Flathead wallops Butte in opener

The Daily Inter Lake

BUTTE - Travis Ozegovich gained 111 yards rushing and Jackson Spooner blocked a field goal attempt, then scooped the ball up and returned it 79 yards for a touchdown as the Flathead Braves defeated host Butte 21-10 in the season opener for both schools.

"It was a great game," said Flathead head coach Russell McCarvel.

"Our assistant coaches put together a great game plan on both sides of the ball," the coach said.

"Our offensive and defensive front were amazing. They did a great job," he added.

"Our offensive line, (Jeremy Grosswiler, Connor Thomas, Austin Bradley, Luke Scholler, Andrew Gilpin, and Trevor Beaman) they all did a great job," the coach said.

The Braves opened the game with a 40-yard connection between quarterback Mike VanArendonk and George Sherwood.

"Mike VanArendonk managed the game well," the coach said.

Flathead got a huge boost late in the half when Spooner blocked the field goal.

"Jeremy Grosswiler made a great block on that upfield to spring him," the coach said.

That put the Braves on top 14-3 at the half.

Butte cut into that margin with a two-yard run by A.J. Leyba midway through the third quarter, but the Braves bounced back with a 9-yard VanArendonk run in the fourth.

"Our defensive front did a great job of putting pressure on (the Bulldogs)," McCarvel said.

And on the offensive side, Flathead put together two long fourth quarter drives that chewed up a good chunk of the clock.

One drive resulted in a missed field goal attempt and the second in a 9-yard VanArendonk run.

Sherwood caught three passes for 44 yards.

The Braves will have their home opener next Thursday when they play host to Helena Capital, a 40-14 winner Friday over Great Falls High.

Flathead 7 7 0 7- 21

Butte High 3 0 7 0 - 10

First Quarter

FLA - George Sherwood 40 pass from Mike VanArendonk (Gregory Seaman kick), 6:17

BUTTE - FG Matt Berg 43, 3:35

Second Quarter

FLA - Jackson Spooner 79 blocked field goal return (Seaman kick), 10:7

Third Quarter

BUTTE - A.J. Leyba 2 run (Berg kick), 9:03

Fourth Quarter

FLA - VanArendonk 9 run (Seaman kick), 8:03

Fla Butte

First downs 14 18

Rushes-yards 51-156 41-156

Passes 5-13-1 15-42-2

Passing yards 74 152

Punts-avg. 5-26.8 4-30.0

Return yards 85 0

Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-0

Penalties-yards 5-30 4-35

Individual Statistics' RUSHING - Flathead, Travis Ozegovich 33-111, Mike VanArendonk 16-32, Trevor Beaman 3-13, George Sherwood 1-4, Zach Diest 1-(-4). Butte High, Zack Bolton 19-86, Matt Piazzola 5-32, A.J. Leyba 8-31, Matt Berg 7-7, Skyler Criscuolo 1-0.

PASSING - Flathead, VanArendonk 4-11-1-63, Sherwood 1-2-0-11. Butte High, Berg 15-41-1-152, Leyba 0-1-1-0.

RECEIVING - Flathead, Sherwood 3-44, Dominic Eickert 1-15, Calvin Athy 1-10. Butte High, Leyba 5-57, Tim Dick 3-49, Jake Dallaserra 3-33, Bolton 3-5, Piazzola 1-1.

MISSED FIELD GOALS, Flathead, Seaman 23 (WL); Butte High, Berg 35 (BL).