George Ferguson Column: Time for another magical day at Hoon

Well, the cold has come. Snow has fallen and icy winds are blowing. And that can mean only one thing … the Chinook Sugarbeeters have gone deep into the Class C 8-man playoffs and are about to play the biggest game of their season.

If you want to thank anyone for this most recent blast of frigid and brutal weather, thank the Beeters, because it seems every time Chinook gets set to host one of the biggest games in school history, the weather takes a massive turn for the worse.

Now, of course, I’m completely kidding. But it is ironic that fall turned to winter seemingly overnight, and at the same time, Hoon Field in Chinook is about to host a huge and meaningful playoff game.

In fact, the last time Chinook played host to a game of this magnitude, it was the 2010 Class C state championship game. On that day, wind chills dipped to more than minus-20, and Hoon Field was so frozen over, it easily could have rivaled the “Frozen Tundra” of Green Bay’s infamous Lambeau Field, or the rock hard surface of Soldier Field in Chicago.

On that day, when the Sugarbeeters dramatically destroyed Wibaux, 77-0 for their first-ever state championship in football, memories were made. Memories of a day when Chinook was the best football team in the state, and memories of a football game played in some of the most severe weather conditions anywhere on the planet.

On that November day, it seemed the two went hand-in-hand.

Now, state championships in football are precious, and many schools go many years in between them. That’s why they are so celebrated, that’s why they are so cherished. And I’ll admit, after that painfully frozen day in November 2010, I didn’t know if I’d see Hoon Field host a game that special, or of that magnitude again for a long, long time.

Though four years might be a long time to some, and the memories of Chinook’s glorious state championship are still very fresh in our minds … here we go again.

While Saturday’s game between Chinook, and another favored Eastern C foe, the Fairview Warriors, isn’t for the 2014 state championship, the game is every bit as meaningful. It’s a game after which the winner will go on and play for the state championship. For teams like the Beeters and Warriors, the glory is so close, yet so far away. That’s the irony of the semifinals.

And make no mistake, Saturday is a huge day for Chinook. The Beeters started their season with a loss to Great Falls Central. But, boy oh boy, that was a long time ago. That was a hot August night at Hoon, and to those of us who are shivering and shoveling snow with Thanksgiving three weeks away, that night against Great Falls Central might as well of been a lifetime ago.

Since that time, however, Chinook has ripped through the fall like the wind whips across the Hi-Line this time of year. The Beeters would go on to drop another game to Belt, but thanks to no more losses at Hoon, and a series of come-from-behind wins, at home against Power-Dutton-Brady, and on the road at Simms, the Beeters were able to claim the Northern C championship.

And what a prize that turned out to be.

Chinook hasn’t had to leave Hoon Field since the playoffs started, and with dominating wins over Victor and Broadus, the Beeters earned the right to play for a berth in the state title game, on their own home field.

So here we are again. It’s a round earlier but 2014 sure is starting to feel like 2010 all over again. The talented, physical and powerful Beeters, under first-year head coach Scott Friede are on a roll right now, and everything seems to be falling into place, including the weather.

Saturday won’t be below zero, but it will be cold, and Hoon will be frozen. All of us who will be there, including the visiting Warriors will be frozen, too. But, would we have it any other way?

After all, the Beeters are having the time of their lives, and they’re about to play the biggest game of their lives. And with that, it seems only fitting that frigid temperatures, some snow, some wind and a frozen chunk of turf is the setting for that huge game.

So get out the Carharts, get out the hand and foot warmers, the heavy boots and gloves. Get the hot chocolate ready, because needing all that means only one thing, the Chinook Sugarbeeters are at home in November. And they’re about to play a game with an opportunity to make even more memories on that frozen turf at historic Hoon Field.