The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

The Chinook Sugarbeeters edged the Ennis Mustangs in a thriller 36-30 Saturday at Hoon Field.

The quarterfinal game of the Montana Class 'C' Eight Man football playoffs was a dogfight. Each team found the end zone five times but the 'Beeters were successful with three conversion attempts while the defense stopped the Mustangs on all five.

Chinook scored the first points of the game on a one yard plunge from senior quarterback Ian McIntosh with 2:20 left in the first quarter. McIntosh added the two point conversion by finding senior Jake Norby in the end zone to give the 'Beeters an early 8-0 lead.

The 'Beeters have scored first in all ten contests this season but never did they have a team respond as quickly as the Mustangs did. Ennis took the ensuing kickoff at their own one yard line and returned it 79 yards for the score. A strong defensive effort kept the Mustangs out of the end zone on the conversion attempt to keep the 'Beeters on top 8-6.

Chinook regained the lead at the 8:48 mark of the second quarter when senior Derek Bell found paydirt from four yards out to give Chinook a tenuous 14-6 lead.

The Mustangs again responded this time on a three yard run but once again a great defensive effort by the 'Beeters led to a Pruttis interception on the conversion attempt to keep the 'Beeters in front 14-12 with 5:10 left in the opening half.

The Mustangs defense would get the ball back for their offense who in turn responded with a 27 yard scoring strike to take the lead 18-14 with :48 left in the second quarter marking the first time the 'Beeters trailed heading into halftime.

Chinook responded to begin the second half finding the endzone just over three minutes into the third quarter on a McIntosh two yard run. The senior added the conversion to put Chinook back on top 22-18.

In a game that saw the lead change six times and neither team able to secure momentum firmly in their favor, the Mustangs would score on a 35 yard run just over a minute later to retake the lead 24-22 with 7:24 left in the third quarter.

McIntosh scored his third rushing touchdown of the contest moments later on a five yard run to give the 'Beeters back the lead 28-24 at the 2:37 mark of the third quarter.

The Mustangs again responded very quick as a 70 yard pass play had Ennis back in front 30-28 entering the final quarter of action.

The 'Beeters had one more answer left as McIntosh and Pruttis hooked up on a 15 yard pitch and catch with 9:05 left in the game. The two would connect again on the two point conversion for a 36-30 'Beeter lead.

McIntosh had little doubt that his receiver would come down with the ball, "I knew he was going to catch it, I just had to give him a chance."

"I knew we had to score since we were down by two," said Pruttis. "I just put my hands up and Ian just threaded the needle and I came down with the football for the score."

The Mustangs would eventually mount a serious drive late in the game when Pruttis would again come up huge for the 'Beeters picking off the Mustang quarterback at the seven yard line to secure the victory for the 'Beeters.

"The goal line stand at the end was a total team effort, we stopped them twice to bring up third down, I saw the ball in the air, broke on it and jumped the route," stated Pruttis.

In the end the 'Beeters forced four turnovers and recorded a pair of sacks in the win. Bell recovered two fumbles - one forced by senior Kevin Young and junior Tate Niederegger, the other by senior Jesse Dannels.

Senior Jake Norby thwarted a fourth quarter Mustang possession with a nice strip that senior Spencer Willman covered up. Willman and Young would each record a sack in the contest.

Offensively McIntosh completed 9-14 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown. Six of those were caught by Norby for 99 yards while Pruttis caught two for 21 yards and junior Kade Friede hauled in a reception covering 23 yards.

Niederegger carried the ball 20 times for 72 yards. Bell added 24 yards and a score on nine carries while McIntosh picked up 20 yards on 16 attempts although three of those went for scores.

Willman recorded nine tackles in the win as did Bell. Pruttis added eight while Norby and Young each contributed seven in the win.

The team will head to Fairview Saturday for a semifinal clash with the Warriors and a berth in the State Championship game the following week. "The whole team is excited to play in the semifinals, it will be a fun game and fun experience," concluded Pruttis.

Kasie McIntosh

Senior Ian McIntosh finds the end zone for one of his three rushing scores on the day for the 'Beeters.

Head Coach Scott Friede was naturally excited about his teams accomplishments, "The quarterfinal game was a great playoff atmosphere type game. It was a game that could have gone either way. Our team overcame a lot of adversity throughout the game. We stuck together and remained focus. It was a great team effort with some great individual efforts as well."

"These guys earned their way back to the game that will give them another chance to play for a shot at the title," added Friede.

As for the upcoming challenge Friede stated, "Fairview is big and have good speed. We will have to contain their quarterback and control the ball again offensively. They have some big kids that they can use in a power running game also. It will be another test for us that we are all looking forward to."

The game has a start time of 1:00 p.m. and can be heard on KRYK FM 101.3.