The Corvallis Blue Devils opened their season with a 36-26 win over the Browning Indians on Friday night. The Indians made it to the first round of the playoffs last year. Corvallis’ Liang Liedle returned to the quarterback position after tearing up his knee last year and was key to the win.
Although Browning scored first, Liedle came right back and raced 56 yards down the sidelines to the end zone for six points. The two-point conversion was not good but Corvallis was on the board. Liedle had two more touchdowns on runs of six yards and 11 yards. He finished the game with 201 yards rushing.
Hunter Pinheiro also scored for the Blue Devils. He scored on a four-yard run in the first quarter. He also had a scoring run in the third quarter to give the Blue Devils a bit of a cushion.
Stevensville made the trip to Polson to take on the Pirates in their opening game. The Yellowjackets held the Pirates scoreless in the first half while putting 20 points on the board in the 28-18 victory. Quarterback Garrison Bradt threw a touchdown pass to Payten Davids from 25 yards out in the first quarter. Jaren Gum started the second quarter off with a 75-yard interception that resulted in a touchdown. Kellen Jones ran the two-point conversion in. The Yellowjackets went back to the ground with Bradt handing off to Kyler Pancake for the 10-yard scoring run. That gave the ‘Jackets a 20-point lead at the half. Gum caught a seven-yard pass from Bradt in the third quarter to increase the margin.
However, Polson was not done. A six-yard pass from Boston Goode to Parker Toth put the Pirates on the board in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Kordell Walker turned a 40-yard interception into six points. Ryker Wenderoth scored on an 80-yard run also. But Stevensville picked up a safety to finish their scoring and seal the win.
Hamilton, runner up in Class A football last year, took on Whitefish in their season opener. After a scoreless first quarter, the Broncs put six on the board when Carson Rostad hit Caden Brown from four yards out. The PAT was no good. Then, with less than two minutes remaining, Michael Golden pushed through the Whitefish line from two yards out for another Hamilton score. A pass from Rostad to Brock Jones for the two-point conversion was good and Hamilton had a 14-point lead. Hamilton scored again in the third quarter when Rostad hit Tyler Barnes for a four-yard reception. The two-point conversion run was good. Rostad completed another scoring pass to Barnes in the fourth quarter and one to Brown as well. Hamilton won, 36-10.
Rostad completed 27 of 43 passes and racked up 282 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Golden had 93 yards rushing and one touchdown.
Washington Grizzly Stadium was the venue for the Florence Falcons’ opening game against Jefferson County on Saturday afternoon. After the initial awe of playing on that field wore off, Florence went to work. In the second quarter, Colby Kohlman threw a 27-yard pass to Blake Shoupe for six points. Gavin Zaluski kicked the PAT and the Falcons were on the board. In the third quarter, Kyler Alm pushed through the Boulder line from two yards out for a touchdown. Zaluski was again successful on the PAT. He kicked a 35-yard field goal in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Alm got the call once more and raced 19 yards for the final Falcon score. Final score, Florence 23, Jefferson County 0.
Victor fell to St. Ignatius, 44-12, in Class C action Friday night. The Pirates scored a touchdown in the first quarter when JD Kay hit Skylar Webberson with a pass from five yards out. The two-point conversion was not good. The Pirates had a difficult time containing the Mission Bulldogs’ passing game. Isaac Dumontier had five touchdown passes in the game. Victor’s other touchdown occurred when Bob Hotchkiss made a one-yard plunge into the end zone.
Seeley topped Darby, 27-6. Dylon Parks scored in the fourth quarter on a 47-yard punt return.