Cody shuts out Torrington for 3A state title

LARAMIE – Trailing 14-0 with less than three minutes to play Friday, Torrington senior quarterback Breyden Bivens was looking to get his team back in the game.

Cody's Charlie Beaudrie wouldn't let that happen, as the sophomore undercut Bivens' pass for an intercepted and took it 96 yards for a touchdown to seal a 20-0 victory for the Broncs to claim the Wyoming Class 3A state championship at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie.

"They've been running slants the whole game," Beaudrie said. "I tried to jump it a couple of times and couldn't get it. I just tackled him. And I read it that time, and just ran for my life."

It's the Broncs' first football title since 2014.

Beaudrie ran up and down the field long before that interception. He ran for 52 yards on eight carries in the game.

After a scoreless opening 19 minutes, Beaudrie punched his way into the end zone on a 6-yard run that was set up by a 35-yard completion from quarterback Jordan Wasia to Connor McLeod, putting the Broncs up 7-0.

The Trailblazers put on a running clinic in the first half, but had nothing to show for it.

Junior Bryan Lemmon ran for 97 yards on 16 carries in the first two quarters and Bivens completed 11 of 16 passes for 82 yards.

But Torrington couldn't stop the ball from going the opposite direction.

There were nine penalties in the first half, and the Trailblazers were flagged for all but one. Trailblazers coach Mike Lenhardt said all of the calls were legitimate.

"We had eight holding calls," Lenhardt said. "You're not going to win any football games when you hold that much."

The Broncs only needed five plays after the opening kickoff to the second half to increase their lead.

Facing a second-and-19 after a sack, Wasia connected with a wide open Jared Grenz for a 79-yard touchdown. Grenz has been Wasia's favorite target all season and he didn't shy away from him Friday, finding him for three of his four completions for 118 yards.

As the Cody offense started to find its flow, so did its defense.

Lemmon finished the game with only 126 yards after being three shy of a 100 in the first half.

Bivens was 21 of 32 passing for 153 yards, but the Broncs limited Torrington's receivers as soon as they made a catch.

The Trailblazers had four drives in the second half to attempt a comeback after the Broncs took a 14-0 lead, but could never get find the end zone.

Torrington's last chance saw it drive for its own 36 to the Cody 18 before Beaudrie's pick-6 sealed the game.

Broncs head coach Matt McFadden said he is used to his talented sophomore making those types of plays on offense.

"For him to end it that way, he's had a terrific year," said Cody coach Matt McFadden of Beaudrie's interception. "End it on defense. That's awesome."

Torrington junior Josh Posten added 39 rushing yards on eight attempts with Bivens totaling 37 on 14 carries. Bivens' primary target was senior Nathan Stitt, who had eight catches for 75 yards. Junior Cade Schwartzkopf had five catches for 40 yards.

What was even more special for Cody in winning the state title was who they had to go through to get it.

The Broncs beat top-ranked and two-time defending state champion Star Valley last week in the semifinals.

"I was really excited to be here after that win at Star Valley," Wasia said. "I just wanted to play."

Added McFadden: "First day of practice we were just trying to get the freshmen lined up. I think we had some talent, and we weren't sure about that talent. But after the first game, was a loss, this group came back from every loss or every victory."