AA football: Braves hit the road to test Billings Skyview
Roughly 410 miles away is the Flathead Braves Week 2 AA football opponent — the Billings Skyview Falcons.
Whether or not the travel will be a factor remains to be seen, but the Braves are heading into this week’s matchup facing a team who caught the attention of the entire state in the opening week of the season.
Billings Skyview is coming off a 21-17 road victory over the defending Class AA state champions from Bozeman High. The Falcons held Bozeman to just 225 yards in total offense while shutting out the Hawks in the second half.
The Braves will have the task of stopping senior fullback Justin Keeling. Keeling hit the century-mark in the Week 1 victory, carrying 15 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Flathead, who defeated Great Falls High 13-12 in their season opener, should match up well with the style of play Skyview brings to the gridiron.
The Braves gave up 240 passing yards to Great Falls while holding them to a mere 65 yards on the ground. Led by senior defensive end Aaron Siderius, the Braves interior will be key to stopping Skyview’s ground attack.
Against Bozeman, Skyview attempted just 11 passes while running the ball 32 times. Falcons’ junior quarterback Logan Nelson threw two interceptions in the game and will have to face a Braves defense that forced two turnovers against Great Falls — a fumble recovery and an interception.
Offensively, the Braves will give the Falcons a heavy dose of Josh McCracken and Payton Boyce. The two junior running backs combined for 182 rushing yards in the opener — McCracken finished with 110 while Boyce added 72 respectively.
Like his Skyview counterpart, Flathead quarterback Easton Johnson attempted 11 passes against Great Falls, including a 17-yard touchdown strike to McCracken. Johnson finished with just 51 yards through the air, but he gained 43 yards with his legs, showing his mobility by eluding Great Falls defenders.
Both teams will keep the ball on the ground, but a break-through passing game could lead to a victory for either side. In Billings, something will have to give in this early season battle of undefeated teams.