Experienced Longhorns on the verge

They've been here before. In fact, it was just one year ago that the Fort Benton Longhorns stood on the doorstep of getting to play for a Class C 8-Man state championship.

That semifinal game last November against eventual state champion Faiview didn't go Fort Benton's way, but now, the Longhorns are a year older, a year bigger, a year strong, and perhaps, even hungrier.

And that's what unbeaten Fort Benton will lean on Saturday when the top-ranked Longhorns (8-0) host No. 2 Flint-Creek (Drummond-Phillipsburgh) in the 8-man semifinals.

"The kids are jacked up for this game," Fort Benton head coach Jory Thompson said. "They're focused, they're excited, and I think, the thing we took away from last year's experience was, the thankfulness of getting to be together for as long as we can. When you go this far into the playoffs, you get more practices together, more time together, and the guys were thankful for that, they were thankful to go as far as we did.

"And I've noticed that continue this season," he added. "Practices have been so much fun. Every day has just been so much fun. The kids are always excited to be there, they work hard, and they enjoy being a team. They enjoy just being together."

And what a team the Longhorns have been. In the postseason alone, Fort Benton has averaged more than 60 points per game, while allowing a measly 20 total points. Of course, a team can do that when it has the talent that the Longhorns have, with the core group being the likes of Billy Ullery, Jace Thompson, Hayden Diekhans, Hayden Axtman, Brock Hanford and so many more veterans who help make up what is arguably the deepest team in all of 8-Man football. And it's many of those attributes that coach Thompson, who is also the superintendent at Fort Benton, and Jace's dad, said will carry them through to the state championship game.

"I'd like to think our team speed, our physicality and our discipline are things that will put us in position to win this game," Coach Thompson said. "That and this team has a lot of experience. They've played together a long time, they've played a lot of football together, and really a lot of sports together. And of course, there's a hunger there, maybe even more so because of COVID. These kids have a hunger and a thankfulness that they're playing football, that we've gotten a chance to come this far together."

Indeed, Fort Benton is a juggernaut and the Longhorns have a lot going for them Saturday. Of course, Flint Creek is no slouch. In fact, many pundits would say Saturday's semifinal is a matchup of arguably the two best teams in the state as the Titans come in undefeated, led by Montana State recruit Kade Cutler who threw for 100 yards and rushed for 117 more in their 48-6 demolishing of Fairview last Saturday in the quarterfinals.

"Our kids love to compete, we compete every single day," Thompson said. "So you want to play in a game like this. Flint Creek is a very good football team. They are talented, physical, tough and well-coached. It's going to be a real dogfight, but that's what you want. That's what our kids want, they want to play in games like this, so they're excited for the opportunity."

And again, the Longhorns are not just excited, they're hungry. Whether it was falling short in last year's semifinals, not getting to finish the Class C state basketball tournament last March, and not getting to go after the state track and field title they were favored to win, the Longhorns play with a desire, a hunger and a mission to finish what they started. And that's something not lost on their head coach.

"It's really been a difficult time for everybody with COVID," Thompson said. "For this group, the last year has been tough. From not getting to finish the state basketball tournament, and then having spring sports be canceled when they felt like they had a chance to win a state championship in track, and then even this summer to not knowing what was going to happen with this season, it's been tough. But again, I think that's just made them more thankful for this, thankful to just be playing football. Thankful that they get to take the field together.

"This is a great group," he continued. "They've been playing together a long time. They love to compete, they're dedicated and committed. They're great kids, great role models and great student-athletes. And this is a special time for them, and I don't think I've ever been as excited to coach a game as I am to coach this one. It's a great opportunity and we're ready to go."

Fort Benton will take on Flint Creek Saturday at 1 p.m. in Fort Benton. The winner will face either Shelby or Scobey in the Class C state title game next Saturday.