Bison look to build off Week 1 victory
The Great Falls High football team had many goals leading into its season opener against Missoula Big Sky last Friday.
Among them: Believing it could win instead of just saying it.
The Bison outlasted the Eagles for a 29-21 win, and Matt Krahe’s crew looks for two in a row Friday when the Billings Skyview Falcons (0-1) visit Memorial Stadium for a 7 p.m. start time.
“I liked the way our team responded late in the game,” Krahe said. “Every time that Big Sky had a score or a good drive, I was happy with the way that, in particular, the offense responded and scored back.”
Tailback Walker Ferda ran for 106 yards, wide receiver Jamison Hermanson darted to two scores on two sweeps, and the Bison defense made plays when it had to. Some behind-the-scenes players went unnoticed.
“Logan Martin and Casey Klaue did a good job in the special teams,” Krahe said of his punter and kicker. “That was their first varsity action. And both of them, I thought, performed well under fire. Defensively, we had some kids that really stood out. I thought Tim Hanning played well on the defensive line, and I thought Steve Watson did a great job from the outside linebacker position.”
Hanning recovered a fumble and Watson registered six solo tackles and a tackle for loss. Safety Chase Perry blew up a play in the backfield on a fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line and managed a team-high 10 tackles.
“We’ve had good energy all week,” Krahe said of this week’s practices. “We really have. The kids are upbeat and we know we have a hard game coming and we know what to expect from the Skyview Falcons, and it’s going to be a tough game.”
The Falcons lost a thrilling overtime game to Butte, 24-21, in their season opener. They ran the ball 66 times for 231 yards, including a team-best in rushes and yards by Drew Keierleber, who ran for 115 yards on 27 totes. Starting quarterback Logan Nelson was 6-for-13 for 182 yards and two touchdowns.
Make no mistake, the Falcons, in their usual Wing-T offense, like to move the ball one way.
“They are going to come in and they are going to attempt to run the ball,” Krahe said. “They are going to run the ball a little bit, and then run it a little more.”
NOTES: Starting offensive lineman Brandon Moes missed the first game because of an illness. He and Kyle Patton, another O-lineman who was a scratch in Week 1 because of similar reasons, will be available Friday night. Backup center Zak Ray, rehabbing from an upper body injury, should be back in the lineup in a few weeks.
GFH (1-0)
Offense
QB…(10) Kaden Sukut, 6-1, 205, Sr.
RB…(17) Walker Ferda, 5-10, 180, Sr.
TE…(7) Riley Watt, 6-1, 200, Sr.
OT…(76) Erik Warner, 6-3, 245, Sr.
OT…(78) Bret Britt, 6-1, 275, Sr.
OG…(57) Brandon Mikkola, 5-8, 220, Sr.
OG…(72) Christian Johnson, 6-2, 326, Sr.
C…(59) Seth Dabler, 5-8, 260, Sr.
WR…(12) Maxx Sitzmann, 6-0, 180, Sr.
WR…(2) Robert Bruskotter, 5-10, 170, Sr.
WR…(20) Jamison Hermanson, 5-11, 160, Sr.
Defense
NG…(79) Jeff Legg, 6-4, 315, Sr.
DE…(47) Tim Hanning, 5-11, 213, Jr.
DE…(78) Bret Britt, 6-1, 275, Sr.
LB…(55) Steven Watson, 6-0, 175, Sr.
LB…(44) Luke Almos, 6-2, 210, Jr.
LB…(58) August Woehler, 5-11, 195, Sr.
LB…(49) Dugan Mahoney, 5-10, 195, Jr.
S…(33) Joey Greene, 5-11, 168, Sr.
S…(21) Chase Perry, 5-10, 150, Sr.
CB…(26) Colby Friede, 6-1, 150, Jr.
CB…(1) Kody Torgerson, 6-0, 160, Jr.