Flathead drops tight Homecoming game

Flathead wide receiver Eli Coopman (6) picks up yardage after a reception in the first quarter against Missoula Sentinel at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Flathead quarterback Brett Pesola (4) runs for a touchdown in the third quarter against Missoula Sentinel at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Flathead defensive lineman Kohen Rilley (69) loses his helmet sacking Missoula Sentinel quarterback Jace Koshatka (2) in the first quarter at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Flathead wide receiver Lane Chivers (3) catches a pass along the sideline in the third quarter against Missoula Sentinel at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Flathead wide receivers Eli Coopman (6) and Brandon Holzer (10) celebrate after Coopman's touchdown reception in the first quarter against Missoula Sentinel at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Flathead defenders Nolan Campbell (24), Lane Chivers (3) and Will Hollensteiner (7) bring down Missoula Sentinel wide receiver Kyler Haslam (24) in the second half at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Flathead head coach Caleb Aland celebrates with wide receiver Eli Coopman (6) after Coopman's touchdown reception in the first quarter against Missoula Sentinel at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Flathead wide receiver Noah Sonju (8) picks up yardage after a reception in the third quarter against Missoula Sentinel at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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by JON ALLEN
Staff Writer | September 21, 2024 12:00 AM

Colin Lerback scored a pair of touchdowns, including the go-ahead 1-yard carry as Missoula Sentinel spoiled Flathead’s homecoming 25-23 at Legends Stadium Friday.

Braves quarterback Brett Pesola threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Flathead (0-4, 0-2 in Western AA games) capitalized on three of their four redzone drives.

“All week we were preaching that we could play with anybody as long as we were consistent with what we do,” Braves coach Caleb Aland said. “Our defense has been playing lights out and I think that is the closest game we have played to executing on all three phases.”

Flathead forced a pair of special teams turnovers, both setting up scoring drives for the offense. The first, a punt that bounced off a Sentinel player’s head, led to a Will Hollensteiner field goal.

The Spartans (2-2 overall, 1-1 in Western AA) jumped on top with three minutes to go in the first quarter on a 24-yard pass from Jace Koshatka to Jaxon Allery. A missed extra point kept it 6-0.

Flathead answered back quickly as Lane Chivers found Eli Coopman for a 4-yard touchdown on a double reverse pass making it 7-6. Coopman led the Braves receiving corps with seven grabs for 87 yards.

“The biggest thing is that we finished,” Aland said. “We had some big plays down the field and took advantage of some opportunities.”

Ryan Haidle put Sentinel back in front 13-6 in the second on a 16-yard carry.

After Hollensteiner’s 31-yard field goal made it 13-10, the Braves got their second turnover of the game: a dropped punt snap that was recovered by Coopman.

Pesola then found Kaleb Sims for 19 yards and a touchdown and Flathead led 17-13 at the half.

Lerback put the Spartans back ahead with his first score, a fullback dive from 3 yards out. Another missed extra point kept it at 19-17, Spartans.

Pesola capped off a nine-play drive late in the third quarter with an 11-yard scamper to the endzone, putting Flathead back in front 23-19 after a blocked extra point.

But Sentinel would not be denied on their next drive as Lerback finished a 12-play, 54-yard march with his second score of the half.

The Sentinel defense forced a Flathead punt on the next possession, and the Braves never got the ball back as the Spartan escaped.

“By no means is that going to be our best game, but that was the most complete game we have played,” Aland said. “I think that was a kick in the right direction.”

Missoula Sentinel 6 7 6 6 - 25

Flathead 7 10 6 0 - 23

S — Jaxan Allery 24 pass from Jace Koshetka (kick failed), 3:02-1Q

F — Lane Chivers 4 pass from Eli Coopman (Will Hollensteiner kick), :03-1Q

S — Ryan Haidle 16 run (JC Coelho kick), 8:19-2Q

F — Hollensteiner 31 kick, 4:46-2Q

F — Kaleb Sims 19 pass from Brett Pesola (Hollensteiner kick), :38-2Q

S — Colin Lerback 3 run (kick failed), 6:56-3Q

F — Pesola 11 run (kick failed) :54-3Q

S — Lerback 1 run (2 pt failed) 7:18-4Q

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING: Missoula Sentinel (40-173) — Ryan Haidle 15-109, Jace Koshatka 15-44, Kaden Thennis 3-18, Jaxon Allery 1-13, Colin Lerback 3-10, Tucker Laslovich 1-5, Aidan Schraeder 1- minus 26. Flathead (25-36) — Nolan Campbell 9-31, Brett Pesola 14-3, Lane Chivers 2-2.

PASSING: Sentinel — Jace Koshatka 11-16-0 for 72 yards. Flathead — Brett Pesola 15-23-2 for 163 yards, Lane Chivers 1-1-0 for 4 yards.

RECEIVING: Sentinel — Jaxan Allery 4-39, Kyler Haslem 2-18, Sam Sirmon 2-7, Ryan Haidle 1-8, Kade Robinson 1-0. Flathead — Eli Coopman 7-87, Nolan Campbell 3-16, Kaleb Sims 2-32, Lane Chivers 1-25, Noaah Sonju 1-8, Jack Blodgett 1-1, Will Hollensteiner 1- minus 2.

Flathead quarterback Brett Pesola (4) runs for a touchdown in the third quarter against Missoula Sentinel at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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