Not many people expected the Braves to find a way to stop Bozeman. When looking at the numbers, one would not blame them. 46 points per game only giving up 22 points per game. They lead the AA in passing and were second only to Flathead in rushing. They were the top team in terms of interceptions (19) and sacks (43). The numbers were there as Bozeman looked on paper as the dominate team.
That's the great thing about paper and numbers, they can be tossed away. The Flathead Braves didn't care about what Bozeman COULD DO, they didn't care about what anyone else THOUGHT. This team as Coach Samson has told me all season "Everyone believes in each other" Friday night proved just that. The Braves would ride the horses that got them there. A bruising runningback, a quarterback that is lightning in a bottle, wide receivers and an offensive line that love to block, and a defense that will bend but won't break. Flathead is going back to the state title game for the first time since 2000 after defeating Bozeman 21-17.
My thoughts on the game...
I thought this game would be a track meet much like the first one was back in September. What was different this time around and something Kyle also talked about all week... turnovers. I thought Flathead needed at least two turnovers, they took three, one fumble recovery, and interceptions by Chance Sheldon Allen and Brian Wells. Now the three turnovers did not materialize into points but they kept Bozeman's offense off the field and they lost three possessions. Bozeman had 9 possessions for the whole game.
I hate to go back to the boxing analogy but it really is the best one for this game. Flathead's offense with its rushing attack hit Bozeman with jabs (short runs) 2-5 yards but then came the blows to the body. Blake Counts and Jaden MacNeil ripped off multiple runs of 30 plus yards in the game. Those chunk plays really shortened the drives for Flathead. Flathead scoring drives were 7 plays 63 yards; 5 plays 80 yards; 9 plays 71 yards. Every one of those drives had a big play from Counts or MacNeil. The final drive came down to a great throw from MacNeil to Anthony Jones. MacNeil with pressure in his face side armed the throw so only Jones could make a play on the ball. Jaden would finish the game with 12 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown, through the air Jaden was 4-7 for 60 yards and a Touchdown. Anthony Jones had 3 receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown.
A ton of credit goes to the big boys up front and the wide receivers as they made blocks to spring Counts and MacNeil lose. Those guys do a great job finishing blocks and wear down a defensive line or secondary. The Braves finished with 405 yards of total offense.
Alone at the Top...
Thanks to coach Samson for the stats. I don't know why none of my colleagues in the media has picked up on this. Blake ran 33 times for 228 yards and a touchdown. Going into the game Blake was at 2,162 yards. He was only 19 yards shy of breaking the class AA record. Well after rushing for 228 yards his total is now up to 2,390 yards. Jarrett Laden of Cutbank rushed for 2,387 yards in 2000. Which means Blake is not only Flathead's single season rushing leader he is now Montana's single season rushing leader regardless of classification. Congrats to Blake and the Flathead offense. I know Blake will be the first one to give credit to all his teammates and coaches for helping him achieve this record.
The Defense...
A ton of credit to coach Matt Upham and his staff with a game plan to slow Bozeman down and keep a team that was averaging 46 points per game... to only 17. The Braves defense bent but they did not break. Bozeman has their own version of Counts as Bozeman's McCade O'Reilly is a load to bring down. The Braves front seven were able to get good penetration as they knocked O'Reilly for losses late in the 2nd half. The final Bozeman drive that forced a 4th and eleven was created by a 9 yard tackle for loss on O'Reilly. The secondary I thought played very well. Along with the interceptions they stayed with Bozeman WR's. The biggest play was made by LB Paxton Boyce. I don't know where he came from but he made the play to stop Bozeman. on 4th and eleven Brown was flushed out by Tanner Russell. It looked like he would get the necessary yardage for a first down. As I said I never saw Boyce but all I saw was Brown get tripped up and he landed well short of the first down. That is how cruel or rewarding the game of football can be. It really is a game of inches.
Again a ton of credit to this group.
The Keys...
Flathead did not get off to a slow start. The defense forced Bozeman to punt on their first drive. The offense did get a first down but the Bozeman defense forced them to punt.
The Braves won the turnover battle with the three takeaways. I thought they needed at least two to win. The Braves defense in 7 out of their last 8 games have recorded a take away.
In terms of field position Flathead forced long fields for Bozeman. The hawks average starting field position was the 22 yard line. Where the Braves average starting field position was the 28 yard line. Flathead's best field position was their own 37 twice and the 40 once.
I believe the Braves did get to Brown twice for sacks but they did hurry the hawks signal caller quite a bit. Tanner Russell came close to having multiple sacks, this kid is a relentless machine getting after QB's.
What is next....
The Flathead Braves are going to the state title game for the first time since 2000. They are looking for their first football title in the 21st century. The Braves last title came in 1970. Flathead will be the underdog once again and will be taking on a high powered offense in Billings West. Earlier this season West came up to Legends Stadium and defeated the Braves 42-20. We will break this game down on The Nach On Sports all week long on AM 600 KGEZ and FM 96.5.
Also to all the fans that had trouble listening to the game, I do apologize and we will try and get that fixed or find alternatives for the state championship game.