CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY: Beeters seek redemption against Arlee

For 12 months, the Chinook Sugarbeeters have wanted one thing: redemption, and now, after a long journey back to the state championship game, they have their chance to get it.

All season, Chinook has used its loss to Wibaux in the Class C 8-Man state title game a year ago as fuel for an incredible 11-0 campaign. But before they can truly achieve satisfaction and call themselves state champions, the Beeters must take down Alree (12-0), the champion of the Western C, who they will host Saturday at Hoon Field in 8-Man football’s ultimate game. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

“All year long these kids just would not be denied,” Chinook head coach Scott Friede said. “They have worked extremely hard and they are a great group of kids. They are excited to be in this game. This is where they have wanted to be since the end of the last season. But they are not done.”

Friede is correct in his assumption that the Beeters want more. After spending a season as the 8-Man runner-up, the Beeters want to shed the label and take the crown for themselves. And after a dominant regular season, one in which they won a second consecutive Northern C conference championship, they have earned the opportunity to win it all in front of the Chinook faithful.

“We really get great support from the community,” Friede said. “And the kids are really excited about having the chance to play this game in Chinook. I think that it’s going to it be a great atmosphere and it’s something we are really looking forward to.”

The Beeters, who affectionately dubbed themselves the “Hoon Squad,” love playing at home. And the fact that they have now won 13 consecutive games at home, including five straight in the playoffs, proves it.

“For some reason, we just play really well on our home field,” Friede said. “It’s always an advantage when you get to play at home and sleep in your own bed. But we just seem to take it to another level when we are at home.”

One thing that makes playing the Beeters a challenge, at home or away, is their defense, which is arguably the best in the state and one that led 8-Man football in points allowed per game with just 13.4. The Scarlet Warriors ranked fourth after giving up 18.9 points per game.

Through the first nine games of the season, no team managed to score more than 22 points against the Beeters. And no one managed to break 30 until Ennis did in the quarterfinals two weeks ago and Fairview scored 32 in the semifinals last Saturday. The great thing about the Chinook defense is that it has playmakers everywhere. Whether it’s the school’s all-time sack leader Kenny Pruttis or stud linebackers Tate Niederegger, Jake Norby or Derek Bell, Chinook is loaded at all three levels, which has allowed it to limit scoring in the normally wide-open game of 8-Man football.

“Our defense has been a big key for us all season,” Friede said. “We have just had the mindset on defense that we are not going to give up points and when we have allowed teams to score, most of time, we have been able to make them drive the length of the field to do it.”

The Beeters will face a worthy opponent in Arlee, a team that scored more than 53 points per game during the season and eliminated Wibaux, the defending state champion 42-36 in the quarterfinals before knocking off Twin Bridges 22-14 in the semifinals.

Much like Fairview a week ago, a lot of what Arlee does on offense revolves around the quarterback, which in the case of Arlee is Patrick Bigsam.

Bigsam is an athletic, dual-threat quarterback who can frustrate defenses with his arm and legs. He is a player Chinook must contain if they are going to contain an explosive Arlee offense. The other focal point for the Scarlet Warriors is their running back Tyler Tanner.

When Chinook has the football, the offense centers on a running game that features the terrific tandem of Niederegger and Bell. Niederegger has been the bell cow for Chinook this season and has rushed for 1,114 yards and 18 touchdowns. Bell, who also serves as a blocker from the fullback spot, has rushed for more than 465 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Yet, the other effective runner in the offense is McIntosh, who has tormented defenses with his ability to throw and run. And thanks to his contributions as a runner and thrower, the Beeters have racked up more than 54 points and 400 yards of total offense per game

The senior signal caller has posted 33 total touchdowns, (24 passing and nine rushing) and has thrown for 1,412 yards. He also has 388 rushing yards and plenty of big-game experience after starting the championship game a season ago. In terms of receivers, McIntosh has two reliable targets in Norby (620 receiving yards) and Pruttis (524 receiving yards) to throw the football to.

“We have done a great job running the football and a lot of that credit has to go to our offensive line,” Friede said. “We have just been able to out-physical teams a lot this season up front and hopefully that something we can continue to do.”

No matter how they have done it, there’s no question, the Beeters are on a mission, one that has been 12 months in the making and one that will be completed with a win Saturday. The win would not only give Chinook its second state championship since 2010, it would provide the perfect ending to a perfect season.

“This is what this team has been working for,” Friede said. “Losing a state championship game sticks with you and now we have a chance to be on the other end of it and to do it at home would be pretty special.”

Chinook (11-0) and Alree (11-0) will do battle Saturday at 1 p.m., at Hoon Field in the Class C 8-Man state championship game

Chinook (11-0) vs Arlee (11-0)

Saturday at 1 p.m.

in Chinook

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