In the end, it was a team playing not for a state title, but for each other, just like they had all season.

When the dust settled at War Memorial Stadium Friday afternoon, the Star Valley Braves were the champions of 3A for the fourth time in five seasons, defending their crown with a decisive 49-13 win over the upstart Powell Panthers.

But for the Panthers, whose journey to this moment was one of tragedy and triumph, welcoming back to the field a fallen brother was a moment that transcended wins and losses. The sense of brotherhood that was forged out of teammate Ethan Asher’s accident in late August will be what this team remembers long after the memory of the state title game has faded.

Asher returned to the football field Friday at War Memorial Stadium for the first time since his accident, and was greeted with a standing ovation from both sides. Fellow PHS captains Ryan Good, Carson Olsen, Kadden Abraham and Brody Karhu pushed Asher’s wheelchair to the center of the field for the coin toss.

“It was a bit of a tear-jerker,” said Karhu. “I realized when we were walking out to the 50, this was the first time he was able to come out there with us. And I remember thinking, ‘It was about time.’ It was unexplainable how awesome that was. That was a win in itself, right there.”

“It was really an amazing moment,” said PHS head coach Aaron Papich. “I think it was moving for everybody. Our guys started the season with Ethan, and got to finish with him, as well. You can’t ask for anything more than that.”

As for the game, Papich said he was very proud of the effort his squad gave on the field.

“Finishing strong is what our program is all about,” the coach said. “There are gonna be times when the scoreboard doesn’t say what you want it to say. But you can’t let that determine how you respond.”

Panthers keep fighting

Star Valley (12-0) proved early and often why they’re one of the top teams in the state every season, using a balanced offense and a swarming defense to keep Powell (7-5) in check.

“Star Valley is a very talented team, they’re pretty polished,” Papich said. “It was hard for us to get a lot of momentum going. My hat’s off to those guys, they played hard. They’re undefeated for a reason — they’re just a really good team.”

The Braves scored on six straight possessions, and led 35-0 at the half. But those expecting the Panthers to roll over for the final two quarters didn’t know the team — quit is a word the players aren’t familiar with, according to Papich.

“I told the guys we were very proud of them, and I don’t care what the scoreboard says, I want you guys to keep going, to keep fighting,” he said. “It’s easy to give up when things are going hard. And I’m just so proud of these guys for going out there and playing hard. They’re good guys.”

Powell got on the board twice in the second half, kicked off by a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Toran Graham with four minutes left in the third. The sophomore fullback spoiled the shutout on a drive that featured runs of 14 and 18 yards by Karhu and a 17-yard completion from Landon Lengfelder to Olsen that put the Panthers on the 1.

The Panthers scored once more with 1:53 left in the contest, when Lengfelder hooked up with Jesse Trotter for a 36-yard score. Trotter made a nice move around his defender to come back to the under-thrown pass to make the catch and sprint into the end zone to close out the scoring.

Inside the statistics

Karhu was the workhorse on the ground for the Panthers, gaining 81 yards on 18 carries. Graham finished with 17 yards and a touchdown.

Under center, Lengfelder completed 3 of 6 passes to three different receivers for 57 yards and a touchdown; the junior was sacked three times.

Trotter, Olsen and Garrett Stutzman each caught a pass; Trotter had the 36-yard TD, Olsen had the 17-yarder and Stutzman caught one for 4 yards.

Papich is encouraged that both Graham and Trotter will return next season, calling them “high-impact players.”

“I know they’ll be working out this off-season and staying involved with their teammates and athletics,” he said. “Going forward, I think they’re going to be in leadership roles with our team and helping drive us to a successful season next year.”

Adrian Geller had a busy day on defense with 13 tackles, eight of them solo, and a pass defended. Good and Reed Smith had nine tackles and seven tackles, respectively, while Olsen and Kobe Ostermiller finished with six each. Abraham had Powell’s only sack in the contest.

Looking forward

For the Panther seniors — Stutzman, Karhu, Olsen, Good, Matthew Seckman, Justin Johnston, Dallas Oliver, Macen Thomas, Bryce Johnson and Chase Gonzales — Friday was their final football game in the orange and black. It was a game — and a season — to remember.

“We went through a lot and formed a really strong bond,” said senior lineman Bryce Johnson. “We played harder than we’ve ever played because of Ethan. A lot of people said he [Asher] wasn’t going to make it, first in Powell, then in Billings. So for him to make it to Laramie to watch us play was pretty special.”

Karhu agreed, pointing to upset wins over Lander and Cody in the playoffs.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better senior season,” he said. “Throughout the season, we had our hard times right from the start. But we pushed through that, and that’s what really made us a team. ... With the losses and wins we had, it just brought us closer together. We built each other up, we had each other’s backs and we were able to have an awesome season, one I can end my football career on.”

Papich said this year’s seniors set the tone early, and their leadership will be missed.

“Those guys are leaders, no doubt about it,” Papich said. “They’ve just been committed from day one. That group beat me to the first two-a-days practice last August. Those things start at 6 a.m., and those guys — along with some of the leaders from our underclassmen — were there at 5:15 a.m. ready to go. They were always together, hanging out, workouts, doing drills, stuff we weren’t as coaches pushing them to do. They were doing it on their own. That right there is leadership. They wanted to go to the ‘ship, and they got to finish there with Ethan, so it was pretty awesome.”

Papich credited his staff — assistant coaches Chase Kistler, Mike Heny, Waleryan Wisniewski, Zach Coombs and Joel Hayano — for getting the Panthers to an appearance in the title game.

“It was a collaborative effort between our players and coaches,” he said. The coach also thanked those involved with the football programs offered through the Powell Recreation District and at Powell Middle School.

“Most of our kids have gone through those programs before we get them. And when the kids get to us at the high school, it’s pretty great to have the guys we have on our coaching staff,” Papich said. “I couldn’t be happier.”