Harlem, Big Sandy and Chester earn wins

High scoring games seemed to be the reoccurring theme in area Hi-Line high school football action this weekend. Several local teams were on the losing end of lopsided affairs but several area teams were also dishing out the points as well.

On Friday night in Chinook, the Harlem Wildcats got a critical victory in District 2B action as they defeated the Chinook Sugarbeeters, 18-15. With just under a minute left in the game and Chinook leading 15-12, Harlem executed a hook-and-ladder play that resulted in a 70-yard completion from Hank Brockie to Tom Cochran. The trick play gave Harlem a close victory and put them at 1-2 on the season, and still very much alive in the playoff picture.

The loss leaves Chinook sitting at 0-3 on the year, with an uphill battle in the District 2B race. The Wildcats had 318 yards of total offense. Cochran scored all three times for Harlem, including TD runs of 7 and 21 yards as well as his late-game pass reception.

Chinook's Kelan Broadhead rushed for 137 yards to pace the 'Beeters.

Harlem next hosts Glasgow on Friday night, while Chinook is also at home to face Plentywood.

On Saturday, the Big Sandy Pioneers got their first win of the season by shutting out Sunburst and spoiling the Refiners' homecoming festivities 61-0.

The Pioneers scored 52 points in the first half, including a 27-point first quarter. Skylar Pearson scored on runs of 43 yards and 5 yards, and Danny Larish added a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown. Adam Jespersen also reached paydirt twice for the Pioneers. Jespersen scored on a 20-yard run and a 10-yard pass reception.

Big Sandy (1-2) will now travel to Northern C rival Blue Sky/KG on Saturday.

In Power, the Power-Dutton-GFC Titans' high-octane offense rolled over the Blue Sky/KG Eagles 64-14. Power scored first on a 32-yard scamper by Jason Black. But, the Eagles answered right back on a 33-yard TD pass from Jon Lipp to Keenan Toner that tied the game, momentarily. The Titans then reeled off 21 unanswered points and the Eagles never really threatened again. The Eagles scored one more time in the first half on a 24-yard pass from Lipp to Casey Crites but then were shut out in the second half.

The Titans (3-0) scored all of their points on the ground and had three rushers either over or near the 100-yard mark. Black led all rushers with 154 yards. The Eagles (2-1) will host the Big Sandy Pioneers on Saturday.

In Hays, the Chester Coyotes got their first victory of the season by soundly defeating the Hays-Lodge Pole Thunderbirds 44-14. The Coyotes jumped out to a 22-0 first half lead. The T-Birds didn't get on the board until the fourth quarter, on a 60-yard pass play from Steven Shambo to Nate Martin.

Chester (1-2) got an outstanding all- around performance from Shannon Norick. Norick scored a rushing touchdown and added a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown while adding 15 tackles on defense. Quarterback Adam Stubbs also threw for two scores in the victory.

Chester will host Sunburst on Friday night for homecoming. The Thunderbirds (1-2) will visit Power-Dutton-GFC on Saturday.

In Joplin, the J-I Rams suffered a high- scoring loss at the hands of defending six-man state champion Geraldine, 78-37. The Tigers scored four times in the first two quarters before J-I got on the board on a 25-yard TD pass from Zack Ramberg to Justin Johnson. Ramberg also threw a 44-yard touchdown strike to Craig Miller, and also scored on a 52-yard quarterback keeper.

J-I, 1-2 on the season, will host Augusta on Saturday for homecoming.

The Box Elder Bears fell victim to a potent offensive attack as they lost to Brady 82-26 in Brady on Saturday.

Brady's Adam Tranmer was part of seven different touchdowns on the day. Tranmer caught a TD pass, ran two kickoffs back for TDs and returned two interceptions for scores as well. He also kicked four PATs.

Box Elder quarterback Neal Rosette threw for three touchdowns, including a 30-yard strike to Kyle Parker. Rosette also rushed for a 15-yard TD. Box Elder (0-3) returns home to face Highwood on Saturday.

In Lambert, the Lambert Lions routed the Rocky Boy Stars 78-13. The Lions' Cole Thornton was part of eight TDs, including five passing and two rushing. Thornton also returned a kickoff 63 yards for a score.

Rocky Boy was paced by quarterback Dustin Sunchild, who threw two TD passes. Sunchild threw a 49-yard strike to Kessley Standing Rock in the first quarter and a 76-yard TD pass to A.J. The Boy for the Stars' only scores of the day. Rocky Boy is 0-3 on the season and will host Brockton on Saturday.