Hi-Line Football Roundup: Beeters, Pioneers moving on

When the weekend began the Hi-Line had two dominant Class C 8-Man football teams rolling through the postseason competition. But with another round done and in the books, just one 8-Man squad will continue to represent the Hi-Line.

Also, one Hi-Line Six-Man team is still alive as well.

On Saturday, both the Northern C Ch

Big Sandy quarterback Trevor Lackner runs with the ball during Saturday's Class C Six-Man football game in Big Sandy. The Pioneers beat Fromberg-Roberts to advance to the semifinals.

Chinook's Ben Stroh plows through the Drummond defense during Chinook's win in the Class C 8-man quarterfinals Saturday in Chinook.

inook Sugarbeeters and Northern C Chester/J-I hawks competed in the second round of the state playoffs, while the Big Sandy Pioneers rolled past Fromber-Roberts in the Six-Man quarterfinals.

Playing at home, the Beeters defeated Drummond 48-42 in one of their toughest games of the season. And playing on the road, the Hawks suffered a rarity in their great run this season, a loss. Twin Bridges defeated Chester/J-I 64-22, ending the Hawk's run at a state championship and handing them only their second loss of the season.

The Beeters found a way to win, but it certainly wasn't in their typical fashion.

All season long the Beeters have dominated the competition. They have run all over the opposing defense and never looked back. This time around, the Beeters had to overcome a 20-14 deficit in the second quarter, and then fend of a huge surge by Drummond in the second half. But none the less, the Beeters got the win and that is all that matters.

"It was a great win against a well-coached team," Chinook head coach Matt Molyneaux said in an interview after the game. "Drummond came on in the second half and made some nice adjustments. They had us back on our heels a little bit.

"It was a tough, hard-fought game," Molyneaux added. "Two turnovers hurt us a little, but we're very happy with the win, very happy to escape with the win. This time of year, a win is a win is a win, and we're moving on."

At the half the Beeters managed to lead the game 42-20. In the first half the Beeters earned scores by Robby Klingaman, Ben Stroh, Zach Molyneaux, Geoff Qualls and Brandon Riphenburg. Normally Stroh and Molyneaux headline the Beeters' offense, but the Beeters got some other much needed talent step up in the win. Klingaman scored twice in the first half, on a two-yard run and a 27-yard pass from Molyneaux.

But Drummond came out firing in the fourth quarter, and nearly put a stop to the Beeters' 19-game winning streak. Drummond scored three straight times in the final frame on big passing plays. The TD tosses came from 42, 10 and 35 yards out, giving the Beeters one final scare before escaping with the win.

"We knew we would have to defend the pass," Molyneaux said. "They threw it quite well."

Stroh was again huge, finishing with over 100 yards on the ground. He scored on a 45-yard run and also had over 100 kickoff return yards.

The Beeters are now 10-0 on the season and will take to the road next weekend they take on Fairview.

Drummond 14 6 0 22 — 42

Chinook 14 28 0 6 — 48

CHI— Robby Klingaman 2 Run (Zach Molyneaux Run)

DRU — Darius Pool 68 Kickoff Return (Ben Lyons Pass From Mac Bignell)

DRU — Mac Bignell 1 Run (Pat Failed)

CHI — Ben Stroh 45 Run (Pass Failed)

DRU — Darius Pool 2 Run (Run Failed)

CHI — Zach Molyneaux 3 Run (Brandon Riphenburg Pass From Zach Molyneaux)

CHI — Robby Klingaman 12 Pass From Zach Molyneaux (Robby Klingaman Run)

CHI — Geoff Qualls 29 Interception Return (Run Failed)

CHI — Brandon Riphenburg 27 Pass From Zach Molyneaux (Run Failed)

CHI — Zach Molyneaux 5 Run (Pat Failed)

DRU — Darius Pool 42 Pass From Kevin Oberweiser (Darius Pool Run)

DRU — Ben Lyons 10 Pass From Mac Bignell (Run Failed)

DRU — Ben Lyons 35 Pass From Mac Bignell (Mac Bignell Run)

Twin Bridges 64, Chester/J-I 22

Unfortunately for the Hawks, their amazing season had to come to an end on Saturday when they faced a very tough Falcons team on the road.

The Hawks were outdone by 42 points, in a game that began as an offensive shootout. In the first quarter the Hawks scored on two big pass plays, something they knew they had to be better at moving forward. Jordan Oraw reeled in a 35-yard TD pass from Leonard Pugsley on the first score, and Mike Henke took a 70-yard pass from Pugsley to the end zone for the Hawks' second score of the opening frame.

