Positively offensive

Flatheads offense may prove to be the difference today versus Helena Capital

After struggling to score in the first half last Friday against Butte, Flathead coach Grady Bennett thought his team might be in need of a change.

With junior QB Reed Watkins unable to establish a rhythm, Bennett looked over at freshman backup Brock Osweiler and told him to warm up. The look on Watkins face was priceless.

He looked at me and said, Coach, no way, Bennett said.

For Watkins, the moment brought back memories of the seasons first few weeks when the Braves sometimes switched from senior Brian Fox to Watkins to Osweiler and back again in the same game. And it made him mad to think it might happen again.

But Watkins was more than just talk, he also responded with three second-half touchdowns as Flathead went on to beat the Bulldogs 28-14, earning a spot in the Class AA semifinals today, 7 p.m., at Helena Capital.

Its such a good feeling to get in a rhythm, said Watkins, who finished with 196 passing yards in the contest. You feel almost invincible.

Those feelings have become far more frequent for Watkins since being named the starting QB midseason after Flathead limped to a 2-2 record, scoring less than 11 points per game.

But with Watkins under center, the Braves have averaged nearly 30 points per contest, winning six straight. Watkins leads Flathead in all passing categories, completing 58 percent of his passes (66 of 113) for 995 yards and 10 touchdowns against six interceptions.

Hes one of those kids that makes things happen, Bennett said. Hes very athletic and he has a lot of intangibles. Plus, hes starting to get the mental aspect down which makes him even more of a threat.

But the biggest thing he has is his desire to compete.

Of course, thats nothing new to Watkins, who attributes his competitive nature to growing up with his fraternal twin, Drew, who will play on Flatheads kickoff team today.

Watkins started the season as the teams No. 3 quarterback, but even after seeing some early playing time he struggled to establish the necessary pocket presence a QB needs.

Instead of focusing on my routes and my receivers, I would get nervous about the pocket collapsing even when it wasnt, Watkins said. So I would just take off.

Though his legs have served him well rushing for 302 yards, second best on the team it wasnt until he learned to stay in the pocket that Flatheads offense began to soar.

Its just a matter of him maturing and becoming more comfortable, Bennett said. Now hes developed almost too much patience; sometimes I wish he would take off and run more often.

Watkins agrees.

I want to be viewed as a double threat, he said. I just try and do whatever it takes to get the job done. Thats why I wear No. 19, because that was (NFL Hall of Fame QB) Johnny Unitas number; and he did whatever it took to win.

Hes not alone in feeling that way. Senior receiver Foston Reilly isnt going to wow anyone with his size (5-foot-8, 160 pounds) or his speed. But hes consistently impressed coaches and teammates with his smarts and his ability to work hard.

He came here with his brother (Mike, a 2003 Flathead graduate) and Ive seen him almost every day since he was in eighth grade, Bennett said. Hes just a little playmaker. Hes been helping us win games the last two years.

Though hes sometimes the third option as the teams slot receiver, Reilly leads the team with 24 catches and is second to junior Nick Haegele with 379 yards and three touchdowns.

A lot of plays arent drawn up for him, but I know I can look for him if theres nothing else, Watkins said. He does such a good job of getting open and he knows where I need him to be. Hes my security blanket.

Im not the fastest, Nick is, and I dont have Jareths (Wilson) hands, but its my job to get open, Reilly said. I have to be there when Reed needs me.

Being a receiver is a bit of a change for Reilly given the QB pedigree of his older brothers, Beau and Mike (now at Central Washington). But they needed someone to throw to when Foston was a kid.

Mike always wanted to play catch and it was an honor whenever hed ask me, Reilly said. He threw the ball so hard and it helped prepare me. If I could catch a ball from him, I could catch one from anyone.

Like Reilly, Wilson is on the small side for a receiver at only 5-8, but you cant doubt his heart. Despite weighing only 155 pounds, the senior is a member of the teams 1,000-pound club (combined bench press, squat and dead lift). He also knows his role on the team.

I try to bring some experience and some leadership to the team, said Wilson, who has 22 catches for 295 yards this season. I want to help our offense any way I can.

With words like that its no wonder that Wilson was voted one of the teams two captains by his teammates, along with fellow senior Stetson Spooner.

Thats one of my greatest accomplishments being recognized by my teammates as someone they want to lead them into battle, Wilson said.

Bennett also loves having Wilson as one of the teams leaders.

Hes one of the greatest kids Ive ever coached, Bennett said. He hasnt missed a day in three years.

The same cant be said about senior running back Scott Cassel. Slated to start as a junior, Cassel broke his leg in Week 2 and missed the entire season, re-injured the leg during wrestling season, then got hurt again during workouts last summer.

And hed had enough.

I just starting lifting to keep that from ever happening again, Cassel said. I missed my whole junior year and I wanted to play.

Putting on 30 pounds, Cassel has evolved into the Braves workhorse, leading the team with 870 yards on 218 carries and 10 TDs. At the beginning of the season, the team started a count for every day Cassel managed to remain injury-free. Hes now at 69 and counting.

Hes our heart and soul on offense. I know I can give him the ball 20-25 times per game, Bennett said. We didnt even know if wed have him this year, but hes been our guts this year.

With Bennett feeling his teams defense can effectively contain Capitals offense, he feels the game may depend on his teams ability to score early and often.

They (Capital) like to run the ball 50-60 times a game and if we can score early and make them throw the ball and play catch-up, it gives us an advantage, Bennett said. I think the game will come down to the offense being able to rise up and make some special plays.