Hi-Line Football: Pioneers blast Bearcats, Hawks cruise

This past weekend, a number of local high school football teams played important games with playoff implications and one of those games just happened to take place in Chester Friday night.

Needing a win to have a chance to play their way into the playoffs, the Chester-Joplin-Inverness Hawks hosted Box Elder, which was back on the field after forfeiting the previous two weeks. Yet, with their playoff hopes on the line, the Hawks took care of business against the Bears, scoring 24 points in the first quarter on their way to a 50-8 victory.

Normally, the Hawks are a pass-heavy offense, but against Box Elder, CJI ran so well it didn't need to throw much. Spencer Richter, the Hawks quarterback, attempted just five passes and the Hawks rushed for 230 yards and six touchdowns in the win. Lane Fischer had another strong game, carrying the ball seven times for 84 yards and scoring two touchdowns. Richter ran three times for 59 yards and a score, while Andrew Woods carried it nine times for 59 yards and a touchdown. Jackson Diemert and Kealy Haaland also scored rushing touchdowns.

Box Elder got its lone touchdown in the fourth quarter and it was scored by Malique Rosette, who rushed 18 times for 87 yards. With the win, the Hawks improved to 5-2 on the season and more importantly, 4-2 within their division of the Northern C. CJI will travel to Centerville this week for a spot in the 8-Man playoffs. Yet, even with a loss, CJI would get another chance the next weekend against the loser of Chinook/Choteau for the fifth and final playoff berth in the Northern C.

BE 0 0 0 8 - 8

CJI 24 14 6 6 - 50

CJI - Kealy Haaland run (Andrew Woods pass from Richter)

CJI - Jackson Diemert run (Lane Fischer pass from Richter)

CJI - Lane Fischer run (Jackson Diemert pass from Richter)

CJI - Lane Fischer run (Evan Dahinden pass from Richter)

CJI - Richter run (run failed)

CJI - Evan Dahinden punt return (pass failed)

CJI - Andrew Woods run (pass failed)

BXE - Rosette pass from Duran (Rosette run)

Big Sandy 66, Denton-Geyser-Stanford 31

In another game that had plenty on the line, the Big Sandy Pioneers took on Denton/Geyser/Stanford on the road last Saturday in a game that might end up deciding second place in the Six-Man North Division.

The Pioneers came into the game boasting a 3-1 record in conference play, with their only loss to Geraldine/Highwood, while DGS was sitting on a perfect 4-0 mark. However, with a dominant first half that saw Big Sandy score 44 points, the Pioneers rolled to a 66-31 win and are now one win away from hosting a home playoff game for the second straight season.

Kade Strutz had another huge game for Big Sandy, rushing the ball 23 times for 331 yards and six touchdowns. Parker Proulx also threw for 97 yards and two touchdowns in the win, as he connected with Ryan Roth and Clint Darlington for one touchdown reception each. Darlington also pitched in with two sacks on defense.

Big Sandy (6-2) has already clinched a berth in the Six-Man playoffs for the second straight season, but needs one more win to clinch the second seed and a home playoff game. The Pioneers will host Power-Dutton-Brady Friday and will wrap up the No. 2 spot with a win. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.

Big Sandy 22 22 7 15 - 66

DGS - 0 6 13 12 - 31

BSY - Kade Strutz 22 run ( kick)

BSY - Kade Strutz 5 run ( kick)

BSY - Kade Strutz 46 run (kick failed)

BSY - Kade Strutz 16 run ( kick)

BSY - Parker Proux 41 pass from Ryan Roth ( kick)

DGS - Zack Solomon 2 run (kick failed)

BSY - Kade Strutz 55 run (kick failed)

DGS - Dylan Taylor 3 pass from Jake Solomon

BSY - Kade Strutz 20 run ( pass from )

DGS - Dylan Taylor 45 pass from Arik Ayers (pass failed)

DGS - Zack Solomon 9 run (pass failed)

BSY - Parker Proux 8 pass from Darlington (kick failed)

BSY - Jordan Schwarzback 2 run ( kick)

GFCC 48, Chinook 21

Elsewhere in the Northern C Saturday, the Chinook Sugarbeeters traveled to Great Falls to take on Great Falls Central in what was a non-conference matchup between inter-division rivals.

Coming into the game, Great Falls Central had already clinched a berth in the 8-Man playoffs and a spot in the Northern C title game this Saturday against Shelby. Likewise, Chinook also wrapped up third already in its division of the Northern C, meaning it will have not one, but two chances to make the postseason. When the two teams met on the field Saturday, Chinook hung around but was ultimately upended by the unbeaten Mustangs 48-21.

Chinook will be on the road again this week against Choteau. The winner of that game will clinch a spot in the playoffs; the loser will face either CJI or Centerville the following Saturday for the fifth and final Northern C playoff berth.

Fort Benton 68, Rocky Boy 19

The Fort Benton Longhorns aren't going to be a playoff team in 2018, yet in the past three weeks, they have sure played like one and last Friday in Rocky Boy, the Longhorns continued their winning ways.

Of course, after forfeiting games earlier this season, getting back on the field was a win for the Rocky Boy, but when it was all said and done Friday night, the Longhorns were the victors on the scoreboard with a 68-19 triumph. Fort Benton is now 3-4 on the season and will carry a three-game winning streak into its final game of the season against Belt.

Fairfield 68, Harlem 0

In Class B action, the Harlem Wildcats traveled to Fairfield last Friday night in search of their first win, however, Fairfield proved far too powerful for Harlem and shut out the Wildcats by a score of 68-0. Harlem will welcome rival Malta to its home field Friday night in another Class of Northern B squads.