The regular season came to an end this weekend, but most of the action got underway earlier than usual.
Wednesday in Augusta, the Northern C Six-Man Big Sandy Pioneers defeated the Augusta Elks 40-24 to earn a spot in the three-way tie for first place in the Northern division.
Big Sandy, Augusta and Valier all finished the regular season with 5-1 records and earned their way into the postseason.
The Pioneers opened up the scoring with a Ryan Miller rushing touchdown, but trailed 8-7 after the first quarter was in the books. But outscoring the Elks 6-0 in the second quarter, Wayne Martin’s three-yard reception and score put the Pioneers up 13-8 at the break.
It was a slim margin for the Big Sandy as they began the second half, but it didn’t take long to find a comfortable lead.
A 13-8 outscoring of the Elks in the third quarter gave the Pioneers 26-16 lead. And adding another outscoring of the Elks in the fourth quarter, 14-8, gave the Pioneers the cushion they needed to finish of the Elks, and roll into the post season.
Trevor Lackner had a big game for the Pioneers, throwing five touchdown passes on the afternoon. Lackner connected with Martin and Miller for touchdown passes, as well as with Kaden Beck three times. Beck scored on passes from 32, 12 and 11 yards out.
Big Sandy hosts Stanford-Geyser in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday.
Big Sandy 7 6 13 14 — 40
Augusta 8 0 8 8 — 24
BS — Ryan Miller 4 run (Wayne Martin run)
Aug — Shawn Henry 26 pass from Tyler Hantz (Thane Thompson kick)
BS — Wayne Martin 3 pass from Trevor Lackner (kick failed)
BS — Kaden Beck 32 pass from Trevor Lackner (C.J. Hanson pass from Lackner)
Aug — Levi Runstrom 74 kickoff return (Thane Thompson kick)
BS — Beck 12 pass from Trevor Lackner (run failed)
Aug — Shawn Henry 3 run (Thane Thompson kick)
BS — Ryan Miller 9 pass from Trevor Lackner Ryan (Miller kick)
BS — Kaden Beck 11 pass from Trevor Lackner (run failed).
Chinook 49, Belt 20
The Northern C 8-Man Chinook Sugarbeeters also found themselves in a three-way tie for first place on Wednesday.
The Beeters hosted the Belt Huskies in conference play, and earned the 49-20 win. And with the win, came a 7-1 conference record, good enough to put the Beeters in a three-way tie for first place in the division with Fort Benton and Power-Dutton-Brady.
It was an explosive wn for the Beeters.
Chinook came out and posted 35 points in the first quarter. And after the Huskies were held to zero points in the first half, the Beeters held a 35-0 lead. The Beeters added 14 in the second half, while too little too late; the Huskies scored 20 points in the fourth quarter.
Tyler Molyneaux scored two touchdowns for Chinook, including a 58-yard run and a six-yard reception. Ben Stroh also scored twice for the Beeters, scoring on a 20-yard fumble return as well as a one-yard rush.
Chris Haider, Robby Klingaman and Zach also scored touchdowns for the Beeters on Wednesday.
Chinook will play host to Scobey Saturday in the first round of the playoffs.
Belt 0 0 0 20 — 20
Chinook 35 0 6 8 — 49
CHI — Chris Haider 25 pass from Schmitt (PAT failed)
CHI — Ben Stroh 20 funble return (PAT failed)
CHI — Tyler Molyneaux 58 run (Stroh pass from Schmitt)
CHI — Tyler Molyneaux 6 pass from Schmitt (PAT Huestis kick)
CHI — Ben Stroh 1 run (Klingamas pass from Schmitt)
CHI — Robby Klingaman 2 run (PAT failed)
Belt — Corbin Keaster 22 run (Keaster run)
Belt — Rowdy Hansen 3 run (PAT failed)
CHI — Zach Molyneaux 13 run (Riphenburg run)
Belt — Anders 25 pass from Jauqeel Reavis (PAT failed).
