The first round playoff games were tough on the local teams over the weekend. Florence traveled to Red Lodge while Victor made a cold trip to Chinook up on the High Line. Red Lodge defeated Florence, 55-19, while Victor fell to the Sugarbeeters, 36-24.
Red Lodge used a balanced attack from the air and on the ground to take control of the game. The Rams put up 35 points in the first half while Florence scored in each of the final three quarters. Tanner Cobbs finished his season with a kick off return of 95 yards for the first Florence touchdown. He raced 20 yards in the third quarter for another TD. Derrick Brown had an 85-yard kickoff return for a score with just seconds remaining in the game. Florence finished their season with a 7-2 record.
Victor had to battle not only a tough team but also brutal weather in their playoff game. Between the winds and the snow, the Pirates had a difficult time getting their game going. Even with the winds, Victor’s Matt Kittel completed 20 of 37 passes for 232 yards. Kyle Ball was Kittel’s target for much of the game. He caught seven passes for 104 yards and three touchdowns. Ball had scoring receptions of 53, 20 and eight yards. Kittel scored the fourth Pirate touchdown with an eight-yard keeper. Victor finished their season with a record of 7-3.