Bulldogs get away from Braves
Butte wide receiver Tim Dick (21) is pressured by and brought down by Flathead linebacker Travis Ozegovich (left) and linebacker Cody Stinger (far right) during the first half of their AA football game on Friday at Legends Stadium.
Flathead linebacker Travis Ozegovich, 33, takes down Butte running back Kyle Shaw, 5, during the first half of their game on Friday in Kalispell. At half time Butte was up 24 to 7.
Flathead defensive end Garrett Yarde, 49, attempts to tackle Butte quarterback Matt Berg, 12, but cannot reach him before he throws the pass.
Flathead quarterback Mike VanArendonk, 12, throwing a pass during the game against Butte on Friday in Kalispell.
Opportunities were there Friday for the Flathead Braves.
Unfortunately, so were the fumbles (three) and stalled drives as the Braves fell 41-21 to visiting Butte in the season opener at Legends Stadium.
And everybody who was at this game will be talking about Butte quarterback Matt Berg for awhile.
Berg completed 82 percent of his attempts - 27-for-33 for 360 yards - and threw three touchdowns passes. The Bulldogs also had a 49-yard halfback pass from Dunk Abbott to Tim Dick.
Butte coach Arie Grey was absolutely beaming afterward.
"This is a great way to start the year. It's obviously a nice deal. It's been awhile since we've won up here. The kids worked their butts off, the coaches put a great game plan together and the kids executed. We can't ask for anything better," he said.
"We had too many turnovers and their quarterback absolutely shredded us. We didn't get enough incompletions," said Flathead coach Russell McCarvel.
"We weren't able to get that big stop. Offensively, we weren't able to get that big play. We certainly made some plays," he said.
"But they had a good game plan against us. They did a great job with short screens and we gave up two big plays on the first two drives," McCarvel said.
"(Berg) played pretty well," Grey said.
"He's a pretty good little player. It's exciting to watch him grow. He's a three-year starter. He does a good job getting the ball where it needs to be," Grey said.
Butte opened things up right away. It took just one minute, one second to drive 76 yards on its opening drive.
Berg found Mason McLaughlin open behind the Flathead defense for a 56-yard touchdown.
The Braves answered with a three-and-out for a one-yard loss.
Butte's second scoring drive lasted three plays.
Less than three minutes in, the Bulldogs were up 14-0.
"It's always nice to start out hot," Grey said.
"We're a flow team and we did that and I was really proud of them."
The Braves moved the ball on their next two possessions - only to fumble both drives away.
They did cut into the Butte lead with a 27-yard Mike VanArendonk to George Sherwood connection early in the second quarter.
But the Bulldogs responded with a 15-play, six-minute drive and a three-yard touchdown pass from Berg to McLaughlin.
"A couple times when it seemed like we were getting back in it, they drove down and got a score," McCarvel said.
The Bulldogs answered every Flathead score with one of their own.
"We handled them battling back and we answered every time they answered. I'm really proud of the kids for that. You've got to be able to do that," Grey said.
"The O-line play extremely well. We battled and hung in there and did what we had to do to move the ball," he said.
Offensively, the Bulldogs outgained the Braves 514 to 372.
VanArendonk was 22-for-39 for 301 yards and two touchdowns. Sherwood caught seven passes for 135 yards and had both scores. But the Braves ran for just 71 total yards.
"We got some big plays in the passing game and that was good. George had some nice catches. Mike had some good throws.
"But we have to regroup. We have to find senior leadership. We have to watch film, see which things we need to work on," McCarvel said.
Butte 14 10 14 3 - 41
Flathead 0 7 14 0 - 21
First Quarter
B - Mason McLaughlin 56 pass from Matt Berg (Berg kick), 11:59.
B - Matt Piazzola 2 run (Berg kick), 9:13.
Second Quarter
F - George Sherwood 27 pass from Mike VanArendonk (Dylan Torgerson kick), 8:33.
B - McLaughlin 3 pass from Berg (Berg kick), 3:43.
B - Berg 25 field goal, :00.
Third Quarter
F - Sherwood 24 pass from VanArendonk (Torgerson kick), 8:53.
B - Berg 5 run (Berg kick), 2:35.
B - Dunk Abbot 14 pass from Berg (Berg kick), 2:35
F - VanArendonk 7 run (Torgerson kick), :08.
Fourth Quarter
B - Berg 42 field goal, 7:37.