Saturday’s regional sports briefs

Ash likes young RBs at Bobcat scrimmage

BOZEMAN – Quarterback Dakota Prukop completed 15 of his 17 pass attempts for 155 yards and a touchdown as Montana State continued spring football practice with a scrimmage at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday.

Head coach Rob Ash liked the work of young running backs Nick LaSane and Tavon Dodd. LaSane carried eight times for 40 yards, while Dodd toted it seven times for 68 yards. They combined for four touchdowns.

“I really liked the way Dakota threw the ball,” MSU offensive coordinar Tim Cramsey said. “Tavon and Nick showed improvement, too. They still need a lot of reps, but I like how they’re running the ball. We know what Anthony (Kinght) and Chad (Newell) can do, so it was good to see those young guys.”

While praising his quarterback, Cramsey also credited success in the pass game to Montana State’s pass-catchers.

“I really like the receiving corps,” he said. “Justin Paige has looked good this spring, and the addition of Beau Sandland is really a difference-maker.”

Ash liked his offense’s ability to tear off big chunks of yards. “The offense was explosive,” he said. “Paige and Sandland had huge receptions. Dakota threw the ball well and ran the offense superbly.”

Backup quarterback Jake Bleskin of Great Falls was 11-for-18 passing for 133 yards.

Ash, MSU’s ninth-year head coach, liked his defense’s response to an offensive emphasis on the ground game.

“The defense was tough against the run,” he said. “Mac Bignell made some really good plays, and the line played hard and well.”

Depth in the back end of the defense, a theme throughout the spring, emerged again Saturday. Safeties Bryson McCabe and Demonte King each missed the scrimmage with injuries.

While the number of players unavailable may have been a limiting factor, co-defensive coordinator Kane Ioane said the effort and energy levels were good.

“The guys battled and were very resilient considering some depth issues due to injuries,” he said, “especially in the back end.”

Ioane said scheme additions and tweaks didn’t hinder his unit. “We were able to play multiple fronts and mix up our coverages without major mistakes or mental errors,” he said. “We played physical in the front versus the run, which is the main objective for us, and created some big plays by being aggressive and attacking the football. I love the energy and I love seeing 11 guys running to the football.”

UGF softball team splits at Carroll

HELENA – Alex Lowry had two hits and two RBIs as the University of Great Falls rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh to edge Carroll College 4-3 here Saturday in the second game of an NAIA women’s softball doubleheader.

Carroll, playing its first season of competitive softball, won the opener 1-0.

Mindy Larson’s two-run triple in the seventh tied it for UGF. The Lady Argos got the eventual game-winning run on a Lowry’s sacrifice fly.

Carroll prevailed in the opener as Megan Gipe threw a four-hit shutout.

The Lady Argos and Saints meet for a twinbill in Great Falls on Sunday. Game times are 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Multi-Sports Complex.

CMR’s Lehotsky, Buck star in Billings

BILLINGS – Senior Ashleigh Lehotsky won the shot put, javelin and discus and junior Collin Buck took first place in the 3,200 Saturday to pace the efforts of C.M. Russell High track athletes here in a triangular meet with Skyview and West.

Complete results were unavailable late Saturday. Several events were canceled because of the high winds that blew through much of Montana.

Lehotsky’s efforts included a 42-6 effort in the shot and a 121-feet throw in the javelin, marks that qualified her for the State AA tournament.

The Rustlers of coach Mike Henneberg will be home Tuesday afternoon at 3 at Memorial Stadium to take on Helena Capital. The Russell teams go to Kalispell Flathead on Thursday.

UM, MSU track teams in Missoula

MISSOULA – The host Montana Grizzlies had seven victories here Saturday at the Al Manual Invitational, which marked the start of the collegiate outdoor track and field season.

Nicole Anskaitis (100 hurdles, pole vault) and Samantha Hodgson (shot put, discus) each won two events for Montana, which competed along with teams from Montana State, Eastern Washington, MSU-Billings, Carroll College, University of Great Falls and Rocky Mountain College.