“We implemented a new weight program,” he said. “They stepped it up this summer and it’s made a difference.”
Also making a difference is another year’s seasoning for the quarterback, Braxton McCullough, a junior. Gilder said McCullough has worked hard perfecting his passing and has only thrown one interception this year. Having exceptional receivers is also a big help for McCullough and the Falcons. Marcus and Bo Zeiler are threats anywhere on the field and can read defenses very well. Throw in Bridger Dragoo, Carson Katen, Shea Miller and Rees LeSoine who grind out yards on the ground and the Falcons are tough on offense.
The defense had their work cut out for them against Troy with the Trojans’ quarterback, Sean Opland, running the show. Opland, who has verbally committed to the Bobcats at Montana State University, accounted for all three of Troy’s touchdowns. The Falcon defense also scored off a fumble when Collin Jalinski recovered the ball for the score. Bo Zeiler made two touchdown receptions, one from 56 yards out and the other from 31 yards out. Dragoo made a three-yard run for the first Falcon touchdown and Daniel Parson caught a pass from McCullough for the two-point conversion.
“We have good leadership and a great attitude out there on the field,” said Gilder. The Falcons will travel to Ronan for a tough match on Friday. “Coach Bem always has his team ready.”
Darby rolled over Noxon, 50-14, in Western C action in Noxon. The Tigers scored first when Kye McCollaum raced 43 yards for the score, and then ran in the two-point conversion. Noxon scored later in the first quarter but then it was all Darby. McCollaum had a 21-yard run with John Becker making the two-point conversion. Although the second quarter was scoreless, the Tigers scored 14 points in the third quarter and 20 in the final period. McCollaum hit Andy Smith from three yards out for a score and then found Zach McCrossin from 20 yards out. The duo also completed the two-point conversion. Becker scored the final three touchdowns with runs of four yards, 10 yards and seven yards. Darby improved to 3-2.
Victor blasted Superior, 42-8, in a home game. The Pirates put 28 points on the board in the first quarter alone. Quarterback Steven Scheffer went to the air for four touchdowns. His first scoring pass was a 45-yard bomb to Colt Neville. Logan McKinley was Scheffer’s next target for a score, this time from 15 yards out. Scheffer hit Neville from 50 yards out and then keyed in on Dallas Baines from 20 yards out. Jesse Pearson had a 20-yard scoring run and one from five yards out. The Pirates struggled a bit on the two point conversions and only completed one, a run by Jack Powell on Pearson’s first touchdown. Superior scored their lone touchdown in the fourth quarter. Victor now has a 2-2 record.
The Class A schools in the valley took on three tough opponents. Hamilton traveled to Dillon to take on the No. 1 ranked Beavers. Dillon won, 37-7. Christian Ellis had a two-yard run in the fourth quarter for the Bronc’s only score. Corvallis fell to Whitefish, 55-7. Wyatt Halderson had the lone Blue Devil score with a71 yard run. Cayden Ayers kicked the extra point. It was Homecoming for Stevensville and they hosted the Butte Central Maroons. The Maroons topped the young Stevensville team 53-16. Stevensville only has four seniors on the team including John Diepstraten who scored both touchdowns in the fourth quarter on runs of 15 and 10 yards. He also made the two-point conversion good on the first touchdown while Jordan Thomas converted on the second.