By Rob Everingham
CHINOOK The Chinook football team got its season off to the right start as it defeated Class B foe Fort Benton Friday night, 20-6.
In the first quarter both teams struggled to move the ball with both the Sugarbeeters and Longhorns going four-and-out the majority of the quarter.
To start the second, Fort Benton moved the ball into Chinook territory but had to punt from the Chinook 40-yard line.
The Beeters then took the ball and, after two big runs by quarterback Mike Maddox, Mason Roseberry made a diving catch in the end zone to catch a 14-yard strike from Maddox and give Chinook a 7-0 lead after a Justin Friede extra-point.
Fort Bentons next possession ended in a punt as well, but when Chinooks Jimmy Steyee went to catch the ball he fumbled it and it rolled into the end zone where a host of Fort Benton players jumped on the ball giving the Longhorns their first points of the game. A missed point-after left Chinook in the lead at halftime, 7-6.
Both teams started the second half with punts until the Beeters were able to move the ball deep in Longhorns territory but then missed a field goal to leave the score 7-6 at the end of three quarters of play.
Chinook had the ball to start the fourth quarter when Maddox got the job done himself, as the three-year starter ran the ball around the right side from the 23-yard line and caught the corner of the end zone for the score. Another Friede kick put Chinook up 14-6. Both teams punted on their ensuing possessions and on Fort Bentons final possession, Roseberry came up from his defensive position to pick off a pass.
The Beeters then drove the ball down to the one-yard line and were stopped twice by Fort Benton before Steyee kept the ball and plunged through the middle of the line for the one-yard score. Time had expired as Steyee ran into the end zone and no extra point was even tried.
Chinook head coach Scott Friede said Fort Benton brought everything, and he said the Longhorns have good size and their running backs are hard workers.
Friede said his ball club made some early mistakes that could have been costly, but said he was pleased with how his team stayed together and played a good second half of the game and got the job done.
We made a few adjustments at halftime, Friede said.
Even though the Beeters made some mistakes, Friede said they were first-game mistakes and things that he does not expect to see out of his team later in the season.
Friede said he was pleased with the overall effort of his team and said it was a complete team effort with different players stepping up at different times.
Each player had their own bright moments, Friede said.
Next up for Chinook are the Wolves of Wolf Point in Chinook this Friday night.
Chinook
20
Fort Benton
6
Fort Benton
0
6
0
0
6
Chinook
0
7
0
13
20
Chinook Mason Roseberry 14 pass from Mike Maddox (Justin Fride kick)
Fort Benton Fumble recovery (Kick failed)
Chinook Maddox 23 run (Frede kick)
Chinook Jimmy Steyee 1 run (Kick failed)
