Flathead heads east to face top seed West

The four-game losing streak?

Doesn't matter.

The two-year state playoffs hiatus?

So what.

Flathead football coach Russell McCarvel said Thursday that he and his team are focused on one thing and one team only - the Billings West Golden Bears.

The Braves will take on the No. 1 team in Class AA tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Wendy's Field at Daylis Stadium in Billings.

As the No. 8 seed, Flathead (4-6) is tasked with doing something only Helena High has done this season. The Bengals knocked off the Golden Bears (9-1) 42-35 in the second week of the season. Since then, Billings West has rattled off eight straight wins.

McCarvel is blunt when he describes their weaknesses, or rather their lack thereof.

"They have no weaknesses," McCarvel said Thursday as his team traveled to Butte, where they planned to stay the night. "You watch them on film, and (realize) we will have to have a great team effort."

That effort might begin on defense.

The Golden Bears are ranked No. 1 in total offense this season having accumulated a total of 3,908 yards. Their scheme has been balanced, with 1,659 rushing yards and 2,249 passing yards.

The team averages 6.6 yards per play and 390 yards a game.

They're led by Brady Gustafson. The 6-foot-7 quarterback has completed close to 60 percent of his passes for 2,217 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.

"He's fantastic," McCarvel said. "He's one of the best prospects in the state."

And if Gustafson is missing his spots, running back Clay Compton provides a potent offensive threat as well. He has rushed for 1,189 yards and 14 touchdowns, doing so while averaging 6.1 yards a carry.

Flathead is currently ranked dead last in total defense among the 14 Class AA schools. But McCarvel said it will take more than just a defensive effort to overcome the Golden Bears.

"I don't think you can single out (just one area)," he said. "It's got to be a team effort. Offense, defense, special teams... we will need all of it."

The Braves' offense can present some challenges of its own.

Flathead is ranked third in total offense this season with 2,321 rushing yards and 1,535 passing yards.

The unit has been piloted all year by junior quarterback Matt Tokarz, the state's leader in total offense. Tokarz leads the Braves in rushing with 911 yards and eight touchdowns. He's also passed for 1,656 yards and 20 touchdowns.

"He has to run the team," McCarvel said. "And when we're throwing the ball, we need to make good decisions."

If statistics count for anything, the Braves appear to prefer running the ball. They rank third in the state in rushing with 2,162 yards.

They did it against Big Sky last week, walloping the Eagles 48-12 while totaling 355 yards on the ground. The carries were split between Tokarz, seniors John Collins and Michael Managhan and junior Austin Root.

"I thought those guys did a great job," McCarvel said. "They all bring different characteristics to the game, different things they do well."

But running the ball - like many other things - will likely be hard to do against Billing West, which has the state's third best rushing defense.

Regardless, McCarvel said his players have had one of their best weeks of practice this season and appear ready for the challenge.

He said he's thrilled that both Flathead and No. 4 Glacier are in the playoff hunt.

"I think it's pretty neat for the community that both teams are in the playoffs in a fairly short time (since they split)," he said.

If the Braves were to win - and Glacier follows suit - the two teams would collide at Legends Stadium next week.

For now though, McCarvel's thoughts are on Billings West. He said the Braves will need a lot to go right in order to advance.

"When you're an underdog, you're going to need everything," he said.