Braves dump Bison in football

GREAT FALLS — The Braves are officially on a winning streak.

Flathead (2-1) downed the Great Falls Bison 31-20 at Memorial Stadium Friday to break out of a logjam of Class AA teams who entered the week at .500.

The Braves — who ran for more than 200 yards in each of their first two games — moved the ball through the air for this victory.

And they did it without star all-state receiver George Sherwood, who went out with a back injury early in the game and did not return.

Without his primary target, junior quarterback Matt Tokarz spread the ball around to four different receivers completing 11 of 21 passes for three touchdowns and 184 yards.

Flathead coach Russell McCarvel gave a lot of the credit to his offensive line which allowed Tokarz all the time he needed to find his targets.

“They played really, really well,” he said.

The play of the Flathead defense was equally impressive, he said. The Braves gave up no points in the first half.

 The Braves, who had one win a season ago, have now doubled that number.

“It’s big,” McCarvel said of the win. “The kids are very excited. Anytime you can go on the road and get a win in Class AA it’s big.”

Flathead     3     7     14    14     —     31

GFH     0     0     7     13    —    20

First Quarter

Flathead -- FG Dylan Torgerson 31, 2:02

Second Quarter

Flathead -- Matt McLean 3 pass from Matt Tokarz (Torgerson kick), 7:04

Third Quarter

GFH -- Colter Posey 2 run (Posey kick), 9:01

Flathead -- McLean 70 pass from Tokarz (Torgerson kick), 7:25

Flathead -- Kevin Grosswiler 12 pass from Tokarz (Torgerson kick), 3:18

Fourth Quarter

GFH -- Posey 6 run (Posey kick), 8:37

Flathead -- Tokarz 5 run (Torgerson kick), 3:00

GFH -- Shyke Smalls 40 pass from Posey (kick failed), 0:00

—————

        Flathead     GFH

First downs     18     18

Rushes-yards     31-90     53-234

Passing yards     184    70

Total yards     274     304

Comp-Att-Int     11-21-184     4-9-0

Punt returns-yards     1-12     3-62

Kickoff return-yards     3-54     5-132

Punts-avg.     4-35     2-37

Fumbles-lost     1-0     2-2

Penalties-yards     10-87 1    0-81

Individual statistics

Rushing -- Flathead, Matt Tokarz 13-57, Austin Root 6-21. GFH, Colter Posey 21-99, Robert Hubka 16-66, Tyson Patterson 6-26, Seth Liscum 7-32, Shyke Smalls 2-12.

Passing -- Flathead, Matt Tokarz 11-21-0--184. GFH, Colter Posey 4-9-9--70.

Receiving -- Flathead, Matt McLean 4-86, John Collins 3-38, Kevin Grosswiler 3-32, Nick James 1-28. GFH, Shyke Smalls 2-39, Ethan Anderson 1-16, Sam Wingerter 1-15.