 left in the 1st half, it was Dilan Tzompa Perez and Hunter Dewell’s time to show off as the pair twisted three Braves defenders in knots. Dewell’s cute give-and-go heel pass to Tzompa Perez sent the senior in alone on Astle and a left foot bomb over the keeper’s head made it 7-1 at the half.
“Yeah, the passing…it’s something. We want to have possession with the passing tight,” coach Hoelscher said. “And I can’t say enough about this crew. The creative flair from guys like Hunter, Charlie, Teddy…it’s fun to watch.”
Next up
Jackson would love to be able to bank a few of those goals Tuesday in Afton when they return home this weekend to take on #1 ranked Kelly Walsh Friday at 6pm. It certainly won’t be as wide open between these top two teams in the 4A West. Jackson lost to the Trojans (9-1, 7-1) by a 2-1 score on April 9 in Casper.
The Broncs will then play Natrona County (1-9, 1-7) at 10am on Saturday in Jackson.
