by Scott Sacry
The Florence Falcons hosted the Malta Mustangs on Friday, Nov. 6, in the quarterfinal round of the Class B State football playoffs. Confidence was high for both sides, as both teams had first round blowout wins. Florence was on an eight game winning streak and ranked #2 in the final 406 MT Sports pool, while Malta came in with a 7-2 record and were ranked #6. So it looked to be an even match.
The final score doesn’t always tell the full story. Florence would end up winning 39-0, but this game was tighter than the score indicated, as Malta was a tough and capable team. But as happens when two talented teams meet, the team that minimizes mistakes maximizes their chance to win. In this case, Florence forced five Malta turnovers and didn’t have one themselves.
To start the game, Malta had a long first-quarter drive. Similar to last week against Columbus, Florence’s defense bent but didn’t break, and Florence stopped the drive by causing a Malta fumble on their own 13-yard line. Florence’s offense then took over and drove the length of the field, and Florence QB Jake Schneiter scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to start the second quarter, giving Florence a 7-0 lead.
Then, with six minutes left in the half, Schneiter once again scored, this time on a 51-yard touchdown run. Next, Florence’s defense caused another Malta fumble, which led to a third straight Schneiter touchdown run, this time from 22 yards out. Malta threatened to score before halftime, but Luca Caldarone intercepted a pass and Florence led 20-0 at halftime.
After halftime, it was more of the same as Florence once again caused a Malta fumble which led to another Schneiter touchdown, this one from 1-yard out. Florence scored two more times in the third quarter, the first a 12-yard run by RB Luca Caldarone, and the second, a 41-yard pass from Schneiter to WR Makoah Laasch. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, and Florence won 39-0.
The Falcons put on a defensive clinic, shutting out a Malta squad that had averaged 31 points per game coming into the contest. For Florence, Christian Englund and Jake Schneiter both had 14 total tackles to lead the team. Lee Blair had two sacks and nine tackles. Layton Stubbs had nine tackles, Peter Luhmann had a sack and eight tackles, and Luca Caldarone and Brennan Meinhold each had an interception.
Florence has an explosive all-around offense with playmakers all over the field and a strong offensive line. Individually against Malta, RB Luca Caldarone had 13 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown, WR Makoah Laasch had six receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown. One can’t help highlight the superb individual performance by Florence QB Jake Schneiter, who completed 14 of 20 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown and carried the ball eight times for 120 with four rushing touchdowns. Schneiter also had 14 total tackles on defense.
Florence advances into the Class B semifinal game where they travel to Manhattan to play the Tigers on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. The two teams played on Sept. 4 in Florence, with Florence winning 33-20. That was Manhattan’s only loss of the season. Manhattan is the defending Class B State Champion, and they defeated Eureka 55-16 in the first round and Red Lodge 55-27 in the quarterfinals.
Huntley Project hosts Three Forks in the other Class B semifinal game.
See the Class B State playoff bracket here:
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