Senior rolls by Flathead
After a close first half, Flathead’s offense sputtered and Billings Senior running black Nolan Saracini broke loose on several long runs as the Broncs defeated Flathead 41-21 in the season-opener at Legends Stadium Friday.
Flathead took a 21-20 lead with 1:50 left in the second quarter when Austin Root scored on a 3-yard touchdown run, but Senior (1-0) rallied with a 79-yard touchdown drive to take a 28-21 lead at the half.
While surrendering the lead just before half time was a tough blow, Root said the Braves still felt good about their chances.
“We had an error, but we were still in it,” Root said.
Flathead forced a three-and-out on Senior’s opening possession of the second half and Flathead quarterback Matt Tokarz scampered 26 yards on the Braves’ first snap of the half before a leg cramp forced him out of the game.
Flathead struggled to move the ball without its starting quarterback, picking up just one first down while backups Easton Johnson and Garrett Anderson each threw an interception.
“Every team depends on its starting quarterback,” Flathead head coach Russell McCarvel said. “We kind of came to a halt when (Tokarz) went out. We stopped them to start the second half and had a little drive going when he cramped up.”
Senior reached the end zone twice in the third quarter as quarterback Luke Paine picked apart Flathead’s secondary and Saracini gained traction on the ground after a slow start. Paine found receiver Joe Zimmer over the middle for a 31-yard touchdown to make the score 35-21. After a three-and-out by Flathead, Saracini broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and outran the Braves’ defenders for a 64-yard score.
“We weren’t containing Saracini like we should’ve been,” Root said. “We were getting beat.”
Senior was efficient through the air as Paine and Zimmer combined for 21 completions and 253 yards on 29 attempts.
McCarvel lamented Flathead’s inability to stop Senior’s drives.
“It seemed like they got a lot of big plays on fourth downs,” he said.
Tokarz ran for 77 yards on 11 carries despite missing nearly all of the second half.
Root also had a big game on the ground, running for 75 yards on 13 carries. Jerum AuClaire picked up 28 yards on six carries for the Braves.
McCarvel said his team can take several positives from the losing effort going into next week’s contest against Missoula Big Sky.
“We did a lot of good things tonight,” he said. “Guys played hard. Austin Root and Jerum (AuClaire) ran hard.”
Root credited his success to his offensive line.
“Our line goes both ways every down,” he said. “They worked hard down there.”
Flathead drew first blood, driving 62 yards on its opening possession for a touchdown capped with a 5-yard-run by Tokarz.
Senior responded with three unanswered touchdowns to take a 20-7 lead before Tokarz found Nick Iavicoli in the front corner of the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown.
Billings Senior 13 15 13 0 — 41
Flathead 7 14 0 0 — 21
First Quarter
F — Matt Tokarz 5 run (Dylan Torgerson kick), 7:52.
S — Nolan Saraceni 6 run (Brennan Nielsen kick), 2:08.
S — Levi Beck 65 pass from Joe Zimmer (kick failed), 0:00.
Second Quarter
S — Levi Beck 15 pass from Luke Paine (Nielsen kick), 7:09.
F — Nick Iavicoli 27 pass from Tokarz (Torgerson kick), 4:50.
F — Austin Root 3 run (Torgerson kick), 1:50.
S — Scottie Cringler 12 pass from Paine (Tristan Bends pass from Zimmer), 0:14.
Third Quarter
S — Joe Zimmer 31 pass from Paine (Nielsen kick), 3:29.
S — Saraceni 65 run (kick blocked), 0:25.
————
S F
First Downs 18 11
Total Net Yards 550 276
Rushes-Yards 41-297 31-180
Passing 253 96
Punt Returns 2-14 0-0
Kickoff Returns 5-106 6-113
Comp-Att-Int 21-29-0 6-18-2
Punts 3-26.3 6-41.7
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 11-65 6-30
———
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Senior, Luke Paine 6-18, Nolan Saraceni 22-221, Joe Zimmer 1-6, Tristan Bends 1-1, Wade Cicierski 11-51. Flathead, Matt Tokarz 11-77, Easton Johnson 1-0, Austin Root 13-75, Jerum AuClaire 6-28.
PASSING — Senior, Luke Paine 19-27-154-3, Joe Zimmer 2-2-99-1. Flathead, Matt Tokarz 5-11-90-1, Easton Johnson 1-6-6-0, Garrett Anderson 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING — Senior, Nolan Saraceni 4-17, Kelly Tipton 5-40, Joe Zimmer 4-44, Scottie Cringler 1-12, Brennan Nielsen 2-42, Wade Cicierski 1-(-1), Levi Beck 4-99.