Helena High rolls over Braves, 40-22

| September 6, 2008 1:00 AM

The Daily Inter Lake

HELENA -Helena High quarterback Matt Upham threw four touchdown passes and rushed for a fifth as the Bengals downed visiting Flathead 40-22 in a Class AA football tilt Friday night at Vigilante Stadium.

Upham was 5-for-5 throwing the ball and also rushed for 93 yards as Helena (2-0) took command early.

The Bengals led 33-6 at the half and 40-6 after three quarters.

"They came at us really good. Offensively, we had a hard time getting going, making a big play to get something going," said Flathead coach Russell McCarvel.

"They have a great offensive line and they really showed it tonight. They really run the ball well and they took it to us, no doubt about it," he said.

"But I was really happy with our effort in the second half. We only gave up one score in the second half," the coach said.

"The kids really regrouped and we didn't quit," he said.

Flathead's Brock Osweiler was 24-for-43 for 286 yards and threw touchdown passes of 12, 23 and 3 yards.

Senior wideout Travis Andrus caught nine passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns.

"He had a pretty good night," McCarvel said of Andrus.

The Braves (0-2) are at Missoula Big Sky next week.

Helena 40, Flathead 22

Flathead 0 6 0 16 - 22

Helena 12 21 7 0 - 40

H - Nick Trapp 23 pass from Matt Upham (kick failed)

H - Matt Taylor 4 pass from Upham (kick failed)

H - Brian Torgeson 9 pass from Upham (Upham run)

F -Travis Andrus 12 pass from Brock Osweiler (kick failed)

H -Tyler Ishak 58 run (Chase Kloker kick)

H - Upham 5 run (kick failed)

H -Taylor 4 pass from Upham (Kloker kick)

F - Andrus 23 pass from Osweiler (Andrus pass from Osweiler)

F - Nolan Groswiler 3 pass from Osweiler (Andrus pass from Osweiler)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Flathead, Brock Osweiler 18-50, Bryce Stacy 7-13, Travis Ozegovich 1-15. Helena, Tyler Ishak 7-135, Matt Upham 16-93, Nick Trapp 17-80, Ryan Wall 4-4.

PASSING- Flathead, Osweiler 24-43-286-2, Mike VanArendonk 0-1-0-0. Helena, Upham 5-5-74-0.

RECEIVING - Flathead, Travis Andrus 9-124, Nolan Groswiler 4-30, Bryant Eickert 3-45, Stacy 3-36, Cody Bouley 2-17, Ryan Swelland 2-15, VanArendonk 1-14. Helena, Matt Taylor 2-35, Nick Trapp 2-30, Brian Torgeson 1-9.