New coach, new approach for Flathead
<p>Flathead Braves head football coach Kyle Samson instructs his team during practice at Legends Stadium on Wednesday. Flathead opens the season tonight at Legends Stadium at 7 versus Great Falls High. Samson is in his first year with the Braves. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
With the sun shining over the Flathead Valley, a new era of Flathead Braves football is set to kick off tonight at Legends Stadium.
A new coach has brought a new vision to the Flathead sidelines: play for your teammate and good things will happen.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a standout on either side of the ball. I think the strength of our team is that we play as a team, and there aren’t a bunch of individuals,” first-year head coach Kyle Samson said.
“I think the kids are really buying in to playing for each other.”
Coming off a 3-7 season, a modest Samson has the Braves flying around the practice field, itching to unleash their new look on Great Falls High at 7 p.m. — a team they beat 20-14 on the road in last year’s season opener.
The visiting Bison are coming off a 1-9 season — their only win coming in Week 2 in the form of a 17-7 victory over Missoula Hellgate. But Great Falls will be hungry and its size is an advantage Samson noticed immediately.
“The one thing I noticed on film is that they’re big,” Samson said.
“They’ve got good size and they’re coached really well. For us, in the first game, we don’t really want to worry about our opponent as much. We have to be focused on ourselves and what we’re doing.
“The biggest thing we have talked about is playing hard for four quarters and making sure our alignment and assignments are good and going out there and executing as best we can.”
Samson earned plenty of accolades as a Montana prep athlete, but the former MSU-Northern offensive coordinator has his eyes set on the future and has returning weapons ready to make an impact.
Starting quarterback, senior Easton Johnson, returns for his second year under center for the Braves. As a junior, Johnson was 121 for 250 passing for 1,027 yards and six touchdowns. He added 532 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. The dual-threat signal caller has impressed his new head coach heading into the season opener.
“He’s had a heck of an offseason. Since I’ve met him he’s done a great job picking up our offense and we expect big things,” Samson said.
“He’s been a great leader for us. I think he’s going to have a heck of year.”
The running game will feature a couple of big newcomers to the backfield. Payton Boyce and Josh McCracken had limited carries last season, but their size and strength, along with a solid offensive line, is a perfect combination for a breakout year.
Opening holes for Boyce and McCracken is an offensive line that may look undersized on paper, but their tenacity can be heard from the top row at Legends Stadium. Center Riley Leigh and right guard Greg Kelly have been voted as team captains for a unit looking to establish an identity from the first snap.
“We’re not the biggest team by any means, but the one thing they’re doing a great job of is they’re great with their fundamentals,” Samson said.
“They get off the ball hard and they play together. We’re not going to out-match any body with our size, but hopefully with our heart and determination the offensive line can be the heart of our team.”
Defensively, the Braves welcome back 2013 all-state selection Jess Beaman. The safety had three interceptions last season, two of which came in a 21-14 victory against Missoula Big Sky in Week 4.
He’ll partner up with cornerbacks Levi Brenneman and Jacob Link, a pair of seniors focused on locking down the perimeter in the defensive backfield.
“Those two guys have done a great job and they get better every day. I have 110 percent faith in them and they’re going to have a heck of a year,” Samson said.
With the field striped and the stadium packed, the lights will dawn on the future of the oldest football program in Kalispell. When the opening kick off has left the tee, one thing will be for certain — the Flathead Braves are moving forward.
Flathead Braves 2014 Schedule
Week 1: vs. Great Falls High, 7 p.m.
Week 2: at Billings Skyview, 7 p.m.
Week 3: at Helena Capital, 7 p.m.
Week 4: vs. Missoula Big Sky, 7 p.m.
Week 5: at Great Falls C.M. Russell, 7:30 p.m.
Week 6: vs. Helena High, 7 p.m.
Week 7: at Bozeman, 7 p.m.
Week 8: vs. Missoula Hellgate, 7 p.m.
Week 9: vs. Missoula Sentinel, 7 p.m.
Week 10: vs. Glacier, 7 p.m.