Forsyth emerging as dominant Eight-Man force

The Eight-Man football ranks saw a considerable shakeup to start the season as seven former Class B programs found new homes across each of the classification’s four leagues.

Several squads have made an immediate impact as Choteau (6-2) earned a postseason spot out of the North while Joliet (7-1) currently sits in a three-way tie for first in the South with one week remaining in the regular season.

No team, however, has quite made a splash as Eastern Conference newcomer Forsyth (8-0).

Just ask some of its opponents.

“They’re legit,” Scobey head coach Brock Berryhill said. “They’re solid on special teams, offense, defense and they just come after you. You would think coming from (11-player) to Eight-Man they might take some time to find their way but they hit the ground running and were rolling people from the get-go.

“It’s hard to single out any one player because they have five or six guys that are like ‘Holy smokes.’ It’s kind of not fair.”

Through seven games – not including a 2-0 forfeit win over Lame Deer last weekend – the Dogies of head coach Shawn Hollowell have outscored their opponents 398-94, or an average score of about 57-13.

What’s most impressive is the program’s performance against the East’s other playoff contenders. The Dogies dispatched with Circle (6-2) 46-18 in Week 3, Scobey (6-2) 66-36 two weeks ago and handed Fairview (7-1) its only loss of the year at 54-8. Forsyth also moved past another winning team in Broadus (5-3) 52-8.

Hollowell, Forsyth’s second-year head coach who coached at Hysham for 17 years before spending six years as an assistant at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, estimates the starting defense has given up only five touchdowns this season with the rest coming in mop-up time.

The Dogies boast a strong core at the second level including junior inside backers Nathan Zard and Michael Weber, a two-time state wrestling champion. Seniors Caleb Knoche and Nathan Weber, a one-time state mat champ and two-time runner-up, man the outside linebacker spots.

“They’re pretty darn salty,” Hollowell said.

Berryhill said Zard (6-foot-1, 240), also an offensive lineman for the Dogies, is a cerebral and physical presence defensively.

“He’s big but he can run well, too,” Berryhill said. “He’s a war daddy. He’s a really instinctual guy. Sometimes it looks like he’s blitzing but he’s not, he just analyzes plays really fast and he’s just gone.”

Senior Logan Martens mans the defensive backfield at safety while 6-foot-3 twins Cade and Paul Johnstone and Lex Heberle (5-10, 245) and Mickey Bridwell all see time on the defensive line.

Hollowell said adapting to an Eight-Man defensive scheme proved to be the biggest challenge out of the gate, but he’s been pleased with the Dogies improvements each week.

“Defense is a little bit of an uphill battle but they’re getting it,” Hollowell said. “They’re buckling in pretty good.”

Forsyth boasts a strong rushing attack at around 380 yards per game led by the Weber brothers but finds balance in the passing game with Knoche. The third-year starting signal-caller has thrown “12 or 13” touchdowns and has averaged 190 yards through the air this season, according to Hollowell.

“He hasn’t thrown a pick yet, knock on wood,” Hollowell said. “I really think he can play (Division I) football probably as a slot receiver-type.”

 Berryhill said he was impressed with Knoche’s command of the offense in both phases.

“They have a lot of good players but their quarterback, he can play,” Berryhill said. “He’s the guy. The runs the offense to a ‘T’.”

Cade and Paul Johnstone, Class B track champions in the 400 and 800 meters, respectively, serve as Knoche’s top targets and have also received interest from colleges.

“We split them out (or) run them at tight end,” Hollowell said. “They’ve got dang good hands. They’re great receivers.”

Zard, Bridwell and Heberle lead the Dogies on the offensive front, a spot where the 24-player squad is most thin, Hollowell said.

“We’re blessed to be down in Eight-Man because we’re out of linemen,” Hollowell said last Monday. “We’re going to a JV game tonight and we only have eight kids suiting out. This had to happen…Eight-Man football is a tough game so our kids have transitioned well into that.”

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Hollowell said competing in the former 3B against perennial powers such as Huntley Project, Baker and Colstrip instilled some toughness for unit which boasts nine seniors overall.

“When we’d play a Huntley Project or Baker or Colstrip, there was 11 really talented dudes out there,” Hollowell said. “Don’t get me wrong, (Forsyth) respects all of these kids in the (Eastern C), they hit hard and these farm kids are tough. Don’t think for a second our kids don’t feel it when they climb on the bus after the game. But I think we’re putting some bumps on some kids, too. I think our kids are doing a good job and I’m very proud of them.”

Berryhill said the addition of the Dogies has been very positive for the Eastern Conference.

“The good thing about playing Forsyth is even though it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to, I think it’s the best prep for what you’re going to see in the postseason,” he said. “I’m sure there are some teams like them. They remind me of (state champion) Ennis from last year. Just (talented) dudes all over the place and really fast.”

Hollowell said the Dogies’ bond is quite strong this season, which could pay dividends as the team aims to begin a deep playoff run in two weeks.

“They just genuinely care about each other and if you don’t have that you’re not going to get very far,” Hollowell said. “You’re going to find a team from Charlo or Ennis where these kids have been playing together and truly care about each other. Hopefully that’s what we’ve got going here.”

Forsyth faces off with St. Labre (2-6) at home Thursday to close out the regular season.