Explosive Bruins a major test for Braves
Better be ready for just about anything.
The Helena Capital Bruins - in town tonight to take on the Flathead Braves in a Class AA football game at 7 - are liable to try just about anything offensively.
"You're going to see a lot of things from them," said Flathead head coach Grady Bennett.
"They'll give us a lot of looks offensively. They do it all," he said.
They score a lot of points, too.
The Bruins (2-0, 2-0) scored 82 points in beating Missoula Big Sky 42-14 and Missoula Sentinel 40-6 in the first two weeks of the season.
They ran up a lot of rushing yards - 241 against Big Sky and 306 against the Spartans.
But the Braves (1-0, 1-1) did well against Capital at Griz Camp last summer.
"Our kids have been looking forward to (this game), just kind of as a measuring stick," Bennett said.
"We've been pointing at this game, probably since last year," he said.
"We feel like we've come so far, but you look at programs like Capital and CMR to measure yourself and see where you're at.
"I'm really excited to see how far we've come. We feel like we've made some strides, physically. We physically can line up and go toe-to-toe with them. There have been games in the past we haven't been able to do that."
The Bruins have two athletes they'll rely on a lot - Corey Peterson and Dustin O'Connell.
Peterson "is a little kind of do-everything player," Bennett said.
A track star last spring, Capital will try to get the ball to him whenever they can.
"He's lightning fast. If he gets loose, he'll go.
"We have to be aware of where he's at at all times."
The other is middle linebacker/offensive guard Dustin O'Connell.
"He's just a real good football player," Bennett said of O'Connell.
"He really sets the tone for them on defense."
The Bruins ran a fumble-rooski for him in each of their first two games.
"He rumbles with that thing," Bennett said.
The only change for Flathead this week is junior Reed Watkins will start at quarterback.
That's simply because he runs the plays in Flathead's opening script - the first couple of series the Braves' coaches draw up.
"Just some things we're doing in the opening script that Reed is very good at," Bennett said.
"We're going to start with his package."
"He's been rotating with Brian Fox. Brian has done a nice job, too and will continue to do so," the coach said.
Flathead Football Lineup
vs. Helena Capital Bruins
7 p.m. tonight
at Legends Stadium
Offense
Wide receiver: x - Nick Haegele, junior, 6'1", 178
Wide receiver: slot - Foston Reilly, senior, 5'8", 160.
Wide receiver: z - Jareth Wilson, senior, 5'8", 160.
Left tackle - Cody Haugen, senior, 6'2", 200.
Left guard - Stetson Spooner, senior, 6'2", 245.
Center - Colter Bennett, senior, 5'10", 200.
Right guard - Casey Poier, senior, 6'1", 220.
Right tackle - Tanner Osweiler, senior, 6'3", 245.
Tight end - Jason Russell, senior, 6'4", 205.
Quarterback - Reed Watkins, junior, 5'11", 190.
Running back - Scott Cassel, senior, 5'11", 187.
Fullback - Shane Komenda, junior, 6'0", 195.
Defense
Cornerback -Beau Watkins, senior, 6'3", 180.
Free safety - Garrett Smith, senior, 6'0", 173.
Defensive end - Brian Bennett, senior, 6-0, 199.
Nose tackle - Dan Ogden, junior, 6'0", 220.
Middle linebacker - Cody Rush, senior, 5'10", 179.
Weakside Linebacker - Coltin Webber, junior, 6'1", 200.
Strongside Linebacker - Burk Schaible, senior, 5'11", 185.
Tackle - Richard Boggs, senior, 6'7" 237.
Defensive end - Damian Farrier, senior, 5'10", 205.
Strong safety - Chris Hooley, senior, 5'9", 175.
Strong corner - Corey Cambell, senior, 6'0", 174.
Special teams
Kick returner - Foston Reilly, senior, 5'8", 160.
Punt returner - Foston Reilly, senior, 5'8", 160.
Punter - Beau Watkins, senior, 6'3", 180
Kicker - Matt Study, junior, 6'3", 228.
Long snapper - Colter Bennett, senior, 5'10", 200.