Capital blows past Flathead
HELENA - Was it a football game or basketball?
The Flathead Braves (0-2) and host Helena Capital combined for 111 points, 16 touchdowns and 1,182 yards at Vigilante Stadium on Friday.
Capital (2-0) came out on the winning end, 63-48.
"We battled. It was a hot day. We've come up here and kind of taken our lumps a couple of times, so I certainly was proud of our kids for answering the bell all the way," Flathead coach Russell McCarvel told the Helena Independent Record.
"In one respect, I guess it's fun since I coach a little more of the offense. But, it's a little bit hollow because I want to come away with the win. Getting a chance to play with Capital like, try to put a feather in your cap. They're such a great program, so well-coached...."
"We feel good about part of it, but the other part makes your stomach turn a little.
"Capital executes their offense as good as anybody. They execute with the ball fakes. They're quick up front, quick in the backfield."
Flathead's George Sherwood caught three touchdown passes and wound up with eight catches for 146 yards. Jeff Markavage caught 11 passes for 139 yards.
Quarterback Mike VanArendonk was 25-for-39 for 333 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions.
"George is just a junior. He had a good year last year and has really come on. Jeff is kind of a surprise kid, new to our school and has made us a little more explosive in the passing game," McCarvel said.
Capital led 35-28 at the half, but the Braves drew first blood in the third quarter, knotting the score at 35-all on a 13-yard connection from Mike VanArendonk to Sherwood at the 7:51 mark.
But Capital rebounded immediately with back-to-back scores by Jacob Grover and Brice Burton to go up 49-35 by quarter's end.
Burton had a career night for the Bruins, rushing for a school record 315 yards and four touchdowns.
"He gave us a lot of fits," McCarvel said.
"You feel like you want to stop one thing and bang, there they go up the middle for a big play."
Flathead 7 21 7 13 - 48
Capital 14 21 14 14 - 63
First quarter
HC - Brice Burton 70 yard run (Zach Clinch kick), 7:00
F - George Sherwood 30 pass from Mike Van Arendonk (Dylan Torgerson kick), 4:44
HC - Reece Miller 43 pass from Riley Sampson (Clinch kick), 3:11
Second quarter
F - Jeff Markavage 16 pass from VanArendonk (Torgeson kick), 10:39
F - Sherwood 25 pass from VanArendonk (Torgeson kick), 6:06
HC - Burton 77 run (Clinch kick), 5:47
HC-Burton 1 run (Clinch kick), 4:05
F - Travis Ozegovich 1 run (Torgeson kick), 0:58
HC - Brady Batista 41 pass from Sampson (Clinch kick), 0:17
Third quarter
F- Sherwood 13 pass from VanArendonk (Torgeson kick), 7:51
HC - Jacob Grover 9 run (Clinch kick), 4:50
HC - Burton 14 run (Clinch kick), 2:17
Fourth quarter
F -- Braxton Nimick 13 pass from VanArendonk (Torgeson kick), 11:03
HC - Grover 4 run (Clinch kick), 6:48
F - Ozegovich 1 run (kick blocked), 2:25
HC - Grover 4 run (Clinch kick), 0:29
Team Statistics
F HC
First downs 28 27
Rushes-yards 42-166 43-499
Passing yards 333 183
Total yards 499 682
Passing 25-39-0 9-13-1
Return yards 97 120
Punts/avg. 4-34 0-0
Penalties/yards 5-43 1-10
Fumbles-lost 2-0 2-1
Time of possession 26:57 21:03
Individual statistics
RUSHING - Flathead, Travis Ozegovich 23-70, Mike VanArendonk 19-96. Capital, Brice Burton 20-315, Jacob Grover 17-165, Trey Spilin 3-27, Riley Sampson 1-(-6), Reece Miller 1-(-1), Gunnar Brekke 1-(-1).
PASSING - Flathead, Mike VanArendonk 25-39-0 333. Capital, Riley Sampson 9-13-1 183.
RECEIVING - Flathead, Jeff Markavage 11-139, George Sherwood 8-146, Travis Ozegovich 3-18, Braxton Nimmick 1-13, Ian Gillespie 1-12, Drew Crosby 1-5. Capital, Quinn Chamberlain 3-36, Brady Batista 2-48, Reece Miller 1-43, Connor Lamping 1-36, Slaten Long 1-17, Coltan Pipinch 1-3.