If you waited in line for popcorn at the beginning of the Florence Homecoming game on Friday night, you would have missed the first Falcon touchdown, and quite possibly the second one too. Just 35 seconds into the game, and after having a touchdown called back on a holding penalty, Florence’s Colby Kohlman pushed through from 12 yards out to score. Bigfork was on the receiving end of the opening kickoff but fumbled the ball on their first play, setting up the touchdown. Luke Maki kicked the PAT and the Falcons were on the board.
Florence’s second touchdown was a 93 yard pass from Kohlman to Levi Posey at the 8 minute mark in the first quarter. The PAT was not good but Florence was up, 13-0.
“We’ve worked on starting fast,” said third year coach Pat Duchein. “If anybody’s been around Florence football, they know we never started very fast.”
While Florence’s offense was putting points on the board, their defense was holding the Vikings and making them punt again. When Florence got the ball again, the line opened up a path for Kohlman who raced 53 yards up the sidelines for the TD. The final touchdown of the quarter came when Kohlman hit sophomore Blake Shoup from 63 yards out to put Florence ahead, 31-0.
“This is my senior year,” said Colby Kohlman. “And to get a win on Homecoming, it’s the first time for me. A lot of guys put in a lot of time in the gym this summer and it shows.”
Although Bigfork made some adjustments on their defense, they still couldn’t find the key to unlock the Falcon defense. Throughout the game, each time the Vikings seemed to get into scoring position, the Falcons adjusted and held them out of the end zone. Florence went on to win, 31-0. The final Falcon score was a two-yard push into the end zone in the third quarter. The PAT hit the upright and rebounded back out.
“We weren’t expecting this,” said Duchein of his team’s blowout of Bigfork. “They’ve got good athletes and a big interior.”
Duchein went on to say “we’ve just been working to figure out how to play for something bigger than yourself and I think, tonight, that showed.”
He said his team of assistant coaches do all the work. “They’re doing the work to create a better program here in Florence.”
Florence improved their record to 3-1 and are ranked No. 9 in the state. They will play Deer Lodge in Deer Lodge this Friday.
The No. 1 ranked Hamilton Broncs traveled to Dillon to take on the unranked Beavers in Southwest A conference action. The Broncs were ahead by five points with time running out when Dillon’s Peter Gibson caught a three yard pass from Justus Peterson for the TD and the 26-25 upset.
After a scoreless first quarter, Hamilton got on the scoreboard with a 24 yard pass reception from Carson Rostad to Jaiden Klemundt. Tyson Rostad kicked the PAT. Carson Rostad had another 22 yard pass to Klemundt in the third quarter. Carson also had two rushing touchdowns, one for 18 yards and another, in the fourth quarter for 11 yards. Hamilton had trouble converting two PATs and the final two point conversion. Carson Rostad had 306 total yards on offense.
Corvallis fell to Butte Central, 38-6. The Blue Devils’ lone touchdown was a 39 yard pass from Bryce Mayn to Mace Marshall in the second quarter.
Victor was host to the Troy Trojans on Saturday. Troy is another Class B school that plays down in Class C because of lack of numbers. The Trojans took an early lead and went on to win, 42-18, their first win in four years. Victor had a 36 yard scoring run from Cameron Moore in the second quarter. Sophomore Carson Varner scored the final two Pirate TDs, both from one yard out. Victor only has three seniors and a junior on the team.
Frenchtown defeated Stevensville, 49-13. Sahkaia Wehr had a 20 yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. That was followed by a four yard run by Aiden Van Ostrand for another six points.