by Scott Sacry
The #3 (406mtsports.com) Florence Falcons and the #9 Missoula Loyola Rams squared off in Missoula on Friday, October 25 with the Western Conference title on the line. The Falcons controlled the game and won 44-12.
Florence led 23-12 at halftime, thanks in part to two big plays by Jake Schneiter, who had a 9-yard TD run and a 95-yard kickoff return for a TD.
Then after halftime, the Florence defense shut down the Ram offense, allowing no points and scoring a TD on an Isaac Bates 45-yard interception return.
The Falcon offense scored twice after halftime with a Bridger Alexander 8-yard run and a 5-yard pass from Mason Arlington to Brody Duchien.
Florence is the West’s #1 seed going into the Class B State playoffs. They host Fairfield, the North’s #4 seed, on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m.
The winner will face the winner of the Jefferson/Joliet game the following week.
Hamilton 45, Polson 23
The young Broncs have improved every week and were 1-6 entering their final game on the season against a 4-3 Polson squad in Hamilton on Friday, Oct 25. They played one of their best games of the season, firing on all cylinders and routing the Pirates 45-23.
Hamilton WR Jackson Lubke had a huge game with 11 catches for 141 yards and 3 TDs. Hamilton RB Brayden Lanser had 19 carries for 176 yards and two TDs. QB Kaeden Gum ran for 58 yards and a TD, and QB Cooper Weston rushed for 44 yards and a TD. Gum was 12 of 17 and passed for 121 yards and 2 TDs, and Weston was 7 of 8 and passed for 89 yards and a TD.
The Broncs finished the year strong and look poised to have a strong team next year.
Darby 57, Charlo 24
The Darby Tigers went to Charlo on Friday, October 25 and closed out their season with a bang, winning 57-24. Darby’s McCoy Townsend had a big game, rushing for 260 yards and 4 TDs. John Dickens rushed for 107 yards and had 2 TDs, Oliver Long had a long TD run, and Eli Jones had a 30-yard interception return for a TD. Darby got great blocking up front by Shannon Stuart, Colter Brantley, Keegan Goodwin, Tanner Shavers. Darby ended the season with a 4-4 record.