Braves back on the road for a test with Bozeman
For the Flathead Braves football team, it's been more harm than charm regarding the schedule.
For the third time this month, Flathead finds itself on the road.
The Braves (1-3) play at Bozeman (2-2) tonight at 7 to close out a well-traveled month of September.
"After Bozeman, we're home three weeks in a row," Flathead coach Russell McCarvel said.
"So this is a big game for us."
Flathead fell 40-22 at Helena High on Sept. 5 and lost at Missoula Big Sky 20-17 on Sept. 13.
Flathead is coming off an impressive 45-29 victory over Butte at Legends Stadium last Friday, while Bozeman drilled Billings Senior 42-21.
"Well on paper, we're two evenly matched teams," McCarvel said.
"Their front seven (defensively) is pretty darn good. As good as anybody we'll face. They are very physical."
Anchoring the defensive front for Bozeman is 6-foot-1, 263-pound Darian Jones at tackle.
"He moves around a lot," McCarvel said.
"We have to do a good job on him."
The other standout is middle linebacker Todd Henrich, 5-10, 210.
The responsibility for handling Bozeman in the trenches will fall on center Charlie Farrington (6-2, 264, senior), guards Connor Thomas (6-5, 240, sophomore) and Jeremy Grosswiler (6-1, 190, junior), and tackles Tyler Thomas (6-4, 285, senior) and Paul Streich (6-2, 215, senior).
Farrington, Tyler Thomas and Streich are returning starters.
"We matchup OK," McCarvel said in the line.
"It's pretty even.
"Our offensive line does a good job," he stressed.
"Coach Jay Green has done a good job getting those guys ready each week."
McCarvel said the Braves are still a little banged up with Bryce Stacy, running back and defensive back, and Bryant Eickert, wide receiver and defensive back, nursing shoulder injuries. Ryan Swelland, defensive back, has a tender ankle.
If that wasn't enough, several players have missed practice this week because of illness.
"We've had a lot of sickness," McCarvel said.
"That's been our biggest concern."
Class AA
W-L
Billings West 4-0
Helena Capital 4-0
Great Falls 3-1
Great Falls CMR 3-1
Helena 3-1
Billings Skyview 2-2
Bozeman 2-2
Glacier 2-2
Missoula Big Sky 2-2
Missoula Sentinel 2-2
Flathead 1-3
Billings Senior 0-4
Butte 0-4
Missoula Hellgate 0-4
Today
7 p.m. - Great Falls at Glacier
7 p.m. - Flathead at Bozeman
Helena Capital at Billings West
Billings Skyview at Missoula Big Sky
Billings Senior at Missoula Sentinel
Missoula Hellgate at Great Falls CMR
Butte at Helena
Last Friday
Billings West 49, Missoula Hellgate 0
Bozeman 42, Billings Senior 21
Billings Skyview 22, Great Falls 21
Kalispell Flathead 45, Butte 29
Missoula Sentinel 25, Missoula Big Sky 13
Last Saturday
Great Falls CMR 30, Kalispell Glacier 13
Helena Capital 34, Helena 14