The ongoing rivalry between Corvallis and Stevensville gave football fans a show on Friday in Corvallis. With only bragging rights on the table, the two teams battled back and forth in an offensive demonstration that saw 42 points on the scoreboard in the first quarter alone. By the end of the night, the two teams had scored over 100 points combines. Stevensville pulled ahead in the second half and then held off the Blue Devils to win, 58-51.
The Blue Devils scored first when Wyatt Haldorson raced 33 yards for a touchdown. Only 47 seconds had elapsed. Stevensville came right back in the next possession and scored when John Diepstraten plunged through the line from three yards out for the score. Diepstraten scored again on an 8 yard run in the ‘Jackets’ next possession. Corvallis quarterback Spencer Jessop hit Cole Wohltman with a 65 yard pass down the east side of the field and the two point conversion tied the game back up. But it was a case of whatever you can do, I can do too. Stevensville’s Bryce Torrey hit Josh Barker from 33 yards out for a touchdown in the next possession. Haldorson caught a 73-yard pass from Jessop and had a wide open field to run down for Corvallis’ next score. Only two points separated the two teams at the quarter.
The battle between the two teams focused on Haldorson and Diepstraten. Both are seniors and both are hard to stop. Haldorson is the leading rusher in the state with an average of 8.92 yards per carry. Prior to Friday’s game, he had already amassed over 1,100 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. Haldorson scored again in the second quarter on a 56-yard romp. He was injured late in the third quarter and didn’t return to the game. Diepstraten had over 600 yards rushing this season with 9 touchdowns. He had another touchdown in the second quarter when he pushed through from one yard out. He also had a 13-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that gave the Yellowjackets a bit of an edge.
“John (Diepstraten) is a workhorse,” said first year coach Tif Myers. “We have a group of young guys and he really provides good leadership.”
Torrey had an 18-yard scoring run for the Yellowjackets in the third quarter. Liam LeCoure had a 10-yard scoring run in the second quarter as well. Although he didn’t get into the end zone, James Fry put Stevensville into scoring position a couple of times.
Jessop hit Dillon Lewis for a 65-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. He also hit Wohltman again in the third quarter for nine yards and a TD. The final touchdown of the game was a six-yard pass from Jessop to Dana Miller.
“This is a big turning point for our young guys,” concluded Myers.
Although Hamilton lost to Whitefish, 52-19, the Broncs will play at least one more game. They will take on Butte Central in the Southwest A Wildcard playi-n game, Friday night in Butte at 7pm. Hamilton has a 2-2 conference record and are 6-3 overall. Butte Central also has a 6-3 overall record but are 3-1 in conference play.
The Broncs had a difficult time containing Whitefish’s Luke May early on in the game Friday night. Whitefish scored twice before Jonathan Ringer caught a 17-yard pass from Bret Huxtable for the Hamilton score. Hamilton didn’t score again until the fourth quarter when Huxtable and Bridger Bauder hooked up for a couple of TDs. The first was a 10-yard pass and the second was a 14-yard pass.
Florence could not overcome the Loyola Rams on Friday, and lost, 24-6. Bo Zeiler finished out his senior season with a 41-yard reception from Braxton McCullough for the lone Falcon touchdown.
Although Victor lost to Flint Creek, 50-14, they still maintained their No. 4 seed in the west and will advance to the first round playoffs in Class C. They will play Twin Bridges, the No. 1 seed from the south, on Saturday in Twin Bridges. Jesse Pearson scored both Pirate touchdowns, one on a 31-yard pass from Steven Scheffer and the second on an 8-yard run.
Darby lost to Arlee, 54-16. John Beckers caught a 31-yard pass from Kye McCollaum for a touchdown in the first quarter. McCollaum made the 2-point conversion. Then, in the final quarter, McCollaum and Beckers teamed up for another touchdown, this time from 15 yards out. Zach McCrossin caught a pass from McCollaum for the two-point conversion.