Balanced Bears await Braves

Flathead (7-3) at Billings West (9-1) in AA football semis

By DIXIE KNUTSON

The Daily Inter Lake

Tonight's Class AA football semifinal between the Flathead Braves and the Billings West Golden Bears is shaping up to look like quite a game.

Flathead, the lowest seed left in the Class AA football playoffs, takes on Billings West (9-1) at 7:30 tonight at Wendy's Field at Daylis Stadium in Billings.

On paper, the Golden Bears may not appear quite as intimidating as in years past, but according to Flathead head coach Grady Bennett, Billings West has long been one of the top programs in Montana's Class AA.

Along with CMR and Helena Capital, it is West that everyone wants to emulate, he said.

"It's kind of where everybody is trying to get.

"Their kids believe they are going to win. They just win games. Every week, they just win. It's a challenge to play them on their turf," Bennett said.

"The thing that's different about them this year … they've put so many guys in college. This year, they have some talent, but I think they're more balanced," Bennett said.

Statistically, the Bears aren't quite as frightening.

Wideout Derek Van Zee is probably their most talented player, he added. Van Zee has 45 catches for 711 yards and has scored five touchdowns receiving this year.

They score an average of 24.4 points per game (fifth in Class AA), they throw for an average of 145.5 yards (sixth), and they rush for 125.9 yards per game (eighth). In total offense, Billings West is ranked 11th.

In those same categories, the Flathead Braves (7-3) are ranked second, first, 11th and fourth, respectively.

So, what does all that mean?

Not much.

This is the Class AA semifinals.

It's all about who gets it going at the right time.

The Braves, fresh off last week's 28-14 win over Butte, believe it will be them.

"I think we matchup really well," Bennett said.

"I think our defense can line up and play physically. Offensively, we can move the ball. I know our kids are going to play hard and play well."

The Braves also learned last weekend they can overcome adversity.

Flathead turned the ball over six times against Butte - four interceptions, two fumbles. Two interceptions led to Bulldog touchdowns - and got Butte back into what had been a 21-0 ballgame.

"We don't want to turn the ball over six times, but I'm glad we went through that," Bennett said.

"To get the win and go through that, our kids learned so much about themselves. That's going to pay off (tonight) and hopefully, next week."

A check on common opponents doesn't give much of a clue how this might come out.

West beat Missoula Hellgate 42-14 in the first week of the regular season. Flathead defeated the Knights 58-20 to end the regular season.

West beat Great Falls High 28-7, Flathead won that one 41-13. West beat Sentinel 49-7. Flathead beat the Spartans 39-6.

A check on the closer games doesn't say a lot, either.

West defeated Butte 21-6. The Braves defeated the Bulldogs twice (21-14 and the above mentioned 28-14).

The two Helena games may be the most foreboding for Flathead.

West defeated Helena High 17-10.

Flathead lost 10-7 to the Bengals, but Flathead quarterback Brock Osweiler was injured in the first half - and the Braves had the go-ahead touchdown called back on a holding penalty.

The Bears beat CMR, 21-7. The Braves lost, 20-18. Both games were in Great Falls.

But again, Osweiler was hurt and didn't play at all in that game.

And while Flathead's defense held Butte to a grand total of 49 yards offensively, a depleted Bozeman team just about pulled off the state's biggest surprise.

The Hawks, seeded eighth and playing without four starters, led the defending state champion Bears 20-13 late in the third quarter of last Friday's quarterfinal.

But turnovers and special teams play fueled West's comeback.