Missoula Sentinel turns back Bison

MISSOULA The Great Falls High football team’s struggles continued here Friday afternoon as the Bison dropped a 41-18 decision to the Missoula Sentinel Spartans.

The Bison (2-5) of head coach Matt Krahe have now lost their last five games after starting the season with two straight wins. The Spartans, meanwhile, of head coach Dane Oliver moved a game above .500 at 4-3.

Great Falls High opened the scoring, but turned the ball over four times in the first half as the Spartans built a commanding 27-6 lead after two quarters.

Three of those mishaps were interceptions by Bison quarterback Kaden Sukut, and two of the three were returned for touchdowns, both by Sentinel’s Josh Deshner. Both pick-6s went for more than 50 yards. Deshner also added a 1-yard run to pay dirt earlier in the game.

Late in the first quarter, after starting with solid field position and a few nice running plays, the Bison traveled down into the red zone, but on a fourth-and-2 from the 12, Sukut threw for the end zone and was picked by Alec Steele. The Bison snuffed out a fake punt on the ensuing drive but fumbled the ball several plays later after crossing into Sentinel territory.

A 35-yard connection from Sentinel QB Mitch Roberts, the younger brother of Montana Grizzly pass catcher Ben Roberts, to Mitch Reynolds early in the third quarter stretched the lead to 34-6.

The Bison scored the game's final two touchdowns, an 11-yard run by Jamison Hermanson and a 1-yard sneak by Sukut.

Austin Dess ran for 118 yards and Sukut passed for 179 yards for Great Falls High. Maxx Sitzmann caught seven passes for 80 yards.

Great Falls High returns home next Friday when the Bozeman Hawks visit Memorial Stadium.