Braves flatten Knights
The Daily Inter Lake
MISSOULA - Recent history for the Flathead Braves football team playing the Missoula Hellgate Knights at Missoula County Stadium hasn't favored the Braves.
Flathead head coach Grady Bennett was well aware of that.
So, with the Braves suddenly down 12-0 in the first quarter of Friday's game, Bennett was justifiably worried.
"I thought, 'oh, no,'" he confessed afterward.
"The last two times we've been here, we came down to Hellgate both years with great records and both years they weren't very good."
Both times, the Knights got the better of Flathead, he said.
Not this time.
The Braves rallied to take the lead at half, then steamrolled Hellgate in the second half to claim a 34-12 victory.
"Hellgate couldn't have written a better script," Bennett said.
The Knights' opening drive was 80 yards and took up eight minutes.
"That's exactly what they need to do against us."
Flathead's first drive? Three-and-out.
That was followed by another long Hellgate scoring drive.
"That's exactly what they want to do. That's their game," Bennett said.
"The kids responded very well. I'm so proud of these players."
Flathead started to turn the tide with two Scott Cassel touchdown runs - of 15 and two yards to go up 14-12 at half.
Cassel had a career-high 125 yards.
"He did not get brought down by that first guy," Bennett said of Cassel.
But Cassel's production was also due to the offensive line.
"That starts with the offensive front," Bennett said. "Those guys up front played so well."
He complimented senior Casey Poier's play in particular.
The Braves came out at half and added to that lead almost immediately with a 41-yard Brian Fox to Nick Haegele touchdown.
"We took it right down. That was huge. That was huge for our offense," the coach said.
That was followed up by a 31 yard Garrett Smith fumble recovery and score.
"The wind was out of their sails."
Bennett also complimented the play of all three Flathead quarterbacks. Fox was 3-for-4 for 87 yards with one touchdown, Reed Watkins was 4-for-9 for 54 yards and a score and Brock Osweiler was 1-for-1 for nine yards.
Braves 34, Knights 12
Flathead 7 7 13 7 - 34
Missoula Hellgate 12 0 0 0 - 12
First Quarter
H - Eric Bahnmaier 32 run (kick failed).
H - Bahnmaier 47 run (run failed)
F - Scott Cassel 15 run (Haugan kick).
Second quarter
F - Scott Cassel 2 run (Haugan kick)
Third Quarter
F - Nick Haegele 41 pass from Brian Fox (kick failed)
F -Garrett Smith 31 yard fumble recovery (Haugan kick)
Fourth Quarter
F - Shane Komenda 20 run (Haugan kick).
F MH
First downs 14 18
Total Net Yards 361 184
Rushes-yards 36-210 40-173
Passing 151 89
Comp-Att-Int 8-14-0 9-17-1
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-Yards 7-80 8-70
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Flathead, Scott Cassel 15-125, Reed Watkins 11-36, Shane Komenda 4-30, Ben Moyers 1-12, Brian Fox 6-6.
PASSING-Flathead, Brian Fox 3-4-87-1, Reed Watkins 4-9-54-1, Brock Osweiler 1-1-9.
RECEIVING-Flathead Jareth Wilson 3-61, Nick haegele 2-51, Reilly 2-22, Jason Russell 1-19.
Hellgate came out roaing they were ready to play. Our defense made some great adjustments.
Our o-line did a great job getting off the ball."
All
It kind of started a little shakey, but everybody regrouped and played hard."
1-1
next game H Capital
I'm so proud opf these players. The two the last two times we've been here, we came down to Hellgate both years with great records and both years they weren't very good.
When it started out 12-0, I thought oh no.
the kids responded very very well." I was proud of em getting the lead back at half, 14-12.
They dominated
Hellgate couldn't have written a better script."
they only had 26 kids suited up tonight - the way he gets his kids to come out and play and execute even tho there's so few of em, he s
opening drive, 80 yards 8 minutes
"that exactly what they need to do against us."
and out
another long drive
that's exactly what they want to do, that's their game."
A credit to every player."
Cassell - starts with off front. those gusy up front played so well.
Casey Poier
Casey did not have his best game ag CDA. I got after him a little bit, in some ways I shouldn't have. Casey responded and had a great game tonight."
He did not get brot down by that first guy."
Reed Watkins ran the ball real well.
We rotated them like last week."
four drives in first half
The kids responded well. Both qb responded well. I was proud of all three qbs."
2 reason
get a win, get feeling good.capital run a lot of option at us well.
good prep for kids to see it, play against it
defensively Garrett smith scoop and
second half, we took it right down.that was huge. That was huge for ouur offesnive
brian fox two big passes
defense responds with td
The wind was out of the sails."
Damian Farrier - That young man is playing about aas solid as anybody. He does everything right."
very very good leader." Just doing little things.
encouraging kids or getting after them or picking up towels.
Beau Watkins "had a huge punt tonight."
one more score H might get back in game
70 yarder
Beau is doing well."