Flathead's playoff hopes on the line at Sentinel

The Flathead Braves need a win to stay in the mix for a playoff spot when they travel to Missoula Sentinel tonight, but it won’t come easy against a potent Sentinel offense.

The Spartans feature a multi-faceted, no-huddle attack led by an accurate pocket-passer in quarterback Kade Paffhausen. Receiver Austin Violette is one of several options on the perimeter and Logan Ganieany and Jaydn Wilson comprise a productive tandem at running back.

“They are very dynamic offensively,” McCarvel said of Sentinel. “They have an excellent quarterback and they have good skill guys that are fast. They’re really diversified. They’ll throw a screen, they’ll throw a tunnel screen, they’ll throw it deep, they’ll run power football, they’ll run zone.

“A lot of times with a team you’ll say ‘this is what they do,’ but Sentinel really has the ability to do a lot of different things.”

Wilson is a bruising 245-pound runner who averages 5.0 yards per carry while Ganieany is a smaller, quicker back averaging 3.9 yards per carry. The two have combined for 118.5 yards per game.

Violette has hauled in 32 receptions for 505 yards and five touchdowns and seven different Spartans have at least five catches this season. Given Sentinel’s offensive variety, the Braves can’t afford to give Paffhausen time in the pocket. The junior quarterback is the fourth-leading passer in Class AA despite dealing with heavy pressure that has resulted in 143 negative rushing yards.

“It’s really important to get a good pass rush,” Flathead defensive end Connor Mayberry said.

Flathead (3-5) snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over Missoula Hellgate last week and is 3-1 on the road this season. Sentinel (4-4) is on a two-game losing streak after opening the season 4-2.

Flathead matched its season-high point total a week ago when it scored 21 on Hellgate, which ranks 10th in Class AA in total defense. Sentinel is 11th out of 14, but McCarvel said the Spartans have good athletes on defense, especially in the secondary.

Quarterback Easton Johnson leads the Braves with 43.9 rushing yards per game. He has completed 46 percent of his passes for an average of 103.1 yards per game through the air.

Flathead is currently 10th in the Class AA standings and is one game behind Sentinel, Great Falls C.M. Russell and Billings Senior, which are all tied for seventh at 4-4.

Tonight’s game kicks off at 7 at Missoula County Stadium.