KNOW THE FOE: Helena IR sports editor Troy Shockley previews Capital
Fresh off a 27-19 win over Butte in the season opener, Flathead now stares down one of its toughest tests of the season.
The Braves will travel to the Queen City of the Rockies to face Helena Capital, widely regarded as one of the top three teams in the state.
The Bruins edged Great Falls 28-20 in Week 1 and will try to make it a 2-0 start tonight against Flathead, which is gunning for its first 2-0 start since 2006.
With the Bruins in wait, Troy Shockley — the sports editor at the Helena Independent Record — joins us this week for Know the Foe, a weekly Q&A centered on Flathead and Glacier’s opponents.
What’s the biggest thing you learned about Capital in its Week 1 win over Great Falls?
The team’s veteran mentality was evident. Through offensive struggles in the first half, through two interceptions, the offense never looked frustrated or rattled. Same story on the defense: Kevin Boes was picking on the DBs a bit, and the Bison were getting big plays in the passing game. The line continued to stuff the ground game, though, and the defense turned in two interceptions in the final minutes to extend the lead and then run out the clock.
What should Flathead fans expect from Capital in Week 2?
There will be a heavy dose of Seth Schneider. He’s a strong, hard runner the entire game, despite also starting at linebacker. He got the ball 24 times against Great Falls, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him hit 30 this week. Brennan Casey is his backup, and would have hit 100 yards and a score if not for a last-man tackle in the second half. He’s also a pretty big threat.
Who are some specific players to watch out for?
Schneider, certainly, particularly on offense. It will be interesting to see how much vertical passing is integrated into the game plan. There wasn’t much last week, and new QB Matt McGinley – a converted cornerback – didn’t look particularly comfortable throwing the ball. He did, however, manage the game well, kept his head and ran really well. On defense, the front is particularly strong. Conor Quick and Justin Jenks are an offensive coordinator’s nightmare. In the secondary, Mark Northey had a pick-six in the scrimmage two weeks ago and followed with a fourth-quarter INT last week.
Where is Capital most improved this year from last, and where should we expect some drop-off?
I think they’ve improved simply through experience and maturity. They were starting juniors all over the field last season, and now those players are seniors with a full season of experience – and inside that season learned what it’s like to start 1-4, then win out to make the playoffs, and then turn in a first-round upset on the road. The losses have, thus far, been in the passing game. The vast majority of passing yards came off of what is essentially a jet sweep, McGinley tossing the ball to Conor McCarvel as he crosses. (It’s a smart play – a botched handoff is a fumble, but a miss here and it’s an incomplete pass and no damage done.) McGinley has the head and the athleticism to throw the ball; he just needs to game-time experience to get comfortable.
Score prediction?
This is a tough one to predict. The two teams are built similarly and Flathead should be a playoff team this year. Let’s go with Capital pulling away late. Bruins, 35-21.
Troy Shockley is the sports editor at the Helena Independent Record. You can follow him on Twitter at @IR_TroyShockley or find his work at helenair.com/sports.