MOUNTAIN VIEW — Roughly 11 months ago during offseason workouts, the Mountain View High School football team started talking about getting to the state championship game and winning it.

It has been the Buffalos’ ultimate goal ever since.

Now, Mountain View will get the opportunity to achieve what the Buffalos set out to do in January when they take on Glenrock at noon Friday for the Class 2A state title game at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie. 

“Winning the state championship was always the goal,” senior Jason Stoddard said at practice on Wednesday. “We were saying that since the end of last year. After we started to get stuff rolling and we started to figure stuff out, that’s when we knew we could do it.”

One thing is certain: Mountain View (8-2) is not satisfied with simply making the trip to Laramie. The Buffalos want to bring home their fifth state trophy in program history and their first since 2014.

Mountain View also won state in 1984, 1995 and 1997. Head coach Brent Walk, who took over the reins in 2012, also led the Buffalos to the state title game in 2013. Mountain View finished second that year.

Walk is determined not to let that happen again. He addressed that after the Buffalos claimed a 45-0 win against Wheatland in a Class 2A semifinal game on Nov. 3

“We have one more to go,” Walk said. “You can see it in the kids’ eyes. They understand it. We work very, very hard and this is not the end goal — be practicing right now and then head to Laramie and having a great time. Our goal, just like anybody’s goal would be, is to win a state championship”

Mountain View also earned a 45-0 win against Thermopolis on Nov. 28. in a state quarterfinal game. The Buffalos were eliminated in the first round last season, leaving a bitter taste in their mouth. That’s about the time Mountain View started talking about a state championship in 2017.

“It’s been our goal since the beginning of the offseason,” Mountain View senior Harlan Benedict said.

By most accounts, Mountain View is playing its best football of the year. But after reviewing film, Walk said the Buffalos are capable of elevating their game to an even higher level. 

“I wouldn’t necessarily say we absolutely peaked out,” Walk said. “Last Friday we played very, very good in all three phases of the game — offense, defense, special teams. We played good the previous week, too. There’s things we need to fix. We’re hoping we’re starting to peak and you’re going to see our absolute best football at 12 o’clock at War Memorial.”

Ultimately, the Buffalos want to save their best performance for last. 

“I think we’re getting there,” Benedict said. “We’ve shown at times where we’ve been unstoppable. Hopefully our best football is still to come.”

Mountain View leads Class 2A in team defense at 213 yards per game. Opponents are averaging 8.6 points per game against the Buffalos, who have recorded six shutouts this season. 

Glenrock (9-1) is the top offense in the state with 445.7 yards per game. The Herders average 41.1 points per game and have scored 40 or more points in six contests. Their only loss of the season came in Week 3, when they suffered a 50-48 loss to Riverton.

“We’ve got to be very sound in our technique (on defense),” Walk said. “We teach this to our kids when they’re little guys. We talk about good defensive alignment and assignment. They’ve got to be properly aligned and then they have to take care of their assignment. It’s going to take a collective effort. It’s not one person that’s going to go out there and stop this offense. We’ve got 11 guys on the field that are going to need to do their jobs.”

Glenrock is the top rushing team in the state with 4,374 yards on the ground. The Herders also have the top two rushers in Class 2A.

Tucker Bopp has run for 1,639 yards on 149 carries for 18 touchdowns. Ian Arnold has 1,490 yards rushing on 197 carries with 18 scores. 

“They’re both very good football players,” Walk said. “But I’ll tell you what — their offensive line, they’ve got some studs up front. Across the board, they’re very, very strong offensively. They’ve got size and their big guys are athletic, physical, strong kids. In my mind, a great deal of their success, possibly the majority of their success, is up front.”

The Herders don’t rely on their passing much. Zane Moore has completed 3 of 7 passes on the year for 54 yards with two touchdowns. Dalton Davies is 1 of 4 through the air for 29 yards with an interception.

But the Buffalos are prepared for anything that is brought their way.

“We just need to do what our assignments are,” Benedict said. “Everything we do, we do for a reason. As long as we do our jobs, we should be fine.”

Mountain View’s primary focus will be on the Herders’ explosive running game.

“We’re just going to have to work really hard,” Stoddard said. “They have a really good offensive line and a really good offensive scheme. They’re really good at it, so we just need to play our game and work harder than them.”

Stoddard continues to lead the state in individual defense with 240 points. Mountain View junior Colby Rees is ranked second at 229 points.

“First of all, both of those guys are phenomenal on both sides of the ball,” Walk said. “They’ve had great years. Our schemes are putting them in positions where they can make plays. They’re definitely making their share of plays, and then some.”

Stoddard, Walk and Rees are always quick to credit to Mountain View’s defensive line — a group that doesn’t always get the accolades in that stat sheet.

But the starting core of Hunter Gross, Braxton Hysell, Breckin Barnes and Jonathan Anderson have played significant roles for the Buffalos’ defense. 

“They’ve been huge,” Walk said. “If we can get the defensive line to win the battle up front, that’s going to free up our linebackers and safety and other guys to make the tackles. They’ve done a tremendous job — very unselfish.”

Offensively, Mountain View hasn’t been too shabby either.

The Buffalos come in at No. 2 in team offense in Class 2A with 343 yards per game. They are averaging 31.7 points per game and have scored 40 or more points in six games this season.

“Our kids up front are blocking really well,” Walk said. “Our (quarterbacks) and (running backs) are running very well. Our (quarterbacks) are throwing the ball well and we’re catching the ball well.”

Co-quarterback Kimball Madsen is 56 of 91 through the air for 695 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions. The sophomore has also run for 661 yards on 100 carries and has eight rushing scores. He’s also caught nine passes, including a touchdown.

Fellow quarterback Braeden Walk has completed 53 of 98 passes for 862 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception. The sophomore has run for 98 yards on 52 carries with five touchdowns. He also has 14 catches, including a touchdown reception.

Briggin Bluemel continues to lead the ground attack with 898 yards on 164 carries with 13 touchdowns. The sophomore also has 21 catches and three scores through the air.

Stoddard leads the receiving core with 38 receptions for 564 yards and six touchdowns, while Benedict has 14 receptions and three scores.

“If everybody does their job, I don’t think anyone can stop our offense,” Stoddard said. “Our whole offense is built behind our offensive line. They’ve done a lot for our offense.”

Mountain View’s offensive line includes Trevon Peterson, Gross, Braxton, Rees and Anderson.

“A great deal of credit goes to our guys up front,” Walk said. “Every single week they’ve gotten better, better and better. Last Friday against Wheatland, which is a very good football team, they pretty much dominated up front and opened up huge holes.”

Glenrock will be seeking its ninth state football championship in program history. The Herders won titles in 1958, 1960, 2968, 1971, 1977, 2002, 2003 and 2008.

Mountain View hopes Glenrock won’t hang another championship banner in 2017. The Buffalos plan on that being done inside their gym.

“I think we have to come out of the gate and show them we’re here to play football,” Benedict said.