To some extent, that was the case this week as Frenchtown football coaches tried to come to grips with the three passing touchdowns Miles City put up on Polson in last Saturday's Class A quarterfinal game.
The No. 2 Cowboys, known more for their running game, connected on throws of 79, 18 and 45 yards on their way to a 26-20 victory over the Pirates.
“We knew they were a good running team, but then they turn around and get over 200 yards in the air against Polson,” Frenchtown coach Steve Pinsoneault said. “It got our attention, sure.”
As if Saturday's 1 p.m. semifinal battle in Miles City wasn't going to be challenging enough.
But the fourth-ranked Broncs aren't gun shy, and Pinsoneault said his team will be ready.
“Last week (a 14-7 win over Hardin) we were coming off a bye, and I think our youth showed a little bit early in the game,” Pinsoneault said. “I think we'll do a better job this week of handling the situation.”
Frenchtown, which starts just two seniors, certainly played a strong second half against Hardin. The Broncs dominated time of possession, running 40 offensive plays to 24 for the Bulldogs.
It's a game plan Frenchtown has employed most of this season. Assistant coach Dan Moe uses a stopwatch to indicate to the offense when to break the huddle and when to snap the ball, running as much time off the clock as possible before each play.
The strategy allows the Broncs to shorten the game, and, hopefully, keep the other team's offense off the field as much as possible.
“We've done a pretty good job with it,” Pinsoneault said. “It helps pace us, and it gives our big guys a chance to get a rest (between plays).”
Miles City's aerial explosion against Polson notwithstanding, the Cowboys' bread and butter is their power-I.
Senior Brennan Haughian, a 5-foot-8, 205-pound slasher, has run for 1,588 yards and 19 touchdowns.
And the Cowboys' line is big and experienced, led by senior twins Nick (6-2, 220) and James (6-2, 215) Love.
“This is the third year they've been starting,” Miles City coach Dan Stanton said. “They have real good speed, make a lot of plays for us.”
Miles City averages 235 yards a game on the ground.
“They're a lot like Hamilton - good line, good running back,” Pinsoneault said. “And we haven't done as good of a job against the run this year as we usually do.”
Pinsoneault does not expect to see the Cowboys flinging the ball left and right.
“I think last week was more a testament to Polson's ability to stop the run,” the Frenchtown coach said. “Polson probably has the best group of linebackers in the state. Obviously Miles City's quarterback is very capable ... we just hadn't seen that before with them.”
The Cowboys have concerns of their own. They start with Frenchtown's deceptive Wishbone attack, led by senior Cody Kirk, who now has 1,850 yards on 168 carries.
“We're just hoping we can contain them a little bit,” Stanton said. “We're hoping we can get them into some passing situations, but their running game is going to be a challenge for us to stop.
“Kirk is as good as anyone we've seen,” he added. “Their fullback (J.D. Undem) is a real good runner, they're big up front. It will be a test for our defense.”
The winner of Saturday's game will take on either No. 3 Dillon or No. 1 Billings Central in the state title game. If Frenchtown is able to upset Miles City, the Broncs would host Dillon, but have to travel to Billings Central.
Extra points: Frenchtown and Miles City met in the playoffs in 2003 and '04. The Cowboys won the '03 meeting, 36-20 in the quarterfinals. The Broncs returned the favor a year later, winning 43-7 in the first round. ... Miles City played for four straight state titles from 1993-96, losing the first one but winning the next three. The Cowboys have not been back to the state title game since their 14-7 win over Sidney in '96.
Playoff pairings
CLASS AA
First round
Helena Capital 49, Billings Skyview 20
Billings West 56, Kalispell Flathead 13
Great Falls Russell 49, Missoula Big Sky 6
Great Falls High 14, Helena High 13
Semifinals
Friday
Billings West 31, Great Falls Russell 7
Helena Capital 43, Great Falls High 13
Championship
Billings West (11-1) at Helena Capital (12-0)
Class A
First round
Dillon 48, Whitefish 28
Columbia Falls 27, Corvallis 26
Miles City 48, Butte Central 7
Hardin 27, Belgrade 10
Quarterfinals
Miles City 26, Polson 20
Dillon 21, Havre 7
Billings Central 27, Columbia Falls 13
Frenchtown 14, Hardin 7
Semifinals
Saturday
1 p.m. - Frenchtown (8-1) at Miles City (9-1)
1 p.m. - Billings Central (10-0) at Dillon (8-2)
CLASS B
First round
Missoula Loyola 14, Troy 6
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
Eureka 32, Conrad 14
Loyola Sacred Heart 16, Baker 6
Huntley Project 42, Glasgow 10
Fairfield 40, Townsend 21
Semifinals
Friday
Fairfield 31, Loyola Sacred Heart 7
Saturday
1 p.m. - Eureka (8-1) at Huntley Project (10-0)
Championship
Eureka-Huntley Project winner vs. Fairfield (11-0)
CLASS C
First round
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
Wibaux 37, Centerville 20
Twin Bridges 59, Denton 14
Superior 62, Absarokee 12
Scobey 46, Chinook 6
Semifinals
Saturday
1 p.m. - Scobey (9-1) at Superior (10-0)
1 p.m. - Twin Bridges (9-1) at Wibaux (8-1)
6-Man
First round
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
Reed Point-Rapelje 36, Hysham 20
Highwood 54, Bridger 16
Augusta 46, West Yellowstone 12
Geraldine 45, Roberts 44
Semifinals
Saturday
1 p.m. - Highwood (8-2) at Reed Point (5-5)
1 p.m. - Augusta (7-3) at Geraldine (10-0)
Stat pack
Frenchtown (8-1)
Points scored: 256 (28.4 ppg)
Points allowed: 130 (14.4 ppg)
Top rushers: Cody Kirk 168-1,850 yards (11.0 avg.) 16 TDs; Jonny Dilworth 104-751 (7.4 avg.) 8 TDs.
Top passer: Daniel Aichlmayer 26-64-5 INT, 450 yards, 3 TDs.
Top receivers: J.D. Undem 10-225 yards, 3 TDs.
Top defenders: Jake Anderson 72 tackles; Undem 69 tackles; Billy Miner 62 tackles; Kirk 46 tackles, 4 interceptions.
Miles City (9-1)
Points scored: 301 (30.1 ppg)
Points allowed: 71 (7.1 ppg)
Top rushers: Brennan Haughian 223-1,588 yards (7.1 avg.) 19 TDs; Cord Berg 73-416 (5.7 avg.) 6 TDs.
Top passer: Jordan Bryant-Morris 56-107-4 INT, 840 yards, 9 TDs.
Top receivers: J.T. Keith 11-276 yards 2 TDs; Haughian 13-177 yards 1 TD.
Top defenders: Nick Love and Haughian.
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