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The Thompson Falls Blue Hawks had a new experience Friday night at Previs Field. For many of the Hawks, it was their first time playing 11-man football. For many of the Hawks, it was their first time playing on a 100-yard field. For many of the Hawks, it was their first loss as a high school football player.

Thompson Falls opened the 2022 season playing host to the Broadwater Bulldogs of Townsend. While the Hawks suffered a 58-24 loss in the home opener, the team is looking forward to the rest of the season and is ready to work hard in this time of transition.

"Friday didn't go as planned. We fell short, but we learned a lot and that will help us. We got the butterflies out of the way," senior captain Brandon "Beano" Fisher said. "We saw what we needed to do and improve on."

The Hawks' first drive was plagued with penalties as they worked out some of the kinks of adjusting to the 11-man lineup. Forced to punt, the Bulldogs capitalized on the turnover to make the first score of the game and take a 7-0 lead. Thompson Falls answered with a touchdown of their own and a two-point conversion to take their only lead of the game at 8-7 with less than five minutes left in the first quarter.

On Townsend's next drive, Hawk senior Breck Ferris nearly intercepted the ball in the end zone, but the Bulldogs pulled it together and scored two more touchdowns to end the first quarter up 20-8.

"I think we were just a bit overwhelmed," Fisher said. "Three extra guys adds a difference. It's a slower pace. We are trying to find our groove and move forward and grow together."

The second quarter started with more struggles for the Hawks as the Bulldogs pushed them back up the field, forcing Thompson Falls to punt. The teams then each recovered fumbles by their opponents before Townsend ran in for yet another touchdown. The Hawks ended the first half with a pass being intercepted and went into the locker room down 39-8.

The Hawks continued to struggle in the second half, but found more of a rhythm, scoring a touchdown in each of the final quarters and holding Townsend to just one score in the fourth quarter. "After halftime everybody realized what needed to happen," Fisher stated. "We had to persevere and come back. We gave it our best effort, especially in the second half. The way we finished, I'm especially proud of the guys even though we came short of the goal."

This week, the Blue Hawks head to Three Forks. Fisher said over the weekend, the team talked about the need for better communication on the field. "We are going to keep our heads high and our spirits high." He noted that one of the team's mottos is FIDO (forget about it, drive on), and they will look to drive on and improve as the season progresses.

The Hawk senior said he is looking forward to teaching and helping the younger players who have never played 11-man football before. "If we just stick together and keep going, I think we have a good shot at making the playoffs," Fisher said. "The attitude, morale and camaraderie of the team is amazing."

Annie Wooden

Blue Hawk junior Kein Thomas goes in for a tackle against Townsend on Friday.

Fisher noted that the team has bought into Coach Jared Koskela's system. "He knows what's best for us and he knows how to lead by voice and example," Fisher said. "He is going to guide us into our roles and responsibilities. Anybody deserves to be able to be coaxed by him. Every bond he makes his extra special. Everybody loves him and he loves all his players. He really completes the football family and is like another father figure to us."

This year is unusual for Fisher as he is not playing with one of his brothers. When he was a freshman, his brother Trey was a senior and brother Jordy a sophomore. He said playing with his brothers helped him become a leader. "They definitely made a huge contribution and made me better as an athlete." He said this year is unusual because he is the youngest brother and it will be a long time before there's another Fisher playing football at Thompson Falls.