For a shot at all the marbles

Libby takes on Billings Central in semis

Three semifinal games in four years and, yup, they've learned something.

The Libby High School football team is in Billings today, taking on Billings Central in the Montana Class A semifinals.

Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Wendy's Field at Daylis Stadium.

Billings Central has always had the reputation of being a big and physical team. But this year, the Rams are quick and athletic as well.

"We get credit all the time for being big and slow," Billings Central coach Jim Stanton said after beating two-time defending state champ Dillon on Sept. 7. "But we'll match up speed with just about anybody. Our speed is as good as any."

The combination of size and speed plus experience, with 22 seniors, has led Central to being the only officially undefeated team in the Class A ranks.

But the Loggers, whose only loss on the season was a 50-23 forfeited victory, aren't in awe.

"They remind me of Havre that year that they won it all and we played them in the semifinals," Libby coach Neil Fuller said. "That team we took up there was as athletic as the one we've got now, but we had a lot of younger kids mixed in with the older kids and we weren't very confident. We are a lot more confident this year."

And why not?

The Loggers defense has allowed only 84 yards rushing and 80 yards passing per game. It averages nearly 2 1/2 interceptions per game.

On offense, the Loggers average 164 yards rushing per game and have scored 38 rushing touchdowns. The team passes for an average of nearly 260 yards passing per game and has scored 22 touchdowns through the air.

The units have combined for the Loggers to outscore their opponents by an average of 44-9.

Junior quarterback Joel Fuller has rushed for 341 yards and eight touchdowns while throwing for 2,234 yards and 22 touchdowns. Receivers Zack Rowan (34 catches, 840 yards, 11 touchdowns), Loren Nelson (30 catches, 549 yards, five touchdowns) and Seth Wright (14 catches, 291 yards, two touchdowns) are the glue in the passing game. Senior running back Jeremy Chumley has rushed for 1,237 yards and 27 touchdowns and caught 19 passes for another 357 yards.

But this game could rest heavier on the shoulders of Ryan Stapely (center, 180 pounds), guards Justin Graham (200) and Brandin Mills (240) and tackles Jordan Gragert (230), Matt Schad (250) and Justin Brickey (250).

"I am really proud of these kids," said Fuller, who has a 41-12 record in five years at Libby. "Not too many people were expecting them to do what they've done this year because of the talent we lost to graduation last year. But the seniors and underclassmen are carving out their own niche in Libby football history and done things that none of my other teams have done. This is the best overall year on offense and defense I've ever had and that's really a tribute to the kids."

As good as they are, the Loggers will still have their work cut out for them against the Rams.

Led by fullback Jake Pelczar (1,141 yards, 16 touchdowns) in the deceiving wing-T attack, Billings Central has outscored opponents by 342 points, 384-42. As good as Pelczar is, running back Joe Hickey has left his mark on a couple of games as well. He had touchdown runs of 64 and 66 yards against Dillon in a 20-6 victory.

"They are just a big, physical, very athletic team that is very aggressive and likes to play smash-mouth football," Fuller said. "They are a lot like Frenchtown, but the thing with Central is they are more athletic up front."

The Rams defense gives up only 4.2 points per game and 130 total yards per game. No team has had more than one scoring play against the Rams this season.

"They are very aggressive and will blitz a lot," Fuller said. "They play a few of their backs in a loose zone look and then they like to be physical with the wide receivers at the line of scrimmage. It's different than what our kids have seen. (The Rams) align with their outside linebackers over the top of the wide receivers and like to be physical to reroute them and then they sit in the flats with a three-deep zone coverage behind them. They've haven't given up any big passes."

Fuller said he has integrated motion into his offense and ran it against Sidney and likes the situations that he believes he can get his team into by running it against Billings.

"We've been working hard on our passing game," he said. "But we have to make sure we take care of the football first and then not make any goofy mistakes."

TO PREPARE for playing on the artificial surface of Daylis Stadium, the Loggers practice at the University of Montana's Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Thursday before heading over to Bozeman to watch the Libby's volleyball team at the state tournament.

"We're having a blast," Fuller said.

As for practicing at WGS:

"It was awesome," Fuller said. "I've been taking a bunch of kids to the Griz Camp since I've been here and they've always been supportive. They were glad to have us there. We got a couple hour practice in and the kids like the turf. It's beautiful."

Fuller said the Loggers are looking to start the scoring fast, "but if we shoot ourselves in the foot, we need to stay in the game like we did against Sidney and grind it out. Anything can happen and our kids know that."

The winner earns a berth into the state championship game, which the Loggers haven't played in since 1967, at the winner between Butte Central and Dillon.