Five Takeaways: Bozeman eases past CMR

Here are five takeaways from CMR’s 42-7 loss to Bozeman Friday night.

1. Russell linebacker Tony Walter was taken off in an ambulance Friday night after he lay still on the field for 25 minutes. He was hurt on a point after attempt with 30 seconds left in the first half. Every player took a knee for the period that he was down. As Walter was wheeled to the back of the vehicle, the entire stadium rose to its feet and clapped. Coaches agreed to run off the remaining time and head to the locker room.

2. With Russell’s loss on Friday night, it will not be among the eight teams when the Class AA playoffs commence next month. The Rustlers needed to win its last two games to have any chance. A crosstown matchup with Great Falls High awaits next Friday.

3. While the Hawks are different than the state championship team a year ago, they still the pieces in place to make another run at it this year. Callahan O’Reilly is a capable quarterback and he shredded CMR’s secondary Friday night, linking up with talented players like Bailey Paddock, Lance McCutcheon and Logan Kleinhans.

4. Damien Nelson’s 100-yard kickoff return late in the third quarter, in which he displayed his dazzling speed, will give Rustler fans hope for next year. The 5-foot-9 junior and 100-meter state champion on the track should be one of the team’s key pieces in 2017.

5. Missed opportunities is the story of CMR’s season. The offense, even though it sputtered to just 250 yards of offense, had multiple red zone chances produced zero points. That’s been part of the team’s downfall toward the latter portion of the schedule.