Flathead looks to bounce back after loss at Skyview
In the early 2014 football season, the Flathead Braves have shown plenty of promise as well as room for improvement.
After a well-rounded 13-12 win over Great Falls in Week 1, where Flathead rushed for 215 yards, the Braves turned the ball over four times in their 30-13 road loss to Billings Skyview last week.
Despite giving up 30 points in Week 2, the Braves’ defense held the Falcons to under 270 yards of total offense and stopped Skyview in the fourth quarter, forcing the Falcons to punt with just over seven minutes left while facing an eight-point deficit.
Although Flathead’s third interception of the game diminished its comeback opportunity as the Flacons punched in a late score, the Braves are carrying plenty of confidence in their Week 3 matchup tonight with the Helena Capital Bruins at Vigilante Stadium.
“I was proud of the way our kids fought and Skyview is a very good football team,” said Braves head coach Kyle Samson.
“I thought our defense did a great job shutting them down in the second half. Offensively, we were good at times, but we got off to a slow start and shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers. We’re going to be focusing on our consistency and starting faster than last week.”
A fast start would bode well against Capital (1-1), who scored 29 first-half points in a 36-6 Week 1 rout of Missoula Hellgate.
But the Bruins can be tamed.
Capital is coming off a 14-7 loss to Butte in Week 2. Like the Braves’ second game of the season, the Bruins threw three interceptions and gave up a fumble in the loss to the Bulldogs.
No Bruin has rushed for over 100 yards this season, but six different Capital ball carriers have rushed for 30 yards or more, including Ethan Askam, who has 64 yards on 14 carries this season.
Capital quarterback Gus Chancy will be targeting wideout Sean Mulcahy. Mulcahy is averaging 84 receiving yards a game and has two touchdowns.
“They’re pretty balanced. They throw and run the ball pretty dang well,” Samson said.
“They have a good quarterback with a solid arm, good running backs, good receivers and they very well coached.”
Led by senior defensive end Aaron Siderius, the Braves’ defense will try to recreate Butte’s performance and hold the Bruins’ offense in check.
Capital’s defense gives up an average of 137 rushing yards a game while surrendering an average of 146 passing yards. While Flathead hasn’t shown an ability to carve up a secondary through the air, junior running backs Josh McCracken and Payton Boyce have led a punishing ground attack that matches up well against the Bruins defense.
McCracken, Boyce and senior quarterback Easton Johnson have all registered more than 20 carries so far and a successful rushing attack could prove to be vital against a vulnerable Capital defense.
“Especially on the road, we’ve got to start fast,” Samson said.
“We can’t react to what they’re doing; we’ve got to have a great start to the game and make things happen for ourselves.”
While Samson steps on the sidelines at Vigilante Stadium for the first time as a visitor, former Flathead head coach Russell McCarvel will face the Braves from the opposing coaches’ box as the Bruins offensive coordinator.
Although Samson noted facing his alma mater doesn’t give him any extra incentive to win, he’s excited to return the Helena community.
“It’s going to be pretty special to walk onto that field again,” Samson said.
“I have a ton or respect for that staff. A lot of those coaches are guys I’ve been coach by or played with. They’re going to have their boys ready to go with it being their first home game. I have a lot of respect for that program. It’s going to be a battle, and our kids are excited to play a great game.”