By Rob Everingham
CHINOOK It was a game with huge playoff implications as Chinook and Glasgow met Friday night at Hoon Field in Chinook.
The winner would be in second place in the district with the chance to host a first-round playoff game, and the loser would be in third place and have to travel to play in the first round.
The outcome was close, as Chinook held on to win 40-34.
The Beeters, who led by 20 points at one point, started the game with the ball but were forced to punt.
The Scotties came out on fire and moved the ball 58 yards on their first possession. Then disaster struck for Glasgow as Chinooks Mason Roseberry intercepted a Michael Falcon pass on the one-yard line.
Chinooks next possession would also end in a turnover as running back Jimmy Steyee couldnt hold on to the ball, and the Scotties recovered the fumble.
The Scotties struck first after an interception; Falcon found Ryan Truscott on a 24-yard scoring strike.
Chinook answered on its next drive as quarterback Michael Maddox ran in from the two. On the drive, the Beeters faced a fourth and inches when Maddox kept the ball and moved the needed yardage.
The first quarter ended with the game tied at 7-7.
Early in the second quarter, the Beeters stuck again as a Maddox pass intended for Kyle Butcher went through his hands, but Roseberry was standing behind him in the end zone to haul in the pass. Justin Friede missed on the extra point, putting Chinook up 13-7.
Glasgow answered on its next drive as it marched the ball down the field and Falcon found Tim Rodveldt on a 12-yard pass play. Rodveldt also tacked on the point after, giving the Scotties the lead at 14-13. The half ended with Chinook trailing by a point.
In the third quarter, Glasgow started with the ball but was forced to punt in four.
Chinook then took the ball and Maddox found Friede on a 21-yard pass play. The Scotties next drive again ended in disaster as Chinooks Josh Miller pounced on a lost ball.
Chinook moved the ball, but appeared to be going for a field goal when Friede, the holder, went running off the field, looking for the kicking tee, but the ball was snapped and kicker Tyler Oehmcke hit Friede on a fade route for the touchdown. The play that appeared as a busted field goal was actually scripted. Friede tacked on the point after putting Chinook up 27-14.
Again Glasgow answered as Truscott caught a six-yard pass from Falcon. The Chinook lead was cut to 27-20.
The Beeters next drive ended when Truscott intercepted a Maddox pass, but the Chinook defense came up big as Scott Fritz batted down a third-down pass and Falcon threw an incompletion on fourth down.
Chinook found the end zone again on its next drive as Butcher got the hand-off and rumbled 22 yards for the score. The Friede point-after put Chinook up 34-20.
It appeared Glasgow was not done as it marched the ball down the field, but a fumble deep in Chinook territory gave the Beeters the ball on their own five-yard line. Ninety-five yards later, Chinook found the end zone as Dirk Paulson caught an 11-yard pass from Maddox. Chinook led 40-20 after a missed point after.
Glasgow scored twice in the fourth quarter but did not have enough clock as time expired on its final touchdown catch.
Chinook had 427 yards in total offense and moved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in league play.
Glasgow head coach Tim Connors said his team had not given up any big plays all season, but they gave up some against Chinook and it cost them the game.
The most points the Scotties had given up before this game was 27. Connors said their offense played well but the defense was lacking. He said he was pleased with how his team came back in the fourth.
The kids didnt want to quit, Connors said.
Beeters head coach Scott Friede said it was a good win against a team that has beat some of the best already this season.
After being down by a point at halftime, Friede said, they just made some quick adjustments and came out and played hard for the rest of the game. Friede said his offense played very well and the defense got the job done.
Friede said the win gave them a great chance to finish second in the district and host the No. 2 team out of 1-B for the first round playoff game.
Chinook faces another District 2-B match-up Friday night when it squares off against Harlem.
