Braves roll over Hellgate, 62-23
MISSOULA — Fourth-ranked Flathead improved to 7-2 on the Class AA football season Friday with a 62-23 triumph over Missoula Hellgate (2-7) at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Flathead scored early and often. The Braves, winners of three straight, led 27-7 at halftime.
The 62 points was a season high.
“I’m really proud of the way we started,” Flathead coach Kyle Samson said.
“Offensively we did a great job all night. Defensively we did a great job, had four turnovers.”
The Flathead secondary had three interceptions with Chance Sheldon-Allen returning one for a touchdown.
Quarterback Jaden MacNeil turned in another strong effort with four touchdown passes, two going to senior wideout Anthony Jones.
Senior running back Blake Counts rushed for more than 200 yards and three scores. He also had a touchdown reception.
“A nice road win for us,” Samson said.
“We’re peaking at the right time. We have a big game with Helena next week (at Legends Stadium).”
Helena is ranked fifth and also sits at 7-2 on the season.
Helena escaped with a 34-28 overtime victory at Missoula Sentinel on Friday.
Flathead and Helena have qualified for postseason play, which begins Nov. 2.
Flathead 13 14 14 21 — 62
Missoula Hellgate 0 7 8 8 — 23
F — Blake Counts 8 run (Eric Gardner kick good)
F —Anthony Jones 65 pass from Jaden MacNeil (two-point incomplete)
MH — Fisher Richardson 14 pass from Rollie Worster (Coladonato kick good)
F — Counts 60 pass from MacNeil (Gardner kick good)
F — Counts 1 run (Garnder kick good)
F — Chance Sheldon-Allen 34 interception return (Gardner kick good)
MH — Worster 10 run (Coladonato from Worster conversion good)
F — Jones 25 pass from MacNeil (Gardner kick good)
MH — Worster 2 run (Worster run conversion good)
F — Counts 6 run (Gardner kick good)
F — Logan Siblerud 3 pass from MacNeil (Gardner kick good)
F — Dylan Baker 3 pass from Charlie Hinchey (Gardner kick good)
Class AA Standings
Overall
W L
Bozeman 9 0
Billings West 8 1
Helena High 7 2
Flathead 7 2
Billings Senior 6 3
Missoula Sentinel 4 5
Great Falls High 4 5
Glacier 4 5
Helena Capital 4 5
Butte 4 5
Missoula Hellgate 2 7
Great Falls CMR 2 7
Missoula Big Sky 2 7
Billings Skyview 0 9
Thursday’s Results
Glacier 34, Missoula Big Sky 14
Billings West 34, Great Falls Russell 21
Bozeman 52, Great Falls 26
Friday’s Games
Flathead 62, Missoula Hellgate 23
Butte 56, Billings Skyview 13
Helena Capital 42, Billings Senior 21
Helena High 34, Missoula Sentinel 28, OT
Final Week
Thursday, Oct. 25
7 p.m. — Glacier at Missoula Hellgate
7 p.m. — Bozeman at Billings Skyview
Friday, Oct. 26
7 p.m. — Helena High at Flathead
7 p.m. — Billings West at Billings Senior
7 p.m. — Butte at Missoula Big Sky
7 p.m. — Missoula Sentinel at Helena Capital
7 p.m. — Great Falls at Great Falls CMR