Hardin 27, Belgrade 10
At Belgrade, the 1-2 punch of Drew Zelka and Martin Old Horn helped Hardin to a win over Belgrade in the first round of the Class A football playoffs on Saturday.
Old Horn caught TD passes of 43, 36 and 21 yards from quarterback Ryan Gratwohl, who completed 6 of 12 passes for 122 yards.
Belgrade quarterback Matt Thibault threw for 137 yards and ran for 90 yards.
Hardin (7-3) will play at Frenchtown (7-1) in next Saturday's quarterfinals.
Miles City 48, Butte Central 7
At Miles City, riding 399 yards of total offense, Miles City swarmed a young Butte Central squad, 48-7.
Brennan Haughian carried the ball 10 times for 218 yards with scoring runs of 67 and 58 yards. Hayden Kalfell returned a punt and a kickoff for scores while racking up 186 special teams yards.
Butte Central actually held an early 7-0 lead after an Andy Ritter 37-yard toss to Casey Norbeck. Ritter finished 13-of-23 for 130 yards.
Miles City will travel to Polson for a quarterfinal matchup.
Class B
Huntley Project 62, Whitehall 0
At Worden, Huntley Project racked up a season-high 599 yards in overpowering Whitehall in an opening-round game of the Class B football playoffs on Saturday.
Gavin Shagunn raced 78 yards to score on the game's second play. By halftime Project had accumulated 509 yards and led 52-0.
Brady DeCock led the Red Devils with 133 yards on five attempts. Eric Buer finished with 71 yards on four tries. Project piled up 474 yards on the ground and had 125 yards passing.
The Project defense was just as impressive. Whitehall totaled just 142 yards and had only one good scoring chance. That came after the Trojans recovered a fumble at the Project 20 early in the fourth quarter.
Whitehall reached a first-and-goal at the 5, but hurt itself with two penalties. On third down, Taylor Dees and Billy Henrichs sacked quarterback Justin Carey for a 6-yard loss, forcing a field goal attempt which missed.
Project will host Glasgow in a showdown of 9-0 teams in the quarterfinals.
Glasgow 39, Fort Benton 6
At Glasgow, Josh Neumiller rolled up 192 yards on only seven carries, pacing Glasgow's win over Fort Benton.
The ground game accounted for all six Glasgow touchdowns with Neumiller finding the end zone three times. Cade Flaten also scored on runs of 1 and 7 yards and Derek Canen sealed the scoring with a 39-yard scamper.
Myles Kittleson led the Scotties defensively with 14 tackles. Chad Dawson and Canen each registered 10 apiece.
Baker 10, Shepherd 2
At Baker, Baker scored all 10 points in the third quarter then made it hold up in a win over Shepherd.
The defending state champion Spartans (7-2) will host Loyola Sacred Heart (8-0) in the quarterfinals.
Bryon Overton gathered a 15-yard pass from quarterback Robbie Gray in the third quarter for the Spartans' lone touchdown. Both teams registered safeties.
Tanner Varner rushed 21 times for 99 yards for Baker, while Dalton Arnell added 64 yards on 12 carries.
The Spartan defense came up with four interceptions in the second half, including three in the fourth quarter. Defensive lineman Tyson Whitney had two interceptions, including one with less than a minute remaining to seal the victory for Baker. Teammate Slade Bettenhausen added 11 tackles. The Spartan defense had five interceptions for the game.
Justin Walker had 47 yards rushing for Shepherd and a game-high 22 tackles from his middle linebacker position.
Conrad 46, Colstrip 29
At Colstrip, Eric Norby fueled a road win for Conrad with four rushing scores and 176 yards on the ground as Conrad topped Colstrip.
Riley Styren's 50-yard interception return right before the end of the half followed a Norby 11-yard score as Conrad turned a 7-6 deficit into a 21-7 lead at the break.
“Norby was the key to the game today. He just had a great game,” said Colstrip coach Mark Ator. “The two big touchdowns at the end of the (first) half probably sealed the deal for them. We dug a hole too deep to come back.”
Cullen Keyes caught two touchdown passes from Andrew Torgerson and Torgerson ran for two more scores, but it wasn't enough to overcome Norby and the Conrad offense
Conrad will play at Eureka in the quarterfinals.
Townsend 41, Broadus 6
At Townsend, Townsend rode the legs of Colin Heffner and Raddlee Turcotte to a triumph over Broadus.
Heffner carried the ball 23 times for 205 yards and scored on runs of 17 and 53 yards. Turcotte managed 95 yards on only eight carries and also scored twice.
