Beeters, Bears one win away

It's been a great year of high school football along the Hi-Line this season, but it's far from over. Both the Chinook Sugarbeeters and Box Elder Bears are still alive in the playoffs and each team will be looking to punch its ticket in its respective state championship game with a win this weekend.

After last season's storybook run to being the Class C 8-Man runner-up, the Beeters have been on a mission in 2015 and that mission has been to once again play for the state title. Last season, Chinook beat Fairview 66-12 at Hoon Field to punch their ticket to the championship game. This season, the Warriors are once again standing in Chinook's way as the two teams prepare to meet in Fairview for in the 8-Man semifinals. Kickoff is set for Saturday at 1 p.m.

"All season long these kids have been waiting for this opportunity," Chinook head coach Scott Friede said. "And now it's finally here. That is something they are really excited about. They have worked hard all year and they are really determined to get back (to the championship game)."

Yet, getting back is going to be easier said than done for Chinook. Not only do the Beeters have to go on the road, they also have to knock off a fellow unbeaten as the Warriors come in with an identical 10-0 record to Chinook's.

"It's kind of a neat thing," Friede said. "It has come down to the last four teams that are 10-0."

Through 10 games, the strength of Chinook has been its defense and this week, the Beeters might face their biggest challenge yet, trying to slow down the Warriors and their star quarterback Tanner Reynolds.

Reynolds and the Warriors, who like to spread teams out and throw, have been one of the most prolific 8-Man teams in the state, averaging more than 61 points per game. Reynolds also has it going in the playoffs as he threw accounted for seven touchdowns in the Warriors 66-42 win over Charlo last week.

"I don't know where Tanner Reynolds came from, but he is having a heck of a year," Friede said. "He's a great quarterback and a lot of what they do centers on him. And they are a team that spreads you out and that is very difficult to defend in 8-Man football."

Yet, despite giving up 30 points in their win last week, Chinook is still allowing just more than 11 points per game on defense, while its offense is putting up 54.4 points per game. The key the offense for the Beeters has been the running game.

Senior quarterback Ian McIntosh is a solid passer, but he has tormented defenses with his legs this season. And when he's not running it himself he is handing it to Tate Niederegger and Derek Bell, who have each excelled with the ball in their hands. When McIntosh does throw the football, his favorite targets are Kenny Pruttis and Jake Norby.

The winner of the Chinook-Fairview contest will advance to the 8-Man championship game, which will take place on Nov. 21 against the winner of Twin Bridges and Arlee.

"We are just going to do the same thing we always do," Friede said. "We are going to prepare as hard as we possibly can and we are going to go out there and see what happens."

The state semifinals may have a familiar feeling for the Beeters, as Chinook met Fairview last year, too, but as far as Box Elder is concerned it's brand new territory. The Bears have advanced farther than they ever have in the Class C Six-Man football playoffs and with one more win, they would play for their first-ever state championship.

"It's a special feeling around here right now," Box Elder head coach Neil Rosette Jr. said. "The community support has just been outstanding and they have really gotten behind us."

The Bears, who will hit the road to take on undefeated Hot Springs (10-0) are 9-1, with their only loss coming to fellow semifinalist Denton-Geyser-Stanford, which will take on Savage in the other side of the bracket.

Of course the Bears know what a big challenge it will be to win on the road at Hot Springs, but with the talent they have, they feel confident that they can come out on top.

"We are trying not to change anything," Rosette Jr. said. "We don't want the kids to get too excited or think ahead too much. We are just need to keep playing the way that we have been playing and we will be fine."

The key for the Bears in their first two playoff victories was a dominant running game that not only features Shane Ketchum, but Bodis Duran as well. Last week, Ketchum ran for a total of six touchdowns, while two weeks ago in the win over Jordan, both Duran and Ketchum ran for two.

Yet, the Bears can do much more than run the football thanks to the right arm of All-State quarterback Brandon The Boy. The Boy is one of the best quarterbacks in Six-Man football and has the ability to burn teams with both his arms and his legs. The Boy also has Jerrod Four Colors, a tall, athletic receiver, to throw the football to.

Four Colors may be a great receiver, but he is also a key defensive player for the Bears as well. The senior is the team's top pass-rusher and mans a defensive end spot. Ketchum, Duran, The Boy and Pernell Morsette are also impact players for a defense that has allowed just 19.8 points per game, compared to the 61.8 points per game the offense is putting up.

"This is new for us," Rosette Jr. said. "Even for me and my coaches. We have never gotten to this point in the playoffs. It's been a great thing for the community. But, we know Hot Springs is a great team and we are going to have to play our best to knock them off."

The winner of the Box Elder-Hot Springs game will play the winner of DGS and Savage for the Six-Man state championship on Nov. 21. Both games on Saturday will kickoff at 1 p.m.