Braves make AA football playoffs

| October 29, 2011 12:20 AM

MISSOULA - After a two-year hiatus, Flathead is back in the playoffs.

The Braves dismantled Missoula Hellgate 48-12 Friday night, good enough to land them among the top eight teams in Class AA.

The victory improved Flathead's record to 4-6 and snapped a four-game losing streak.

The Braves played like the hard-charging rushing team that built a 3-2 record in the first half of the season as they racked up 355 yards on the ground.

Flathead got production out of all three of its primary running backs. John Collins returned from an ankle injury to rush for 96 yards on 11 carries, Michael Managhan carried the ball six times for 91 yards and Austin Root racked up 84 yards on 10 carries.

Flathead quarterback Matt Tokarz, who leads the team in rushing, had 51 yards on 13 carries and completed 11 of 17 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns while throwing no interceptions.

It was 31-6 at halftime. The Braves outscored the Knights 17-6 in the second half.

Flathead's six touchdowns were scored by six different players - Tokarz, George Sherwood, Managhan, Collins, Austin Jones and Root. Kicker Dylan Torgerson kicked two field goals.

Flathead has now made the Class AA playoffs in three of the past five seasons. It's the first time in the five-year existence of Glacier High School that both Kalispell schools have made the post season.

Flathead coach Russell McCarvel said on Thursday that such a scenario would be "a big deal for both schools."

"They're new, they've got new stuff," McCarvel said. "But we're just as new of a school athletically as they are. And for us to be able to make it would be a big deal for our program, no question."

Flathead will open the playoffs on the road against the No. 1 seed in Class AA.

Flathead 14 17 7 10 - 48
Hellgate 6 0 0 6 - 12

First quarter

F - Michael Managhan 49 run (Dylan Torgerson kick), 5:25

F - George Sherwood 11 pass from Matt Tokarz (Torgerson kick), 1:33

H - Josh Nordwick 6 run (kick failed), 0:36

Second quarter

F - Tokarz 1 run (Torgerson kick), 9:15

F - Austin Jones 13 pass from Tokarz (Torgerson kick), 0:18

F - FG Torgerson 26

Third quarter

F - John Collins 7 run (Torgerson kick), 7:29

Fourth quarter

F - FG Torgerson 33, 10:16

F - Austin Root 14 run, 6:19

H - Nordwick 2 run (run failed), :038

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING - Flathead (51-355): Collins 11-96, Managhan 6-91, Root 10-84, Tokarz 13-51, Juston Windom 7-24, unidentified player 2-6, Brett Handford 1-4, unidentified player 1-(-1). Hellgate (30-176): Nordwick 16-105, Arledge 4-57, Andy Nemec 4-9, Zach Peevey 5-5.

PASSING - Flathead: Tokarz 11-17-0-147. Hellgate: Nemec 8-15-0-79, Arledge 0-1-0-0, Nordwick 1-1-0-21.

RECEIVING - Flathead: Sherwood 3-72, Matt McLean 3-45, Jones 1-13, Drew Crosby 1-11, Kevin Grosswiler 1-7, Shea Schroeder 1-3, Collins 1-(-4). Hellgate: Peevey 6-59, Nemec 1-21, DeYoung 1-9.