Bison, Brave showdown pits league's top defense, offense

This is what the fans pay to see.

Class AA's No. 1-ranked defense versus the No. 2-ranked offense - and it's showing tonight at 7 at Legends Stadium when Great Falls High (4-2) visits the Flathead Braves (3-3).

"It's going to be a great matchup. I expect tonight is going to a close game and a nail-biter," said Flathead head coach Russell McCarvel.

Both teams are highly motivated.

The Braves, winners of three straight, are looking to move up in the standings and solidify one of Class AA's eight playoff spots.

There is also the small factor of revenge - the Bison defeated Flathead in a close contest (21-18) last year at Memorial Stadium.

"It's big. We have a chance to move up ahead of, or tie somebody," McCarvel said.

"I don't think there's a game that isn't big," he added.

A loss "wouldn't kick us all the way out (of the playoff picture), but it would certainly put us in a tougher spot," he said.

The Bison, ranked No. 5 in Class AA, are coming off a disappointing loss lastweekend to Billings Senior (22-21).

That wasn't a big surprise to McCarvel.

"I think Billings Senior has been getting better each week. We've seen them on film a couple of times," he said.

But the biggest thing tonight is the Flathead offense taking on the Great Falls defense.

Flathead is the No. 1 pass offense and the No. 2 overall offense.

The Braves are averaging 257.7 passing yards per game and 406 yards total per game.

Quarterback Brock Osweiler has thrown 15 touchdown passes so far this year.

No. 1-ranked Helena Capital averages 438 total yards.

But the Great Falls defense has been stingy - 222.3 yards per game. The Bison have allowed 670 total rushing yards and 664 passing yards and have given up nine touchdowns.

"It's a big challenge. They're one of the top defenses in the state. We're going to have to play well. They're big and physical," McCarvel said.

The Bison have a 275-pound noseguard (Bryan Howard) and their two inside linebackers (Ty Timmer and Matt Cable) are very good as well, the coach said.

"Offensively, they have a good quarterback," he said.

Senior Trylan Wassmann (5-10, 160) "is a good thrower and he's also their third leading rusher. The offense pretty much centers around him. They're very balanced, both to the run and the pass," he said.

On his first trip to Kalispell this fall, Wassmann frustrated the Glacier Wolfpack defense with 186 passing yards and 84 yards rushing.

Great Falls top rusher, Maxx Galland (5-8, 170), has a net gain of 333 yards on the year, but Wassmann and Zach Wichman (5-8, 165) are right behind him at 235 and 260 yards, respectively.

Their top receivers have 19, 17 and 15 catches, respectively.

"Our defense is going to have to come and play their best game of the year," McCarvel said.