Big Sandy, Chester win, setting up this week's showdown

Scoreboards were busy around the Hi-Line as area football teams lit them up with plenty of points and plenty of wins this past weekend.

The Chinook Sugarbeeters picked up their first win of the season, beating neighboring Harlem, 37-20.

In the Northern C, Big Sandy and Chester both picked up big wins a week before their showdown. Blue Sky/KG picked up their second win a row, defeating Hays-Lodge Pole, while J-I rebounded from a tough loss with a big win over Geyser.

In six-man action, Box Elder rolled to an easy win over Lambert while Rocky Boy struggled against the always powerful Highwood Mountaineers.

Chinook 37, Harlem 20

The Chinook Sugarbeeters took a step in the right direction on Friday night as they captured a 37-20 win over District 2B-rival Harlem in a battle of teams searching for their first win.

The Beeters broke open a close game in the second quarter and kept the Wildcats out of the endzone in the game's final twelve minutes to capture their first win of the season.

Chinook opened the scoring with a 1-yard run by quarterback Adam Hayes. Harlem answered, tying the contest at six apiece on a 1-yard TD run by Monty Snow.

The Beeters scored 12 unanswered points in the second quarter before Harlem got on the board with a 5-yard run by A.J. Corcoran to close the gap to 18-12 at halftime.

In the second half, Kelan Broadhead went to work for the Beeters, scoring three times in the final 24 minutes of the game. In the third quarter, Broadhead returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown, and also scored the game's final two touchdowns on long runs to seal the Wildcats fate.

In all, Broadhead scored four times including runs of 65 and 48 yards as well as a 54-yard punt return and his interception. He rushed for 174 yards in the contest. Harlem got 101 yards rushing from Beanie Fetter in the loss.

Both teams will take to the road on Friday night. The Beeters (1-3, 1-1) will travel to Plentywood while Harlem (0-4, 0-1) will visit Glasgow.

Chester 44, Centerville 26

The Chester Coyotes scored 24 unanswered points in the second quarter and then withstood 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to race past the Centerville Miners 44-26 Friday night in Chester.

The Coyotes built a 28-6 halftime lead behind Patrick Walstad's 67-yard punt return for a touchdown before the Miners scored three times in the final quarter.

Kevin May led the way for the Coyotes, throwing three touchdown passes and rushing for two more. May found Travis VanDyke for an 11-yard TD in the first quarter and also hit Walstad and Patrick Wicks for scoring strikes as well. He also scored on runs of three and 15 yards in the win.

Chester is now 3-1 on the season and will remain home this Friday night to host Northern C rival and unbeaten Big Sandy.

Big Sandy 50, Heart Butte 0

The No. 3 ranked Big Sandy Pioneers continued to rack up huge offensive numbers Saturday afternoon as they trounced Heart Butte 50-0 in Heart Butte.

The Pioneers scored 44 points in the game's first 12 minutes before playing most of their second string unit for the rest of the contest.

Adam Jesperson scored three times for the Pioneers including runs of 17 and six yards. He also returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown as well.

Quarterback Gage Brumwell also scored three times, including two through the air and a run of 32 yards. Brumwell's TD pass came when he found Mason Ophus from six yards out. Brumwell also hit Devin Genereux for 27-yard TD strike as well.

Big Sandy (4-0) will prepare to travel to Chester Friday night for a pivotal Northern C clash with the Coyotes.

Blue Sky/KG 31, Hays-Lodge Pole 24

The Blue Sky/KG Eagles survived a furious 24-point fourth-quarter rally by the Hays-Lodge Pole Thunderbirds Saturday afternoon to pick up their second win of 2003 31-24.

The Eagles built a 16-0 halftime lead and then scored 15 more points in the third quarter to take a commanding 31-0 lead with 12 minutes to play. However, the T-Birds scored the game's final 24 points before falling short late in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles were paced by Kaare Engebretson's 125 yards rushing. Engebretson also caught two TD passes in the victory.

Blue Sky/KG (2-2) will travel to Centerville on Saturday afternoon while the T-Birds (0-4) will visit the Valier Panthers on Friday night.

Box Elder 52, Lambert 15

The high octane Box Elder Bears traveled to Lambert Saturday afternoon and pounded the host Lions 52-15 in Northern six-man action.

The Bears scored 40 unanswered points in the first three quarters of the game including 26 in the first quarter en route to the easy victory.

Aaron Henry broke the contest wide open in the first quarter as he took a Neal Rosette pass 40 yards for the game's first touchdown. Henry then took a punt back 68 yards on the Bears next possession to build an early 14-0 lead. Henry also scored on a 16-yard pass from Rossette later in the first half.

Rossette also had a big day for the Bears, throwing for three touchdowns as well as rushing for a 5-yard score. Cole Henderson also scored twice for Box Elder including a 60-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Box Elder (2-2) will return home to host the Geraldine Tigers on Saturday afternoon.

J-I 38, Geyser 8

The J-I Rams bounced back from a tough loss last week to Augusta by pounding the Geyser Wranglers, 38-8, in Joplin Saturday afternoon.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Rams reeled off 24 unanswered points including 18 in the second quarter.

Craig Miller opened the scoring for the Rams as he scored on a 30-yard pass from Zach Ramberg. John Wolery followed that up with a 10-yard TD run and then Miller and Ramberg hooked up two more times on plays of 20 and 35 yards to put the Wranglers away.

Ramberg threw four TD passes in all, including the three to Miller and one to Brent Pimley.

J-I (2-2) will visit the Brockton Warriors on Saturday afternoon.

Highwood 54, Rocky Boy 0

The Highwood Mountaineers continued to roll in 2003 by shutting out the Rocky Boy Stars, 54-0 in Rocky Boy on Saturday afternoon.

The Mountaineers scored 48 first quarter points with 40 of those points coming off of Rocky Boy turnovers.

Brett Bahnmiller also took the opening kickoff back 70 yards for a touchdown as well as scoring two rushing touchdowns on the day.

Rocky Boy (1-3) will travel to Geyser on Saturday afternoon.