Braves looking for a breakthrough win

It's come down to believing.

The Flathead Braves football team is at that crucial point where the difference between winning and losing is mental.

"I think we're at a point in our program - how far (the Braves) have come - physically, we're there. We can line up and go toe-to-toe with people.

"Ability-wise, we're there.

"It's just that mental edge, getting a little mentally tougher. It's belief," said Flathead head coach Grady Bennett.

"We just need one breakthrough."

The Braves (1-2) will take the first step toward that breakthrough at 7:30 tonight at Memorial Stadium when they take on the Great Falls Bison (1-1).

"I had so many of our kids come to me this week," Bennett said.

"They're each trying to improve mentally."

The coach called this past week the best in his two years as head coach.

"It was just awesome. We challenged them with some things," he said.

"The kids responded so well. They just ate it up."

The Braves are facing a team that may have had its confidence shaken just a bit.

The Bison fell 26-20 last weekend at Billings Skyview.

"That was kind of a surprising loss," Bennett said.

"I picked Great Falls really high," Bennett said of his preseason Class AA selections.

"I was impressed with what I saw at Griz Camp. I thought they would be a real threat this year," he said.

"But that's AA, too. Going on the road and getting wins is real difficult."

Offensively, Bennett saw a lot from the Bison during Griz Camp.

"They're loaded," he said.

"They've got a lot of weapons."

The list of weapons starts with tight end Bob Howard (6-foot-6, 210 pounds) who "can run and catch," Bennett said.

Quarterback Kody Swartz (6-4, 195), can "make any throw."

And the running backs Bennett compared to Coeur d' Alene High's 2004 backfield of Gabe Le and Kevin Ah-Hi.

The Bison backs are Ryan Egan (5-8, 170) and Brad Gilchrist (5-10, 220).

"Two really good running backs," Bennett said.

The Bison will run a lot of their offense around those two guys, he said.

"They will be balanced. They'll do it all, but they are a little more committed to the run."

As for the Braves, they plan to rotate junior Reed Watkins and freshman Brock Osweiler at quarterback. Senior Brian Fox may also see time at quarterback.

"They're learning. I think their play will be much-improved," Bennett said of Watkins and Osweiler.

Fox "is being such a great leader now. He's ready and willing when he's called upon. He's helped me on the sideline, signaling in plays. He even called a couple plays. He still has a role to play.

"I'm excited. It's going to be a good game. It's going to be a close game.

"They've learned a lot, but we've got to get in the end zone now."