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News you can use
Fort Benton's Andrew Ballantyne runs the ball against Belt at home earlier this season. Fort Benton defeated Plentywood, 42-22, at home to open the playoffs and advance.
As the lone Hi-Line football team hosting a playoff game this past weekend, the Fort Benton Longhorns had to make sure they satisfied their fans at home. As the Northern's No. 1 seed in the 8-man playoffs, the Longhorns hosted their opening playoff game against Plentywood Saturday afternoon. Against the Eastern No. 4 seed, the Longhorns got on a roll on their way to a 42-22 victory to advance in the playoffs.
The Longhorns got their running game going early as Landis Arganbright ran for an 11-yard score to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Andrew Ballantyne then carried the ball 45 yards to the end zone to give Fort Benton a 14-0 lead in the second quarter. However, two touchdown passes from Plentywood quarterback Reese Wirtz tied the game.
The Longhorns were able to retake momentum thanks to their running game and defense. Colter Ball made his impact known with a 10-yard touchdown run for his first score of the day. Arganbright then ran for a 14-yard score to make the score 28-0. On defense, Ball intercepted a pass and took it all the way back to give Fort Benton a 35-14 lead at the half.
Fort Benton was unable to score in the third quarter as Plentywood scored a touchdown and two-point conversion to cut the Longhorns' lead to 35-22. However, the Wildcats failed to score in the final quarter and Ball ran for another score.
Ball finished the day with two touchdowns and 101 yards. Ballantyne led the Longhorns with 117 yards on the ground. With the win, the Longhorns improved their record to 7-1 this season. In the next round of the postseason, the Longhorns will play Western No. 3 seed St. Ignatius at home Saturday at 1 p.m.
PLE - 0 14 8 0 - 22
FB - 7 28 0 7 - 42
FB - Arganbright 11 run (Mateo Socorro De LaFuente kick)
FB - Ballantyne 45 run (Socorro De LaFuente kick)
PLE - Caydon Trupe 21 pass from Reese Wirtz (Cameron Brusven kick)
PLE - Brusven 28 pass from Wirtz (Brusven kick)
FB - Colter Ball 10 run (Ballantyne run)
FB - Arganbright 14 run (Ballantyne run)
FB - Colter Ball interception return (Run failed)
PLE - Brusven 25 run (Jacob Marsh pass from Easton Tommerup)
FB - Colter Ball 25 run (Socorro De LaFuente kick)
Fairview 34, Chinook 25
What had been a solid season for the Chinook Sugarbeeters came to a disappointing end Friday night with a 34-25 loss to Fairview on the road in the 8-man playoffs. Chinook entered the game as the Northern No. 4 seed while Fairview was the Eastern No. seed. 1 seed.
Both teams came out slow to start the night as neither club was able to score in the first quarter. The second quarter saw both the Sugarbeeters and the Warriors score and the game went to halftime with Chinook leading 9-6. The Warriors then scored again in the third quarter to take a 14-9 lead.
Both offenses finally exploded in the fourth quarter. However, it was Fairview that was able to hold on for the victory. Fairview improved its record to 7-2 and will advance in the playoffs. With their loss, the Sugarbeeters end their season with a 6-2 record.
CHI - 0 9 0 16 - 25
FAI - 0 6 8 20 - 34
Big Sandy 52, Valley Christian 40
After a shutout loss against Power/Dutton/Brady to end the regular season, the Big Sandy Pioneers needed their offense to return to form when they went on the road to Missoula to face Valley Christian Saturday night. Not only did the offense get going, but it was more than enough for the 52-40 win to advance in the six-man playoffs.
Big Sandy entered the postseason as the Northern No. 2 seed and improved its record to 7-3 with the postseason win. Last season, the Pioneers went on a run all the way to the semifinal round of the playoffs. The Pioneers will try to replicate that run when they next face Central No. 1 seed Denton/Geyser/Stanford/Grass Range/Winnett on the road this weekend.
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