Class AA Football

| September 3, 2009 12:00 AM

The Daily Inter Lake

Today: Helena Capital (1-0) at Flathead (1-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Legends Stadium

Last Week FOR CAPITAL: The Bruins opened the season at home with a 40-14 victory over Great Falls High. Matt Miller, a 6-foot-4, 210 pound senior receiver, had TD runs of 14 and 82 yards. Quarterback Schuyler Watt threw two TD passes to Jake Olson, 20 and 7 yards. The Bruins had 346 yards rushing on 38 attempts and 464 yards in total offense.

LAST WEEK FOR FLATHEAD: The Braves opened with a big road victory at Butte, 21-10. Running back Travis Ozegovich (5-9, 200, jr. ) had 11 carries for 125 yards. Quarterback Mike VanArendonk (6-1, 180, jr.) ran for one TD and passed 40 yards to George Sherwood for another. Jackson Spooner blocked a field goal, then scooped the ball up and ran 79 yards for the other TD. Spooner (6-4, 183, jr.) led the defense from his end position with 10 tackles. Strong safety Josh Turner (5-11, 165, sr.) and linebacker Trevor Beaman (6-0, 220, jr.) both had six tackles. Corner back Zack Deist (5-6, 155, sr.) had an interception. The Braves had 220 yards in total offense and allowed 308.

Last year: Top-ranked Capital (10-0) crushed No. 4 Flathead (6-4) 65-27 in the regular-season finale for both teams. Miller scored two TDs in that contest, 51-yard run and 17-yard pass. That snapped Flathead's six-game winning streak. The Braves advanced to the playoffs, losing in the first round. Capital went on to win its third-straight state championship.

Key STATS: Flathead had just one turnover and two penalties at Butte. It was the first time Flathead won a season opener under coach Russell McCarvel, now in his third season. The Braves started 0-2 and 0-3 the last two seasons. Capital has won 22 straight games.

SWEEP FOR FHS: For the first time in four years, all three Flathead teams won on the same weekend. The JV beat Butte 34-9 and the sophomores cruised to an easy 27-0 victory.

McCARVEL'S CORNER: "We will have to play sound, fundamental defensive football," he said. "They (Bruins' do so well in the misdirection. If you don't do your job, they will break it and score. They are very fast.

"Offensively, we will have to run the ball effectively and not many teams have (on Capital). We are more of a grind it out team (this year). Hopefully we can make some plays through the air."