The Hamilton Broncs, Florence Falcons and Darby Tigers all notched wins on the football field this weekend. This was the first weekend of conference play for Class A and Class B. For Class C, each game counts towards the playoffs.
Hamilton traveled to Stevensville for a rivalry game against the Yellowjackets. Hamilton scored early and often in the game and went on to win, 48-0, Hamilton scored 41 points in the first half and then had a running clock in the second.
Hamilton’s sophomore quarterback, Carson Rostad, scored first when he plunged over the line from one yard out. Bridger Bauder kicked the PAT. Rostad next threw a 20 yard pass to Cam Rothie for the TD and Bauder kicked the PAT. Rostad also hit Tyler Barnes from 15 yards out and then hit Tyler Chouinard from 20 yards out for the final touchdown of the game. Lane Blackwood had a fumble recovery in the end zone for six points. Declan O’Brien scored a 10 yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter. Bauder added a touchdown in that quarter as well when he raced 20 yards. Bauder kicked six of seven PATs. Hamilton, Dillon and Frenchtown all have conference records of 1-0. Frenchtown and Dillon are undefeated. Hamilton has lost one game.
Frenchtown traveled to Corvallis for a battle of the unbeaten. Frenchtown scored first but then Corvallis’ Ridge Albright scored on a 37 yard run. The Aaron Christensen kick was good and the game was tied. But then Frenchtown went to work and notched 42 more points while holding the Blue Devils scoreless. The final score was Frenchtown 49, Corvallis 7.
Florence took on Powell County in Deer Lodge. The Wardens scored first on a 23 yard pass but then Colby Kohlman went to town. His first scoring pass was to Marcus Zeiler from 60 yards out. Kohlman hit Zeiler for the two point conversion too. Brendan Bailey was Kohlman’s next target with a 30 yard pass. The pass to Zeiler was good for the two point conversion. Kohlman went back to Zeiler twice more for scoring passes of 20 and 40 yards. Kohlman then hit Bailey for an 80 yard scoring reception with a Kyler Alm two point conversion. Jethro Thorne caught a 50 yard pass from Kohlman for the final Falcon touchdown. All scored a safety for the final two points on the board.
Darby topped Seeley-Swan, 44-14. Dylan Parks scored first for Darby on a 43 yard pass from Nelson Smith. Seeley then scored on the kickoff when Robinson raced 70 yards for the six points. The two point conversion was good and the Blackhawks had the lead. But Smith called his own number and pushed through from three yards out for the score. Drake Horvath caught a 52 yard pass from Smith for the next Tiger TD. The two point conversion by Parks was good and Darby told the lead by 12 points. After another Seeley touchdown, Darby went to work. Parks scored a touchdown on the kickoff, racing 74 yards down the field. Then he took the ball on the one yard line for another score. Horvath had a four yard scoring run and another 27 yard scoring run. Smith finished the game with 276 passing yards and completed 15 of 18 passes.
“I’m feeling good about the team,” said Jeff Snavely, Darby’s coach. “These kids have heart and don’t give up.”
Darby will take on Victor on Friday in Darby with playoff contention on the line.