Chinook fired up for first Class C championship

The weather may have gotten much colder since last weekend, but Chinook Sugarbeeter fans are stilled fired up.

Many of the store fronts along Indiana Street had displays of support for the Chinook High School football team as they head into Saturday's Class C state championship game against the Wibaux High School Longhorns.

The displays varied from simple fliers to window displays with streamers and business-related puns.

Thom MacLean's State Farm Insurance building's window said "Let's insure a win Beeters!"

MacLean said his receptionist did the decorating, but he knows most of the kids on the team, since his son played last year.

"I think it's great," MacLean said. "They're good kids, so it's good to see them have some success."

Across the street there's a flier in the window of Chinook Hardware, whose owner, Paul Stout, wished them the best.

"I hope they do well," Stout said. "It's going to be a tough game, and the weather won't do them any favors. But everybody is rooting for them."

The weather was of some concern to supporters.

Carol DePriest, receptionist at the First Bank of Montana, said she would be attending regardless, but wanted to see some improvement in the weather to draw out those that might not.

"I just hope the weather changes so people can come out and enjoy it," DePriest said. "The kids need it. They've worked hard."

The players agree.

Connlin Brown, senior starting center and tackle; Jorrell Jones, junior starting right guard and defensive end; and Benjamin Stroh, junior starting middle linebacker and fullback, are all excited but felt they had to work extra hard to be taken seriously, since Chinook has never made it to a state championship before.

"We just couldn't do anything to prove ourselves to anyone," Stroh said.

"But people saying we wouldn't make it this far was just another challenge," Brown added.

And they overcame that challenge and their hometown couldn't be more proud.

Jennifer Hellman, receptionist at American Garage, wouldn't miss Saturday's championship game and said she isn't the only one.

"I don't know anybody that isn't excited about it."

The big game starts at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The weather may have gotten much colder since last weekend, but Chinook Sugarbeeter fans are stilled fired up.

Many of the store fronts along Indiana Street had displays of support for the Chinook High School football team as they head into Saturday's Class C state championship game against the Wibaux High School Longhorns.

The displays varied from simple fliers to window displays with streamers and business-related puns.

Let's insure a winner

Thom MacLean's State Farm Insurance building's window said "Let's insure a win Beeters!"

MacLean said his receptionist did the decorating, but he knows most of the kids on the team, since his son played last year.

'They're good kids ..."

"I think it's great," MacLean said. "They're good kids, so it's good to see them have some success."

Across the street there's a flier in the window of Chinook Hardware, whose owner, Paul Stout, wished them the best.

"I hope they do well," Stout said. "It's going to be a tough game, and the weather won't do them any favors. But everybody is rooting for them."

Weather forecasts are a concern

The weather was of some concern to supporters.

Carol DePriest, receptionist at the First Bank of Montana, said she would be attending regardless, but wanted to see some improvement in the weather to draw out those that might not.

"I just hope the weather changes so people can come out and enjoy it," DePriest said. "The kids need it. They've worked hard."

The players agree.

Connlin Brown, senior starting center and tackle; Jorrell Jones, junior starting right guard and defensive end; and Benjamin Stroh, junior starting middle linebacker and fullback, are all excited but felt they had to work extra hard to be taken seriously, since Chinook has never made it to a state championship before.

"We just couldn't do anything to prove ourselves to anyone," Stroh said.

"But people saying we wouldn't make it this far was just another challenge," Brown added.

And they overcame that challenge and their hometown couldn't be more proud.

Jennifer Hellman, receptionist at American Garage, wouldn't miss Saturday's championship game and said she isn't the only one.

"I don't know anybody that isn't excited about it."

The big game starts at 1 p.m. Saturday.