Game Time: Beeters host Fairview

The 2014 season has been one of most memorable in the history of Chinook football. The Sugarbeeters have won nine games, a Northern C Division championship and two playoff games. But, even with all that success they are far from satisfied. And that's because one more win means a berth in the Class C 8-man state championship game.

To get to the state title game and make their mark in the history books, the seventh-ranked Beeters (9-2) will need to knock off second-ranked Fairivew (9-1) in the 8-man semifinals on Saturday in Chinook.

The battle between the Warriors and Beeters will take place at Hoon Field in what will be the biggest game at the historic stadium since the Beeters captured the 8-man state championship there in 2010. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

"The community of Chinook can be really proud of what the Chinook High School football team has accomplished this season," Chinook head coach Scott Friede said. "Being part of the final four teams left in the playoffs and the lone representative of the Northern C is a humbling experience. We are by no means looking to next week. We are focused on Fairview and looking to earn our way into the championship. But, it has been a great feeling to be a part of this."

If the Beeters are going to get themselves into the championship game on Nov. 22, they will have their work cut out for them against a talented Fairview squad that lost just once in the regular season, falling 48-6 to Wibaux, the top-ranked team in Class C.

While Chinook cruised to home playoff wins over Victor and Broadus in the first two rounds of the playoffs, Fairivew was equally impressive in its playoff run. The Warriors knocked off White Sulpher Springs 80-34 in the opening round and then dispatched of Belt, one of the two teams to beat the Beeters during the regular season, 62-52 last Saturday in Fairview.

One reason for the Warriors' success this season has been their dominating offense, which averaged an impressive 58 points a game. Fairview has scored 50 or more points eight times this season and a big reason why is their passing game, which centers around the dynamic duo of quarterback Monte Cayko and receiver Ben Hardy. Cayko and Hardy hooked up for five touchdowns a week ago and Hardy finished the game against Belt with a total of 197 yards receiving.

Yet, you don't average nearly 60 points per game on offense by being one dimensional and the Warriors can run just as well as they throw. Their ground game is led by running back Taryn Candee, who can do plenty of damage in his own right, when defenses focus too much on the Cayko and Hardy.

"Fairview is a very good team," Friede said. "They have a solid quarterback with a good arm and quick feet. They also have some outstanding receivers and I am sure they are going to do their best to get them the football. They also have some lineman that can really get out and block on both sides."

The Warriors may have an explosive offense but the key to winning may be the play of their defense, which has surrendered just 26 points a game this season. And while those numbers are certainly impressive, the Beeters have an explosive offense of their own, one that is headlined by running back Gavin Gunderson and quarterback Ian McIntosh.

Gunderson has dominated opposing defenses all season and racked up over 200 rushing yards in the win over Broadus. But, as the season wore on, defenses focused their energy on stopping the Beeters' ground game, putting more pressure on McIntosh and the passing attack, which has responded beautifully.

Last week, McIntosh showed what a weapon he has become tossing four touchdown passes and rushing for another. The junior quarterback has been aided by the big-play ability of receiver Lane Seymour and the emergence of tight end Kenneth Pruttis, giving the Beeters a passing game that is suddenly just as formidable as Gunderson and the running game.

"I would probably be safe in saying that Ian is one of the hardest workers on our team," Friede said. "Ian's development can really be attributed to his work ethic. We execute some of the same concepts each game, but very seldom will you see us running the same offensive game plan. At this point, we have seen just about every defensive scheme out there, which makes Ian tough to stop this time of year."

Win or lose, Saturday's semifinal game against Fairview will be the last game for the Chinook at Hoon Field in 2014. And in their final home game, the Beeters have an opportunity to add another memory to an already memorable season, earning a place in the state championship game and notching one of the most important victories in the history of Chinook football along the way.

"Again, this community and the kids should be very proud of what they have accomplished," Friede said. "Picking up our first two wins in the playoffs is a great example of the kinds of kids we have playing for us. They have a lot of pride and a lot of heart. There is going to be a lot of football being played across the state on Saturday and it would be great for these kids to have a large crowd on hand for this semi-final game in Chinook."

Chinook and Fairview will get their semifinal game underway at 1 p.m Saturday. The winner will advance to the 8-man state championship and will face the winner of defending champion Ennis and top-ranked Wibaux, who will also play Saturday in a rematch of last season's championship game.