Box Elder beats Rocky Boy in overtime for first win

As time winds down on the Hi-Line football season, this past weekend saw a couple of moral victories and some playoff spots being grabbed by area teams.

On Friday night, the Harlem Wildcats kept their slim playoff hopes alive by knocking off the Wolf Point Wolves 28-22 in Harlem.

The Wildcats are now 3-4 overall on the season but are sitting at 3-2 in District 2B play. Harlem racked up 307 total yards of offense.

Tom Cochrane gained 191 yards of total offense and two touchdowns on the night. Cochrane's 58-yard pass reception from Colby Fetters in the fourth quarter sealed the win for the Wildcats. Daniel Werk and Hank Brockie also caught TD passes in the victory. The Wildcats will finish up the regular season on Friday with a key game against Malta in Malta.

Also on Friday in Malta, the Malta Mustangs routed the Chinook Sugarbeeters 40-7. Micheal Mereness was the lone bright spot for the Beeters as he racked up 157 yards rushing and scored the Beeters only touchdown of the night on a 58-yard scamper in the second quarter. The Mustangs were led by Vance Kielb with 119 yards rushing. Quarterback Seth Taylor threw for 185 yards and two scores in the victory. The Beeters (1-6, 1-5) will host top-ranked Baker on Friday night for Parents Night.

The Chester Coyotes pulled off their second big Northern C win in as many weeks, holding off the KG/Blue Sky Eagles 40-22. The Coyotes got a huge effort from the tailback combination of Mitch Violett and Shannon Norick. Violett gained 177 yards on 15 carries and scored three touchdowns. Norick also scored three touchdowns and gained 123 yards on the ground.

The Eagles got 155 yards passing and two scores from quarterback Jon Lipp in the loss. Chester is now 5-2 on the season, while the Eagles dropped to 4-3. Chester will finish its season by hosting the Valier Panthers on Friday. The Eagles wrap up their season by hosting Belt on Wednesday.

On Saturday afternoon, the Box Elder Bears picked up their first win in more than two years by knocking off rival Rocky Boy 42-36 in overtime.

The Bears overcame a 30-12 halftime deficit to extend the game to an extra period. In the overtime, the Stars had the ball first, but failed to score. On the Bears first overtime possession, Neal Rosette connected with Austin Haley for a 13-yard game winning-touchdown pass. The overtime TD pass from Rosette was his third touchdown of the day.

Rocky Boy quarterback Dustin Sunchild rushed for two scores and threw for three more in the loss. Both teams are now 1-6 on the season. Box Elder will now visit the J-I Rams on Wednesday. Rocky Boy will host Brady on Wednesday.

The Big Sandy Pioneers kept their playoff hopes alive by thrashing the Hays-Lodge Pole Thunderbirds 57-15 in Hays. The Pioneers were led by all-purpose back Skylar Pearson, who rushed for a game-high 179 yards and four touchdowns. Hays quarterback Nate Martin rushed for a touchdown and also threw a scoring pass in the loss. Big Sandy (4-3) will finish it's season on Wednesday by hosting the Centerville Miners. The T-Birds (1-6) will visit Sunburst on Wednesday for their final contest of the season.

The J-I Rams knocked off the Lambert Lions 48-34 in Lambert. John Wolery rushed for 107 yards on the day and scored three touchdowns. Justin Johnson also scored two rushing TDs and threw another in the win. J-I is now 3-4 on the year and will travel to Box Elder on Wednesday.