The Hawks trailed 20-14 after the first quarter, and while the C/J-I offense fizzled out, the Falcons' was just beginning.

Twin Bridges went on to add 14 points in the second, 14 in the third and 16 in the fourth quarter. C/J-I would score just once more, a 77-yard kickoff return by Pugsley with 11 minutes left in the game. Pugsley finished the game with 33 rushing hards and 142 passing for the Hawks.

The Falcons were led by quarterback Tyler Lott, who finished the game with 498 total yards of offense. He passed for 383 yards and had seven passing touchdowns. He also hurt the Hawks with his legs, rushing for another 115 yards and a score.

It was just the Hawks second loss. Their first loss game to the Beeters at the end of the regular season.

C/J-I 14 0 0 8 — 22

TB 20 14 14 16 — 64

C/J-I — Jordan Oraw 35 pass from Leonard Puglsey (Erik Kelly pass from Leonard Pugsley)

TB — Cole Miotke 12 pass from Tyler Lott (run failed)

C/J-I — Mike Henke 70 pass from Leonard Puglsey (run failed)

TB — Cody Pierson 60 pass from Tyler Lott (Cole Miotke pass from Lott)

TB — Cole Miotke 12 pass from Tyler Lott (run failed)

TB — Cody Pierson 17 pass from Tyler Lott (pass failed)

TB — Cody Pierson 36 pass from Tyler Lott (Cole Miotke run)

TB — Cole Miotke 19 pass from Tyler Lott (Cole Miotke run)

TB — Cole Miotke 4 pass from Tyler Lott (run failed)

TB — Lott 25 run (Dakota Garbo pass from Lott)

C/J-I — Leonard Pugsley 77 kickoff return (Mike Henke pass from Leonard Pugsley)

TB — Cole Miotke 2 run (Dakota Garbo run)

Big Sandy 56, Fromberg-Roberts 7

BIG SANDY — The Big Sandy Pioneers have been an offensive juggernaut all season long. And thanks to a powerful offensive display yet again, the Pioneers are back in the Class C Six-Man state semifinals for the second straight season.

On Saturday in Big Sandy, the No. 4 Pioneers clobbered Fromberg-Roberts 56-7 in the quarterfinals, setting up a much-anticipated showdown with second-ranked Savage this Saturday.

"I thought we played really well defensively," Big Sandy head coach Greg King said. "We knew they (Falcons) wanted to pass the ball, but I thought we did a good job of pressuring the quarterback and of covering their receivers. Our kids just did their jobs today."

And the Pioneer offense was up to the task as well. They hung 57 points on the board before the Falcons scored a late touchdown on a kickoff return. Big Sandy's Trevor Lackner got things going with 50-yard run for a score in the first quarter. Lackner also threw back-to-back touchdowns to Justin Stevens and Jessey Bailey to give the Pioneers a 26-0 halftime lead. Lackner and Bailey then broke the game wide open when they connected for a 43-yard score on the second play of the third quarter.

Lackner's huge day included 197 yards passing and 73 more on the ground. He accounted for five TD's in all, as he also took a punt back for a 60-yard score in the fourth quarter. Stevens rushed for 144 yards, including a nine-yard TD in the first quarter and a 38-yard scamper in the fourth. Bailey had 56 yards on the ground and 76 through the air, while Kaden Beck had five catches and Lane Martin had 38 yards rushing. In all, the Pioneers rolled up nearly 500 yards of total offense.

"We did play pretty well offensively," King said. "I thought at times in the third quarter we were a little flat and that was the part I didn't like. They (Falcons) hung in there in the first half and I thought they played pretty well defensively. But overall, it was a good game for us, a good win."

Now the 9-1 Pioneers get another chance against Savage. Big Sandy lost to Savage in the semifinals last season and again in Big Sandy back in September. The Pioneers and Warriors will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday in Savage.

"It will be a good game; a big game for us," King said. "We were missing a couple of key kids the first time we played them this year and now we're healthy so hopefully that will make a big difference for us."

Fromberg-Roberts 0 0 0 7 — 7

Big Sandy 12 14 14 16 — 56

BS—Trevor Lackner 50 run (kick failed)

BS—Justin Stevens 9 run (kick failed)

BS — Stevens 50 pass from Lackner (kick failed)

BS — Jessey Bailey 30 pass from Lackner (Dallas Briese kick)

BS — Bailey 43 pass from Lackner (kick failed)

BS — Bailey 10 run (kick failed)

BS — Safety, FR snapped ball out of end zone

BS — Lackner 60 punt return (Briese kick)

BS — Stevens 38 run (Briese kick)

FR — Jaymon Paugh 65 kick return (Chase Burgan pass from Tyrel Newsome)