Hi-Line Football: Big Sandy, CJI football dominate on the road

Another week of High school football took place on the Hi-Line and several teams came out to play. The Big Sandy six-man football team, which has aspirations of a state title, continued its dominant start to the season with a 77-6 win on the road over Sunburst Saturday.

The Pioneers got it started early with Kody Strutz returning the opening kickoff 57 yards for a touchdown. Later in the first quarter, Braydon Cline added onto the lead with a 10-yard touchdown run. The Pioneers scored again when Rusty Gasvoda caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Strutz.

The Pioneers continued to dominate the first quarter. On defense, Cline recorded a safety for Big Sandy. Then on offense, Strutz ran for a 26-yard score and then caught a 13-yard pass from Cline. Gasvoda then ran it in from two yards out to make it 48-0.

Even with the huge lead heading to the second quarter, the Pioneers did not relent. Lane Demontiney got in on the action with a 14-yard touchdown run. After the Pioneers forced a punt, Cooper Taylor returned the punt 58 yards for a touchdown to make it 64-0 at halftime.

The Pioneers added another pair of touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters to make it 77-0. The Refiners finally scored a touchdown in the fourth, but it was far too late.

The Pioneers finished the game with 180 yards of offense, averaging 8.2 yards a play. The passing offense went 6-for-9 for 87 yards, three touchdowns and no picks. The running game averaged 7.2 yards a carry for a total of 93 yards on the ground.

With the win, the Pioneers improve to 3-0 on the season. The Big Sandy six-man football team will next play this Friday night at home against Power-Dutton-Brady.

BS - 48 16 7 6 - 77

SUN - 0 0 0 6 - 6

BS - Strutz 57 kickoff return (Terry kick)

BS - Cline 10 run (Terry kick)

BS - Gasvoda 24 pass from Strutz (kick failed)

BS - Cline safety

BS - Strutz 26 run (Terry kick)

BS - Strutz 13 pass from Cline (Terry kick)

BS - Gasvoda 2 run (Terry kick)

BS - Demontiney 14 run (Terry kick)

BS - Taylor 58 punt return (Terry kick)

BS - Cox 5 run (Demontiney pass from Strutz)

BS - Demontiney 3 pass from Darlington (kick failed)

SUN - Sullivan 52 run (kick failed)

CJI 64, Centerville 26

The Chester-Joplin-Inverness six-man football team also had a dominant performance on the road with a 64-26 win over Centerville this past Saturday. The Hawks got it started with a touchdown run to take the lead in the first quarter. Adam Grammar then ran it in from 15 yards out to make it 14-0 in the opening quarter.

The Miners scored in the second quarter to cut the deficit to one possession. But the Hawks responded with Braden Mattson throwing a six-yard touchdown pass. The Miners then responded with a touchdown of their own to keep up.

The Hawks ended the first half strong. On the ensuing kickoff, Nate Nelson returned it 80 yards for a score for the Hawks. On another possession, Nelson ran it in for a one-yard score to give CJI a 34-12 lead at the half.

CJI kept rolling in the third quarter. Nelson ran the ball in from 18 yards out for his third score of the game. After Centerville scored a touchdown, Grammar got back in action with a 23-yard touchdown run. Mattson then capped off the quarter with a five-yard touchdown throw to make it 58-18.

Both teams scored touchdowns in the final frame before the clock ran out. On offense, the Hawks finished the game with 284 rushing yards on 9.79 yards a carry. Nelson finished the game with 165 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries. Grammar also played well with 120 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.

The Hawks improved to 3-0 on the year with the win. The CJI six-man football team will next play this Saturday on the road against Denton-Geyser-Stanford-Geraldine.

CJI - 14 20 24 6 - 64

CEN - 0 12 6 8 - 26

CJI - 5 run (Harmon kick)

CJI - Grammar 15 run (kick failed)

CJI - 6 pass from Braden Mattson (Mattson pass)

CEN - 25 pass from #2 (kick failed)

CJI - Nelson 80 kickoff return (conversion failed)

CJI - Nelson 1 run (Streit pass)

CJI - Nelson 18 run (Kick)

CEN - #7 24 run (kick failed)

CJI - Grammar 23 run (kick)

CJI - 5 pass from Mattson (kick)

CEN - #4 21 run (kick)

CJI - Nelson 54 run (kick failed)

Valier 47, North Star 34

Not every Hi-Line football team was lucky over the weekend. At home this past Saturday, the North Star six-man football team suffered a 47-34 loss to Valier. The Knights played competitively against the Panthers, but were unable to keep up.

In the first quarter, the Panthers and Knights went back and forth but the Panthers had the 19-14 advantage to end the frame. The Knights scored a touchdown in the second quarter, but the Panthers scored twice in the frame to give themselves a 33-20 lead at the half.

Both teams failed to score in the third quarter, but found their footing again in the fourth. The Knights tried to work their way back into the game as they scored a pair of touchdowns. However, the Panthers pulled away with another pair of scores.

The loss dropped the Knights to 1-2 on the young season. Next up for the North Star six-man football team is a matchup at home against Big Sandy on Sept. 24.

VAL - 19 14 0 14 - 47

NS - 14 6 0 14 - 34

Belt 42, Fort Benton 8

The Fort Benton eight-man football also did not have a great weekend with a 42-8 loss to Belt Friday on the road. The Huskies took control early with a touchdown in the first quarter to take the lead.

The Longhorns got on the scoreboard in the second quarter, but the Belt offense continued to move the ball and score to make it, 24-8, at the half. In the second half, the Fort Benton offense went cold with no points in the last two quarters. Meanwhile, Belt continued to score to pull away for the victory.

The loss dropped Fort Benton to 2-1 on the season. The Longhorns will look to rebound with a home game against Chinook Sept. 23.

FB - 0 8 0 0 - 8

BEL - 8 16 6 12 - 42

Chinook 40, Shelby 18

This past Friday, the Chinook eight-man football continued its strong start to the season with a 40-18 win over Shelby at home. Throughout the contest, both the offensive and defensive units for the Sugarbeeters executed to get the win and improve to 3-0 on the year. The Chinook eight-man football team will next play on the road this Thursday with a game against Harlem.

Harlem 54, Rocky Boy 8

In a meeting between Hi-Line eight-man football teams, Harlem got the better of Rocky Boy with a 54-8 victory this past Friday in Harlem. The Wildcats got their offense rolling to improve their record to 2-1 on the season. Meanwhile, the Stars dropped to 0-2 on the season.

Rocky Boy will next play this Friday at home against Belt. Harlem is set to host Chinook for another Hi-Line matchup this Thursday night.

Heart Butte 48, Box Elder 38

This past Saturday on the road, the Box Elder six-man football team suffered a 48-38 loss to Heart Butte. While the loss dropped Box Elder to 0-2 on the year, it was the second straight game the Bears scored 38 points to start the season. Box Elder will next play Bainville at home this Saturday.