Andy Newman - who intercepted two passes - led a Townsend defense that forced five turnovers on the day.
Townsend will host Fairfield in a second-round game.
Fairfield 43, Malta 0
At Fairfield, Fairfield quarterback Derek Lear fired four touchdown passes, including three to Mickey Miller, in leading the second-ranked Eagles to a blanking of No. 7 Malta.
The Eagles (9-0) amassed 401 yards of total offense while their defensive line helped hold the Mustangs (6-3) to an estimated 150. Lear completed 15 of his 22 pass attempts for 244 yards, hitting Miller on pass plays of 46, 9 and 15 yards while throwing a 35-yard pass to Miles Steinbach.
Steinbach and Lear also had scoring runs for the Eagles. Fairfield also got a first-quarter safety when the center snap sailed over the Malta punter's head.
Fairfield is slated to travel to Townsend next week for a quarterfinal game.
Class C
Centerville 50 Belt 14
At Centerville, top-ranked Centerville stormed to a 28-0 halftime lead and never looked back in beating Belt in a first-round round Class C matchup.
The Miners were led by Sam Rutherford, who had 19 carries for 100 yards and accounted for four touchdowns.
Quarterback Jared Mayernik was 5-of-10 for 122 yards and three scores, but he also had three interceptions.
Wibaux 42, Ekalaka 26
At Ekalaka, Travis Bertelsen accounted for more than 400 all-purpose yards, scored six touchdowns and made 20 tackles to lead Wibaux to a win over Ekalaka.
Bertelsen, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior, set the tone for the Longhorns when he returned the opening kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown. He added touchdown runs of 76, 35 and 15 yards and caught TD passes of 65 and 8 yards from Jaylen Sokoloski.
For the game, Bertelsen ran the ball 17 times for 202 yards, caught three passes for 98 yards and had 113 return yards. He also had 18 solo tackles and five assisted tackles.
Ekalaka quarterback Pat Hansen threw two touchdown passes to Ches Meyer. Hansen also returned a kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown. Clint Mrnak scored on a 3-yard run.
Hansen finished with 105 yards rushing and 162 yards passing.
Wibaux (7-1) will play at No. 1-ranked Centerville (9-0) in the quarterfinals.
Scobey 60, Culbertson-Bainville 14
At Scobey, Michael Crandell and the Scobey Spartans are moving on to the second round of the Class C playoffs.
Crandell accounted for three scores and five conversions as Scobey topped Culbertson.
It was Culbertson that took a 14-8 first-quarter lead, answering an opening Scobey score. Scobey rattled off 52 unanswered points in the final three quarters to quell the upset-minded Cowboys.
Seven different Spartans scored touchdowns, including Calvin Odom who opened the day with a 41-yard run. Dylan Solberg put an emphatic end to the day with a 12-yard interception return.
Absarokee 52, Harlowton-Ryegate 14
At Absarokee, Jeff Royce rushed for 100 yards and threw for another 142 while accounting for five total touchdowns in Absarokee's win over Harlowton-Ryegate.
The Huskies held a slim 18-14 lead going into the fourth quarter but blew the game wide open with a 34-point effort in the final frame, spurred in part by two big defensive plays.
“We get an interception for a return and then recover a fumble in the end zone and it kind of went from there,” said Absarokee coach Warren Boeck. “Our defense really stepped up and made a close game not so close. Harlowton battled. They showed up to play today.”
Drew Gallahan led Harlowton's offense with 137 yards on the ground, including a 55-yard touchdown scamper in the second.
Absarokee will travel to play Superior in the quarterfinals.
Denton 51, Joliet 26
At Denton, Damon Heble accounted for 250 yards of total offense as Denton defeated Joliet.
Heble rushed for 139 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns and added 111 yards receiving on just three catches. He caught touchdown passes of 30 and 58 yards from Denton quarterback Jordan Lahr. Heble also kicked a 50-yard field goal.
Denton led 45-6 at halftime.
The Trojan defense registered seven quarterback sacks and had two interceptions.
Chinook 39 Sunburst 0
At Chinook, the Sugarbeeters blew out Sunburst in a first-round skirmish.
Greg Qualls led the Beeter attack with three touchdowns, including a 65-yard punt return for a score that put Chinook up 18-0 in the second quarter.
He later added a 12-yard TD run.
Chinook improved to 8-1 with the victory, while the Refiners finished at 5-4.
Six-man
Bridger 54, Big Sandy 36
At Bridger, third-ranked and undefeated Bridger scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to thwart a Big Sandy rally.
The Scouts are 9-0 and will host the Highwood-Terry winner in the quarterfinals.
