by Scott Sacry
The Florence Falcons football team keeps getting stronger and stronger, week after week. They continued this trend on Saturday, November 12th as they defeated Jefferson 40-23 on a brisk day in Florence. The Falcons were strong on both sides of the ball. A balanced offense gained a total of 356 yards, while a stingy defense forced four turnovers. The win avenged a 34-27 loss to the Panthers earlier this year on Sept. 16th. The dominating performance sends Florence to the Class B state championship game for the second straight year. They host upstart Missoula Loyola on Saturday, November 19th at 1 p.m.
Florence’s senior QB Patrick Duchien threw for 244 yards and 3 TDs and ran for a TD, senior RB Brodie Hinsdale rushed for 2 TDs, senior WR William Wagner caught 2 TDs passes, and sophomore WR Isaac Bates caught a TD pass. Florence’s senior DE Colten Rice had 10 tackles and 2 sacks and LB Harrison Shepp was a force in the middle and had 8 tackles.
“Our boys came ready to play,” said Florence head coach Pat Duchien. “I know they were anxious and nervous, but at game time they were all business.”
Coach Duchien has high praise for this year’s team. “This team has made a commitment to get better every week – some teams aspire to it, but this team follows through. In all my years in sports, it’s a rare thing to have a team with this amount of work ethic and drive to get better. They do all the little things to get better every week – and it’s showing up on the field.”
Florence set the tone on their first possession of the game, moving the ball with precision. Brodie Hinsdale’s 1-yard TD run completed the drive. The two teams traded interceptions on the next two possessions and Florence’s defense held the Panthers to a field goal.
On the Falcons’ third possession of the game, Duchien hit William Wagner for a 34-yard TD reception. Jefferson then returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards for a TD, making the score 14-10. Duchien scored on a 1-yard TD run in the second quarter and it was 21-10 at halftime.
After halftime, Jefferson again had a good kickoff return, ending up at Florence’s 25 yard line. Florence’s defense stood tall, stopping the Panthers on a 4 and 5 and getting a turnover on downs. After trading punts, Florence got the ball at their 35 yard line and drove down the field. Hinsdale scampered in for a TD on a shifty 12-yard run up the middle to complete the drive, and Florence led 27-10.
In the 4th quarter, Duchien again hit Wagner for an 18-yard TD pass and catch to extend the lead to 34-10. A determined Jefferson squad then scored, but Florence answered with a 46-yard TD pass from Duchein to Isaac Bates. Jefferson scored a late TD to make the final score 40-23.
Florence plays Missoula Loyola in the Championship game in Florence on November 19th at 1 p.m. The two teams met on October 21st in the final game of the regular season in Missoula, and Florence won 35-12. After that game, Loyola was 4-5 and barely snuck into the playoffs. Since then, Loyola has caught fire, winning three straight games, including last week’s 14-7 victory over then undefeated Bigfork in the other semifinal game.
“Loyola is playing with a lot of confidence right now,” said Duchien. “They have a big O-line and two great running backs. It’s hard playing a team twice in one season, our kids and coaches are going to have to prepare even harder this week, because this is a dangerous team with a lot of momentum. We’re going to have to step it up a notch.”