Chester/J-I 38, Tri Cities 0
The Northern C 8-Man Chester/J-I Hawks also took the field on Wednesday.
And with a 38-0 win over Tri-Cities in Chester, the Hawks finished the regular season with a 4-4 record and a No. 4 spot in the division.
The Hawks dominated Wednesday’s conference matchup. Their offense was able to find ways to put points on the scoreboard, while their defense was able to completely shut down the opposition, while also finding their way into the end zone.
Brandon Graff and Ceddy Pogue had their hand in four combined touchdowns.
Pogue had a 65-yard interception return, as well as a 33-yard pass and score from Graff. Graff also had a six-yard run for a score and a 34-yard run for a score.
Ethan Wolery also had a 12-yard rushing touchdown for the Hawks.
C/J-I, who battled its way into the Class C playoffs will travel to top-ranked Wibaux on Saturday.
Tri Cities 0 0 0 0 — 0
C/J-I 22 16 0 0 — 38
C/J-I — Ceddy Pogue 65 interception return (Ceddy Pogue pass from Brandon Graff)
C/J-I — Brandon Graff 6 run (pass failed)
C/J-I — Ceddy Pogue 33 pass from Brandon Graff (Bryant Ceynar pass from Leonard Pugsley)
C/J-I — Brandon Graff 34 run (Ceddy Pogue pass from Brandon Graff)
C/J-I — Ethan Worley 12 run (Ryne Tyler pass from Brandon Graff).
Conrad 33, Harlem 16
The District 2B Harlmen Wildcats weren’t as fortunate on Friday.
Friday in Conrad, the Wildcats were defeated by the Conrad Cowboys 33-16. The Wildcats never found the win column in conference play, but finished off the season 1-7. Conrad finished 2-6.
The Wildcats were outscored 7-0 in the first quarter, but found the end zone in the second quarter before trailing 27-8 after the first half. The Wildcats’ Branden Hammond scored on a 23-yard pass from Lex Molina, giving the Wildcats their only points of the contest.
Conrad posted five touchdowns in the contest.
Harlem 0 8 0 8 — 16
Conrad 7 20 6 0 — 33
Conrad — Colter Knox 7 run (Bryce Watterud kick)
Conrad — Grant Grubb 23 pass from Joe Ries (Watterud kick)
Harlem — Branden Hammond 23 pass from Lex Molina (Hammond pass from Molina)
Conrad — Ries 17 run (Watterud kick)
Conrad — Knox 19 interception return (kick failed)
Conrad — Watterud 6 pass from Ries (kick failed)
Harlem — Bud Buck 16 pass from Molina (Hammond pass from Molina).
North Star 44, Jordan 13
On Saturday, the Hi-Line had just one team playing.
And with a 44-13 win over the Jordan Mustangs, the Northern C 6-Man North Star Knights earned a spot in the postseason.
Playing on the road, the Knights win gave North Star a 3-3 record, good enough for a spot in the 6-Man playoffs.
Jordy Donoven had another big day in the Knights win.
Donoven not only rushed for four five touchdowns, but also kicked four PAT’s for the Knights. Donoven had rushing scores from four, 15, one, 30 and 37-yard out to boost his Knights into the playoffs.
The Knights defense allowed just two scores, one in the second quarter and the other in the fourth. But the scores weren’t relevant, as the Knights held a 30 point lead at the half, and added 14 more in the third.
The Knights travel to unbeaten Denton on Saturday.
North Star 14 16 14 0 – 44
Jordan 0 6 0 7 — 13
North Star
Jordy Donoven 4 run (kick failed);
Jordy Donoven 15 run (Jordy Donovan kick);
Jordy Donoven 1 run (Jordy Donovan kick);
Jordy Donoven 30 run (Jordy Donovan kick);
Jordy Donoven 37 run (kick failed);
Dylan Crittendon 19 pass from Cooper Spicher (Jordy Donoven kick).