Bridger sophomore quarterback Stetson Schwend completed 17 of 22 passes for 204 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
Reed Point-Rapelje 34, Custer-Melstone 28
At Rapelje, Matt Hoffman scored a touchdown on the last play of the game to give Reed Point-Rapelje a win over Custer-Melstone.
The game was tied 28-28 when Hoffman caught a 10-yard pass from Jake Bare. Hoffman was able to break some tackles and find his way to the end zone.
The Renegades will play at undefeated defending state champion Hysham in the quarterfinals.
Hysham 48, North Star 20
At Hysham, Matt Icopini rushed for four touchdowns as defending six-man state champion Hysham opened the playoffs with a win over North Star.
The Pirates (9-0) have won 21 straight games. They will host Reed Point-Rapelje in the quarterfinals.
Icopini had scoring runs of 52, 3, 3 and 16 yards. He finished with 199 yards rushing on 22 carries. Teammates Chris Mack and Tylor Watson also ran for scores.
West Yellowstone 68, Belfry 18
At West Yellowstone, Nick Griffin rushed for 204 yards and five touchdowns as West Yellowstone downed Belfry.
Griffin had scoring runs of 45, 1, 27, 42 and 58 yards. He carried the ball just eight times. Teammate Mark Schulteis added 162 yards and two touchdowns in nine carries for the Wolverines.
Griffin also had a game-high 13 tackles, while teammates Jon Crow and Grant Evje added 10 tackles apiece.
Geraldine 49, Savage 12
At Geraldine, Stephen Rios accounted for three touchdowns as Geraldine defeated Savage.
Rios had scoring runs of 45 and 36 yards and also returned a punt 35 yards for a score. He finished with 243 yards rushing on 19 carries. Rios also kicked three extra points and passed for two more. Brenton Van Voast had a rushing touchdown for the Tigers (9-0) and also had a pass interception for a score.
Savage finished with a 4-5 record.
Playoff pairings
CLASS AA
Dates and times TBA
Billings Skyview (5-5) at Helena Capital (10-0)
Kalispell Flathead (6-4) at Billings West (9-1)
Missoula Big Sky (6-4) at Great Falls Russell (8-2)
Great Falls High (6-4) at Helena High (7-3)
Class A
Byes: Billings Central (9-0), Havre (7-2), Polson (7-2), Frenchtown (7-1)
First round
Saturday
Dillon 48, Whitefish 28
Columbia Falls 27, Corvallis 26
Miles City 48, Butte Central 7
Hardin 27, Belgrade 10
Quarterfinals
Dates and times TBA
Miles City (9-1) at Polson (7-2)
Dillon (7-2) at Havre (7-2)
Columbia Falls (6-3) at Billings Central (9-0)
Hardin (7-3) at Frenchtown (7-1)
CLASS B
Friday
Missoula Loyola 14, Troy 6
Saturday
Fairfield 43, Malta 0
Baker 10, Shepherd 2
Townsend 41, Broadus 6
Huntley Project 62, Whitehall 10
Conrad 46, Colstrip 29
Eureka 21, Florence 14
Glasgow 39, Fort Benton 6
Quarterfinals
Dates and times TBA
Conrad (6-3) at Eureka (7-1)
Loyola Sacred Heart (8-0) at Baker (7-2)
Glasgow (9-0) at Huntley Project (9-0)
Fairfield (9-0) at Townsend (7-2)
CLASS C
Saturday
Scobey 60, Culbertson-Bainville 14
Wibaux 42, Ekalaka 26
Absarokee 52, Harlowton 14
Denton 51, Joliet 26
Centerville 50, Belt 14
Superior 55, Charlo 24
Chinook 39, Sunburst 0
Twin Bridges 49, Victor 14
Quarterfinals
Dates and times TBA
Wibaux (7-1) at Centerville (9-0)
Twin Bridges (8-1) at Denton (9-0)
Absarokee (9-0) at Superior (9-0)
Chinook (8-1) at Scobey (8-1)
6-Man
Saturday
West Yellowstone 68, Belfry 12
Roberts 58, Dubois, Idaho 6
Hysham 48, North Star 20
Reed Point-Rapelje 34, Custer-Melstone 28
Bridger 54, Big Sandy 36
Highwood 56, Terry 26
Augusta 40, Lambert 8
Geraldine 49, Savage 12
Quarterfinals
Dates and times TBA
Highwood (7-2) at Bridger (9-0)
Reedpoint-Rapelje (4-5) at Hysham (9-0)
Augusta (6-3) at West Yellowstone (8-1)
Roberts (8-1) at Geraldine (9-0)
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