Meanwhile, Hellgate still hopes to join them in the win column Friday.
The Knights host second-year program Kalispell Glacier - which Hellgate beat a season ago - while Big Sky welcomes Kalispell Flathead on Saturday night. Only the Spartans are on the road, traveling to face
After much of the Sentinel faithful likely set their VCRs (DVRs? TiVos?) to record last week's installment of KPAX-TV's “Prep Game of the Week,” the series takes a break from pigskin to broadcast the Spartans taking on Bozeman in volleyball, via tape-delay Saturday night at 10:35 p.m.
Glacier at Hellgate, 7:30 p.m.
After being shut out the first two weeks of the season, Knights coach Jeff Dohn isn't mincing words about what Hellgate needs to do to get off the schneid.
“Offensively, the bottom line is we have to score.” Dohn said this week, joking that his coaching staff is making big promises if the Knights get in the end zone against the Wolfpack. “We told them there would be fireworks and everything if we score.”
In losses to Billings Skyview and Great Falls the first two weeks, Hellgate tried to supplement its traditional option attack with some more passing, with limited success.
The Knights have 187 yards rushing so far - led by senior Chris Lavoie's 104 - but they've managed just 32 yards through the air. Hellgate also gave up almost 100 yards of offense in penalties in a 14-0 loss to the Bison last Friday.
Dohn said those facts have the Knights concentrating more on what they need to do for themselves this weekend than what Glacier will try to do to them.
One thing that is certain is coach Grady Bennett's pass-happy offense will come loaded for bear with two-year starter junior QB Shay Smithwick-Hann and a big offensive front to protect him.
After going winless without any seniors on the roster last year, the Wolfpack scored the first win in program history when they defeated Butte 21-14 to open 2008. Then they crashed to earth, falling 28-7 to Bozeman last Friday.
“We know they've improved,” Dohn said. “They're big on the offensive line and their defense is pretty good, too. (But) they're still a young team, like we are.”
Hellgate topped Glacier last season, 28-7, in Kalispell. It was the Knights' lone win of the season.
Sentinel at Great Falls Russell, 7:30 p.m.
About the only people in Spartan Nation not still celebrating last weekend's 55-21 drubbing of Butte are the Spartans themselves.
For Sentinel, it was back to the grindstone as of Monday afternoon.
“I don't think there will be any hangover from the game, to be honest with you,” said coach Pete Joseph. “We did what we had to do, we expected to play well. We finished of the game in a great manner and now it's over and done with.”
The win was a romp for a Spartans team that's had some down years, as senior QB Steven Rominger passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more and Sentinel got 86 yards on the ground and a TD from senior Taylor McGreevey.
“We have senior class that's 26 strong,” Joseph said. “They've stuck together ... (and) those guys provide great leadership that is spreading to the other kids throughout the program.”
The Rustlers will be without running back Josh Wilson, who is out indefinitely with a knee injury.
A transfer from Columbia Falls, Wilson rushed for 179 yards and one touchdown in Russell's opening-week victory over Flathead, but gained just two more before being injured last week against Billings West.
Still, Joseph is wary of the Rustlers, who debuted at No. 5 in the first Class AA power poll of the season.
“They're not going to be out of position, that's for sure,” he said. “They're a disciplined team and (coach) Jack Johnson has been doing this for a long time. They're not going to make any mistakes that allow you to win the game. You have to beat them. You have to go out there and take it away from them.”
The Rustlers beat Sentinel, 54-6, in Missoula a year ago.
Flathead at Big Sky, 7 p.m. Saturday
Big Sky is home for the first time this season and in order to save the squad from back-to-back 4 p.m. games, the Eagles shifted the start time to Saturday evening.
After chalking up the first ‘W' of the season with a 28-7 decision over Billings Senior in an afternoon contest last week, Big Sky will now have the task of trying to slow down the Braves and star quarterback Brock Osweiler.
The senior signal caller, who has reportedly committed to Arizona State, poses some problems for the Eagles in and of himself.
“First, it's hard to emulate him in practice,” coach Gary Ekegren said. “He's about 6-foot-9 and throws really well. ... He's got to be one of the best high school quarterbacks in this country.”
Flathead, though, comes in 0-2 after losses to Great Falls Russell and Helena High. Osweiler threw for five combined touchdowns in those games and hung 286 yards passing on the Bengals.
The problem for the Braves may be on the other side of the ball.
Flathead gave up 22 unanswered points in the second half against the Rustlers, then got trampled by a trio of Helena backs - Tyler Ishak (135 yards), Matt Upham (93) and Nick Trapp (80).
The Eagles have found a new threat at fullback in Trevor Kamura, but have also moved to more of a committee of rushers to replace graduated workhorse Beau Donaldson. Seven different backs got carries against the Broncs.
Ekegren's charges are also throwing it a bit more, with quarterback Joe Petritz going 11-for-13 for 134 yards last week.
Perhaps the biggest impact has come on defense and special teams. Big Sky got a kickoff return for a touchdown from now-injured Brooks Nuanez in the first game of the season and an interception for a score by defensive lineman Jordan Beyer last week.
“We've been really pleased with our defense,” Ekegren said. “We're not very big, but we're pretty quick. The kids are eager and they swarm to the ball pretty well. Most of those kids play on special teams, too. They've done yoeman's work. We're proud of them.”
In Kalispell last year, Flathead beat the Eagles, 42-21.
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