Flathead takes on No. 1 Bulldogs

The Daily Inter Lake

Nothing flashy, just solid in every area. Well-coached, and they don't make mistakes.

That's how Flathead head football coach Grady Bennett described the Class AA No. 1-ranked Butte Bulldogs (5-0, 5-0).

Butte plays host at 7 tonight to No. 2-ranked Flathead (4-1, 4-1) at Bulldog Memorial Stadium.

"I told the kids on Monday, this is why you sign up for football. This is why you put the pads on," Bennett said.

"A lot of kids don't ever get this opportunity (to play in such a high profile game)," the coach said.

"They're good. They're loaded. They're just athletic, really athletic."

The Butte offense hasn't exactly exploded - at 18.4 points per game, it's ranked eighth in Class AA.

But, the Bulldogs "don't hurt themselves and they score enough points to keep the defense off the field," Bennett said.

That defense though, is only giving up 8.6 points per game.

So, it'll be Class AA's No.1-ranked defense against the No. 2-ranked offense.

Flathead is averaging 35.4 points per game.

Chief among those athletes is senior running back/defensive end Casey Dennehy (6-foot-3, 220 pounds).

"Big, physical player. He's their workhorse, their go-to guy. He's going to get a ton of carries," Bennett said.

Dennehy has averaged 61 yards per game and has 13 catches for 159 yards.

Quarterback Willie Sullivan (6-2, 180) has completed 54.7 percent of his passes this season (47-for-86).

"He makes things happen. He's really good at scrambling when things break down. Our defense really has to make him a pocket passer."

Bennett also mentions senior lineman Trevor Hass (6-3, 245) and senior widereceiver/defensive back Tony Cunneen (6-2, 180).

"We're expecting a great football game."

And an emotional game.

"We expect a big crowd (best guess there is more than 6,000). I know the town of Butte is excited. It's been awhile since they've been in this position."

The first thing the Braves will need to do tonight is get through those opening moments and get into their own game.

The second thing - and the thing the Flathead coaching staff emphasized the most this week - is special teams.

"Our special teams just haven't been as good as they've needed to be," Bennett said.

Two weeks ago, Flathead's kickoff return squad gave up a 99-yard return to Great Falls Russell's Christian Prosperie. The punt team followed that up by allowing a blocked punt at Flathead's 2-yard line.

Those were 12 of CMR's 18 points.

"We just want to be solid. No special teams mistake to cost us a football game," Bennett said.