When Jackson coach Bill Wiley looks at what the Buffalo football team has done in the past five years, he can't help but appreciate its accomplishments.

He says freely that he admires how sound the Bison play, and he's quick to point out how successful Buffalo's program has become.

And he wants the kind of success the Bison have had.

But Wiley doesn't want "Buffalo West." He wants Jackson.

And to build a program that's admired the same way Buffalo's program is admired now, Wiley knows a great place to start is to beat that program in a championship game.

That's exactly what Wiley's Broncs have today - a chance to knock off the team of the decade in Wyoming's Class 4A football ranks. If Wiley has his way, it'll be the first of many title games for a Teton County team that hasn't won a state championship since 1986.

"We don't want to be a flash in the pan for one year and then you don't see us again for 21 years," Wiley said.

Buffalo is playing in its fourth state championship game in the past five years; the Bison won championships in 2004 and 2005. As usual, the Bison attack is predicated by a strong ground game - Bison junior Dan Long has run for 1,043 yards, second-best in 4A, and Buffalo is second in 4A with 240.5 yards per game.

Who's ahead of them? Jackson. The Broncs average 254.9 yards per game and have two players approaching 1,000 yards in quarterback Blane Woodfin and running back Alex Bush. Through 10 games, Woodfin has 949 rushing yards; Bush has 942.

"Those two are definitely the two we have to stop," Buffalo coach Pat Lynch said. "Assignment football, tough 'D,' turnovers. It's back to basics and fundamentals.

"I'd say it's gonna be a short game. 'Don't blink' is what I told the people here."

Both teams are just as stout defensively. The Bison are first in Class 4A, allowing only 170.1 yards per game; Jackson is fourth, giving up 210.1 ypg.

Jackson will also have starting cornerback Daniel Goe back from injury; Goe missed last week's semifinal against Douglas.

"Defensively, they always seem to get a big play, because they have quality athletes," Lynch said.

Not only are both teams strong on both sides of the line, both teams are opportunistic. The Broncs have scored 41 touchdowns this season - several on long runs - while the Bison have forced 40 turnovers and have an astounding plus-24 turnover ratio.

"They are very proficient at taking advantage of other team's mistakes," Wiley said. "You lay one on the table and they'll take advantage of it nine times out of 10."

Although he played on Jackson's '86 championship team, Wiley said he has not talked much about that experience with his team this week. Equally quiet have been the coaches on Wiley's staff, all of whom have been a part of a state championship team somewhere along the line.

It's a conscious choice. The program is being built new - not Buffalo's way, not the old Jackson way.

"We're just trying to do it our way," Wiley said.

Contact high school sports coordinator Patrick Schmiedt at (307) 266-0615 or patrick.schmiedt@trib.com.

Game Tracker

WHAT: Class 4A championship, Buffalo (10-0) at Jackson (10-0)

WHEN: 1 p.m. today

WHERE: William T. McIntosh Stadium, Jackson

LAST TIME THEY MET: Buffalo beat Jackson 10-7 on Aug. 26, 1977, in Jackson.

LAST STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Buffalo, 2005; Jackson, 1986.