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Friday Night Lights: Running Tradition

Chinook's Gavin Gunderson is making the most of his turn

The Chinook football program is starting to build a great tradition of runners. It started a few years ago with Tyler Molyneaux, and continued with Ben Stroh. Last season, Zach Molyneaux put up huge numbers and now, in 2014, the great runner for the Sugarbeeters is Gavin Gunderson.

Gunderson knew that he had some big shoes to fill and a tradition of great runners to live up to when he took over as the Beeters' starting running back this season, and through five games he has more than lived up the billing.

"I never really thought about it too much, I just knew I needed to step my game up," Gunderson said when asked about replacing an All-State running back in Zach Molyneaux. "It was great to learn from him, and I think that he helped me get better. So I just wanted to make sure I did a better job than I did last season and I think I'm doing that."

Gunderson has been outstanding for a Chinook team (4-1, 4-1) that has been right in the thick of the playoff hunt in the Northern C Division of Class C 8-Man football.

From the get go, it has been an exciting season for Gunderson and the Beeters, and in the opening game at home against Great Falls Central, Gunderson led a spirited comeback to tie the game after Chinook trailed 28-12 at halftime.

Gunderson scored four touchdowns in the game, two rushing and two receiving and thanks to a 19-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, the Beeters tied the game at 44-44. Chinook would go on to lose by two but it showed Gunderson's ability to take over a game.

Since then, the Beeters haven't looked back. And neither has Gunderson.

Following that season-opening loss in August, the Beeters have put together four straight victories and are tied for first place in the Northern C with a 4-1 record.

"Our goal is to make the playoffs," Gunderson said. "We missed the playoffs last year and with this being my senior year, I would love to get back into the playoffs. We have been doing good, and hopefully we can keep doing good and get into the playoffs."

Behind the tremendous rushing of Gunderson, the Beeters have been highly productive on offense and so far this season, they have averaged 57 points per game.

Gunderson is racking up yardage and touchdowns at a ridiculous pace for the Beeters this season, scoring at least two touchdowns in every game and having multiple games with four touchdowns or more. But, he refused to take sole credit and said he owes a lot of his success to his teammates.

"I couldn't do it without my teammates blocking for me. I owe them a lot," Gunderson said. "They do a good job of getting their blocks and holding them and that allows me to read my blocks, use my vision and find a hole to run through."

In the challenging Northern C, every game is important and two weeks ago, the Beeters trailed conference rival Simms in the first half of an early season matchup. After Chinook tied the score at 28-28 going into halftime following a 59-yard touchdown run by Gunderson and a 35-yard touchdown reception to Gunderson from Ian McIntosh. Gunderson gave Chinook the lead on 32-yard touchdown reception.

Then, in the fourth quarter, Gunderson gave the Beeters some cushion with a 19-yard touchdown run in a game that Chinook would go on to win 42-36. It was an important win for the Beeters and another example of Gunderson's clutch play.

Gunderson may not have come into the season with expectations of being an All-State running back, or earning a berth on the roster of the East-West Shrine game or a college scholarship as Zach Molyneaux accomplished last season for that matter. But, if Gunderson continues to produce at this high-level for the remainder of the season, he has a chance to help his team make the playoffs, while also making his dream of playing college football come true.

"I would love to play college football," Gunderson said. "It's not something that I have thought about a lot, but I would love to keep playing. I am just running as hard as I can to try and help us get into the playoffs, that is our goal and that is something we want to do this season."

Gunderson will try to build on his impressive senior season and help Chinook get one step closer to postseason play when the Beeters hit the road to battle Belt tonight in a key conference showdown.

 

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