Big plays help Miles City slip by Polson
POLSON - Polson's unbeaten season came to a screeching halt Saturday as defending state champion Miles City edged the Pirates 7-6 to advance in the Class A football playoffs.
The Pirates' powerhouse offense moved the ball late in the fourth quarter but an interception in the end zone with less than a minute to go ended the charge.
Polson also missed a potential game-winning field goal attempt inside the five-minute mark.
"I knew that for both teams, they're strength definitely is with their defense," Polson coach Scott Wilson said. "It was one of those fights. They took advantage and had a huge special teams play. We played great defensively."
The No. 4 Pirates (8-1) scored on a six-yard run by quarterback Vince DiGiallonardo with 1:36 to go in the first quarter but couldn't convert an extra point attempt.
The Cowboys (9-2) responded immediately.
Robert Nalewaja returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. Andrew Abel kicked the extra point to give the Cowboys a 7-6 lead that would last for the remaining three quarters.
"They're a good bunch of kids," Wilson said of his team. "These kids, I think, came a long way in terms of what the expectations of people were. They had their minds set on a goal and they were a great team. Fun bunch of kids to coach."
DiGiallonardo rushed for 74 yards on 26 carries. Nalewaja carried the ball 21 times for 67 yards. The Pirates' defense, which posted four shutouts during the regular season, allowed a total of 170 yards.
It was Polson's 10th trip to the playoffs in the last 11 seasons.
Fifth-ranked Miles City advanced to the quarterfinals with a 57-14 victory over Livingston in the opening round. Polson had a bye in the first round.
The Cowboys will face No. 2 Billings Central in the semifinals on Saturday.
Miles City 7 0 0 0 - 7
Polson 6 0 0 0 - 6
P - Vince DiGiallonardo 6 run (kick failed)
M - Robert Nalewaja 80 kickoff return (Andrew Abel kick)
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Havre 30, Hamilton 14
At Havre
Hamilton 7 0 0 7 - 14
Havre 8 14 0 8 - 30
Hamilton - Seth Ray 8 blocked punt return (Seth Mason kick)
Havre - Thurman Holdsclaw 3 run (Ryan Brandt run)
Havre - Holdsclaw 20 pass from Justin Jensen (kick failed)
Havre - Brayden Grimson 7 pass from Jensen (Brandt run)
Hamilton - Dustin Weidenkeller 2 pass from Tyler Murray (Mason kick)
Havre - Brandt 6 run (Holdsclaw pass from Jensen)
Billings Central 14, Stevensville 12
At Billings
Stevensville 0 6 6 0 - 12
Central 7 0 7 0 - 14
BC -- Jacob Stanton 27 pass from Ryan Burke (Luke Daly kick)
S -- Dylan Reed 25 pass from Caleb Vance (kick failed)
BC -- Connor Cerkovnik 7 run (Daly kick),
S -- Josh Lords 89 pass from Vance (run failed)
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Friday
Dillon 35, Laurel 13
At Dillon
Laurel 6 7 0 0 - 13
Dillon 6 12 3 14 - 35
DIL - T. Linder 2 run (kick failed)
LAU - Dylan Kramer 4 run (kick failed)
DIL - Dilan Starkel 33 run (pass failed)
DIL - Linder 1 run (run failed)
LAU - Kramer 1 run (Kameron Fisher kick)
DIL - FG Wes Knox 40
DIL - Linder 2 run (Knox kick)
DIL - Linder 4 run (Knox kick)