Braves hope to claim playoff spot
Flathead coaches challenge offense
The situation is pretty simple.
For the Flathead Braves (3-5, 3-6) to make the 2004 Class AA football playoffs, they must beat Bozeman (4-4, 5-4) tonight and Butte must beat Billings Senior.
"It's as easy as that," Flathead coach Grady Bennett said Thursday.
"So, obviously, we're focused on our part."
The Butte-Billings Senior contest is slated for 4 p.m. today at Billings' Daylis Stadium.
Flathead's game is 7 p.m. at Legends Stadium.
Being in a position to make the playoffs is something for which Bennett feels proud.
"A lot of people thought this was going to be an 0-10 or a 1-9 season," he said.
But the players "kept working hard, they kept having great attitudes. These kids practiced great every day."
A person watching practice "would have no idea what our record was," he said.
Last week, the Brave defense rose to the coach's challenge. In weeks past, the Flathead defense had a tendency to give up quick scores to opponents.
"We challenged the defense to play like they can. We asked them to go do it from down one - and they did," Bennett said.
The Braves held Sentinel to a mere six points.
This week, the coaching staff has focused on offense.
Its main problem has been a tendency to also wait for opponents to score, the coach said.
So, the theme this week in practice has been: Defense, do it again. Offense, just go, he added.
"It should be fun. It should be another great football game."
But it's no secret the Braves have their work cut out for them.
"Bozeman is very athletic," Bennett said.
"You watch them on film and you wonder how they've lost four games."
The Flathead defense will be challenged.
Sean Hanrahan and Brad Gilchrist "are the two best backs as a combination we've seen since Coeur d'Alene," said Bennett.
"They're both - if they get a crease, they're gone."
The Hawks also boast a very fast tight end/defensive end in the form of Andy Barham.
"They use him in their play-action game," he said. "It's run, run, run, run, then play-act and (Barham) is behind you, he's so fast."
Offensively, Flathead will try to continue the game plan it's had the last two weeks - which is to run the ball with Reece Stahlberg and quarterback Luke Gallagher.
"We have a couple of plans in. I feel good about it, because the kids really executed well."
But Bozeman has a habit of changing what it does on a weekly basis, Bennett said.
"You put in a film and every week (the Bozeman defense) could be different," he said.
The Flathead offense has been caught off guard more than once in years past.
But Bennett hopes the two-platoon system Flathead installed this season will help.
In the past, the Braves had to wait until half to make adjustments because athletes were playing both ways. Coaches couldn't talk to players.
"Tonight, if they do something different, we can adjust on the sidelines," he explained.
A player who will see increased time tonight at wide receiver is Garrett Smith (6-0, 170), a junior who transferred this year from Lewistown.
Smith came to Flathead having played quarterback.
His newness caused him to struggle a bit learning the system, but his athleticism made the Flathead coaches want him on the football field. So, they moved him to receiver.
After a stellar performance at the JV level last week and a good week of practice, he's moved up for tonight.
Tonight's game will also mark the last time about 20 Flathead Braves will take the field at Legends Stadium.
"I can't say enough about this senior group," Bennett said.
"New coach, new philosophy … it's been amazing how they've bought into it.
"I may coach for 20 years and never have another leader like Dylan MacGregor or Rylan Brenneman.
"They're commitment and the way they treat the younger kids … it's just a really special class," he added.
Standings
Oct. 29
Team Conf Overall
Billings Skyview Falcons 8-0 9-0
CMR Rustlers 7-1 8-1
Billings West Golden Bears 7-1 8-1
Big Sky Eagles 6-3 6-3
Helena High Bengals 5-4 5-4
Helena Capital Bruins 4-5 4-5
Bozeman Hawks 4-4 5-4
Billings Senior Broncs 3-5 3-5
Flathead Braves 3-5 3-6
Butte Bulldogs 3-6 3-6
Great Falls Bison 2-6 3-6
Hellgate Knights 1-7 2-7
Sentinel Spartans 1-7 1-8
Week 9 scores
Helena 27, Capital 6
Flathead 14, Sentinel 6
CMR 28, West 13
Butte 34, Big Sky 23
Bozeman 42, Great Falls 0
Skyview 69, Senior 35
Hellgate 30, Lake City Id. 8
Week 10 games
Billings West at Billings Skyview
Bozeman at Flathead
Butte at Billings Senior
Great Falls at CMR
Helena High at Missoula Sentinel
Missoula Hellgate at Helena Capital
Bozeman Hawks at Flathead Braves
7 p.m. at Legends Stadium
Flathead Lineup
Offense
Quarterback - Luke Gallagher, 5-10, 155, senior.
Running back - Reece Stahlberg, 5-11, 190, senior.
Tight end - Brian Fox, 6-1, 185, junior.
Wide receiver - Jareth Wilson, junior, 5-9, 160.
Wide receiver - Joel MacDonald, 5-5, 140, junior.
Slot - Nick Hergesheimer, 5-10, 175, senior, .
Left guard - Brandon Hoffenbacker, 6-4, 270, senior.
Center -Rylan Brenneman, 5-10, 225, senior.
Right guard -Stetson Spooner, 6-2, 270, junior.
Right tackle - Eric Connolly, 6-4, 270, senior
Left tackle - Tanner Osweiller, 6-2, 270, junior.
Defense
Cornerbacks -Ryan Ross, 5-8, 160, senior. Corey Campbell, 5-11, 170.
Strong safety - Chris Hooley, 5-10, 175, junior.
Free safety - Beau Watkins, 6-3, 185, junior.
Middle linebacker - Brian Bennett, 6-0, 185, junior.
Outside linebackers -Dylan MacGregor, 5-10, 180, senior, Colton Weber, 6-3, 190, sophomore.
Defensive ends - John Farrier, 6-1, 180, senior, Damian Farrier, 5-10, 200, junior.
Tackles -Brandon Hoffenbacker, 6-4, 270, senior, Rylan Brenneman, 5-10, 225, senior.
Special teams
Punter - Edgar Nadeau, 6-3, 160, junior.
Kicker -Ross.
Punt/Kick return -Ross, Duane Cooper, 5-5, 150, senior, Foston Reilly, 5-8, 150, junior.
Deep snapper - Colter Bennett, 5-10, 175