The Victor Pirates notched a Western C victory on Saturday with a 34-32 win over the Philipsburg Prospectors. After a scoreless first quarter, Victor’s Corey Deering caught a 10-yard pass from Kurt Manely for six points. Tanner Sacks caught a Manely pass for the two-point conversion. Philipsburg came right back to score when Phil Shields caught a 17-yard pass from Jerry Metesh but the two-point conversion failed.
The third quarter was busy with the two teams combining for 32 points. Philipsburg scored first in the second half with a 45-yard kick off return by Jake Doyle but again the conversion failed. Victor’s Chris Morozumi, who finished with 152 yards on 25 carries, made a 13-yard run for a touchdown and then came back for another touchdown from five yards out. But Philipsburg wasn’t done. Barrett Stanghill scored twice to give the Prospectors the lead at the end of the third quarter. Victor came back in the fourth quarter. Morozumi had a 12-yard run for a touchdown. The two-point conversion by Morozumi was good. Derrick Cavill pushed through from one yard out for the final Pirate touchdown. Philipsburg scored once more as the clock ticked down but the conversion wasn’t good and the Pirates held on for the win.
“We have a couple of young guards that did an awesome job,” said Victor coach Brandon Howell. “Wyatt Lyons and GP Monta, they were able to get on their best linebacker.”
Howell said that quarterback Kurt Manely’s ability to get out of a couple bad situations also helped keep the momentum going for the Pirates. He had high praise for Barrett Stanghill of Philipsburg, “he’s a great player.”
Howell feels that although his team is young – there are only four seniors- they have confidence in each other and the program. He said every time Victor got behind, the team rallied. One new aspect of Pirate football this season is on the sidelines. After years of being on the west side of the field, the Pirates have moved to the east side.
A new crow’s nest is being built this fall on the east side of the field said Howell. “We decided we’d change now, give the kids a new perspective. I kind of like it. It gives the kids a chance to see how pretty our school is and what we’re playing for.”
Stevensville topped Frenchtown in a decisive manner Friday night with a 29-0 win over the former Southwest A conference member. Frenchtown is now in the Northwest A conference.
The Yellowjackets got on the board in the second quarter when Tyler Gavlak pushed across the goal line from one yard out. Caleb Vance kicked the PAT. Gavlak scored again in the third quarter with a two-yard run. Vance also scored in the third quarter with an eight-yard run and then kicked the PAT. The ‘Jackets finished out the fourth quarter with a safety by Josh Stevens and a 61-yard run by Casey Dunn. Vance kicked the PAT.
Gavlak finished 11 carries and 92 yards. Vance had 98 yards. He carried the ball 16 times. Dunn added 24 yards more to the 61-yard touchdown carry for 85 yards. Defensively, Zach Gavlak had three sacks and Tyler Gavlak had 10 tackles.
Whitefish defeated Hamilton, 20-17, in non-conference action. Hamilton’s Tyler Murray had two touchdowns for Hamilton. He scored on a five-yard run in the first quarter. Seth Mason kicked the PAT. Murray scored again in the second quarter on an 80-yard kickoff return. Mason kicked the PAT. Mason then kicked a 32-yard field goal near the end of the third quarter but the Broncs couldn’t get past the Bulldogs.
Corvallis lost to Columbia Falls, 14-6. Ty Berner plunged two yards for a Blue Devil touchdown in the third quarter to tie the game. But the Wildcats came back to score on a Brendan Windauer run in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Florence lost to Townsend in non-conference action, 28-6. Florence’s only score was a 45-yard pass from Zac Newbary to Aaron Ward in the fourth quarter.
Darby blasted Seeley-Swan 50-22 in Class C action. The Tigers built up a 44 point lead before Seeley scored. After dealing with a running clock when they were on the losing end of a game, the Tigers had a chance to enjoy the running clock and the lead. Colton Johnston began the scoring for Darby with a 65-yard run to the end zone. Matt Robbins then caught a pass from Jeremy Campbell from 55 yards out for six. Campbell hit Dylan Knox for the two-point conversion. Caleb Caicedo made an interception and raced back 40 yards for the Tiger’s third touchdown. Johnston made back-to-back scoring runs of 18 yards and one yard. Neako Smith picked off a Seeley-Swan pass and raced back 21 yards and Ryan Mileage had a 75-yard run for the final Tiger touchdown.