Blue trumps Black in Sanders County rivalry game

 

October 10, 2019

John Hamilton

HARD-CHARGING NATE WILHITE looks for running room against Plains Friday. Hawks host Charlo this Friday.

PLAINS – The Black-and-Blue Game is back.

For the first time since 2014 and for the first time possibly ever as 8-Man teams, the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks and Plains Horsemen renewed gridiron acquaintances in Plains Friday night, and the Hawks ended up leaving with a 66-18 win over their sworn rivals.

"It's nice to play Plains again," Thompson Falls coach Jared Koskela said, "and it's good to have the Black-and-Blue trophy in play again."

The Blue Hawks won the last edition of the Black-and-Blue Game with a 35-12 victory in an 11-Man game in 2014. Friday's triumph ensures that the travelling trophy will remain in Thompson Falls' trophy case at least for another year.

Now 4-1 in league play and 5-1 overall, and ranked No. 6 in the most recent 406mtsports.com power poll, the Hawks will entertain 2-4, 2-4 Charlo in Thompson Falls' annual homecoming game Friday night at Previs Field.


Sanders County Ledger canvas prints

Locked into a battle with Mission (also 4-1 and 5-1) for second place in conference standings, the Hawks cannot afford to give up too many points from here on out, as points scored by common opponents is the tiebreaker being used for playoff seeding.

"Mission beat Charlo 29-6 earlier this season," Koskela said. "So that means if we beat Charlo – say by 40-10 – we would still lose ground to Mission." As of right now, the Hawks have allowed 102 points, and Mission 96 to common opponents.

One saving grace for the Hawks could be the fact that Flint Creek has not played Mission yet, and that Oct. 18 game in Mission could scramble the formula – either if Mission allows a lot of points and still wins, or if Flint Creek wins. The Hawks beat Flint Creek, the two-time defending State 8-Man champs, 64-24 in Thompson Falls two weeks ago.


The scene of countless important 11-Man games in the past, Previs Field has become a hotbed of the 8-Man game this season. And if the Hawks can keep winning, they may just earn a home playoff game or two in their place of football business in the end.

The Hawks have scored points in bunches this season with their lowest output coming in a 56-38 loss to league-leading Clark Fork. Thompson Falls is averaging an incredible 56.3 points per game while allowing only 26.7 per outing.

"I still think it's a little too early to be talking about playoff games, there is a lot of football to be played," Koskela said. "But it is nice to be in the conversation again, and in the hunt for one of those spots."


The hunting was good for the Hawks in Plains last week, as the Hawks took stock of the situation early on in the game, bulldozing their way to a 53-12 lead by halftime.

Last week's Western Montana Player of the Week for his incredible efforts in leading the Hawks past previously No. 4 ranked Flint Creek Sept. 27, Trey Fisher turned in another monster effort against Plains, rushing the ball 12 times for 136 yards and a touchdown, passing for 42 yards and another TD, and leading the Hawk defense with nine tackles, including three quarterback sacks and a forced fumble.

Nate Wilhite carried the ball 10 times for another 95 yards and scored three touchdowns. Jordy Fisher added 38 yards rushing, Alex Vogelsang 29, Elijah Ratliff 14, Roman Sparks 11 and Justin Miller 10. Vogelsang, Ratliff, Sparks and Miller also all ended up scoring touchdowns in the big Sanders County win.


Wilhite's touchdowns came on runs of 20, 30 and 14 yards. Derek Anderson scored Thompson Falls' other touchdown on a 33-yard pass from Fisher in the first quarter when the game was still young.

Koskela relished the fact that he was able to get some of his bigger guys the ball. Listed as a 279-pound lineman in the program, Miller has been lining up at fullback at times lately and scored two two-point conversion in addition to his touchdown against Plains.

Fellow 265-pound lineman Jack Jacobson also got a ball-carry for a two-point conversion.

"It's kinda cool to let the big guys get in on the action," Koskela said, "and the rest of the team seems to really enjoy getting those guys involved, too."

Matt Duplechain added six tackles to the Hawks' defensive effort, Trae Thilmony five, Brandon Zimmerman and Dakota Irvine four apiece, and Jacobson, Brad Lantz and Sidney Akinde two apiece.

Koskela thought Plains played well in defeat. "They had a really good defensive scheme, and exposed our outside defense on the other side," he said. "I was impressed with their game plan."

Koskela now game plans for Charlo, which will come into Friday's game with a 2-4 record. The Vikings lost 52-14 to Clark Fork on the road last week.

"This team is not to be overlooked, they have made great strides during the season," he said. "They have a nasty outside run game we will have to contend with."

Koskela is counting on another form of inspiration this week; good old school pride. "It's homecoming week," he said. "I'm just hoping they come out and play with some homecoming fire."

 

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