CMR looks to stay in playoff race vs. West
Gary Lowry has been the head coach in 42 C.M. Russell High varsity football games.
All of them have been played on a Friday.
That will change Thursday night when Lowry and his 3-5 Rustler football team plays host to the Billings West Bears (5-3) of mentor Rob Stanton at Memorial Stadium in a 7 p.m. kickoff.
“They’ve improved a ton,” Lowry said. “They are pretty big up front and have a good sophomore tailback in (DeMarcus) Carr. They are playing pretty good defense. It will be a challenge for us. We have to take care of our business and execute.”
Five of Russell’s eight games this season have been decided by one possession, many right down to the final play with no time left on the clock.
Lowry said the seniors on squad have done an admirable job of keeping the locker room steady despite the constant swings of emotion.
“They still realize they have to finish the season off strong and hopefully things work out and we can get in the playoffs still,” the CMR coach said. “That’s still a possibility for us. Right now, we have to take care of Billings West. They are pretty good. But our kids have good attitudes. They are staying focused and practicing hard.”
The Rustlers have lost three straight games after falling to Kalispell Flathead 21-13 last week, decided in the final seconds after a throwback pass from quarterback Garrison Rothwell to lineman Cody Wilkes was stopped inches short of the goal line on the final play of the game.
Russell is no longer in a tie for that eighth playoff spot like they were in previous weeks as Kalispell Glacier (3-4) has overtaken both the Rustlers and Bozeman Hawks (3-5) for the final spot. The tiebreakers this season are different than they have been in recent years. Great Falls High, Butte and Skyview are all 2-6.
Kalispell Flathead (4-3), Kalispell Glacier, Helena High (6-1) and Missoula Sentinel (4-3) are only playing nine regular-season games after having to cancel contests last month because of the cyber threats in and around Kalispell. To determine tiebreakers, it will come down to win percentage, then head-to-head if still unresolved and finally best win if the teams did not meet.
After sitting out the team’s game against Billings Skyview two weeks ago with an ankle injury, junior safety Tucker Greenwell returned to the field last week. He secured two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Cade Jensen took an interception back for a touchdown, while speedster Damien Nelson returned a kickoff 97 yard to pay dirt.
CMR offensive starters
QB—Garrison Rothwell, #9, 6-5, 205, Sr.; RB—Jaydon Dobrow, #33, 5-8, 192, Sr.; TE—Jake Olsen, #83, 6-6, 188, Sr.; WR—Jake Wilkins, #4, 6-1, 165, Sr.; WR—Kyle Byrne, #11, 5-11, 158, Sr.; WR—Kellen Hartman, #14, 6-1, 175, Jr.; OT—Connor Rearden, .; 6-0, 212, Jr.; OG—KC Buday, #64, 6-1, 252, Sr.; C—Gerrit Bloemendaal, #55, 6-3, 263, Sr; OG—Boedy Walker, #56, 6-1, 265, Sr.; OT—Tyler Johnson, #67, 6-4, 312, Sr.
CMR defensive starters
DE—Tony Walter, #37, 6-2, 206, Sr.; DT—Nick Konesky, #84, 6-0, 238, Jr.; DT—Nick Bowley, #98, 5-9, 208, Jr.; DE—Jake Olsen, #81, 6-6, 188, Sr.; WS—Cade Jensen, #5, 5-11, 187, Sr.; ILB—Liam Sexton, #52, 6-1, 188, Sr.; ILB—Kaden Walsh, #39, 5-11, 211, Sr.; SS—Nate Moore, #6, 5-10, 166, Sr.; CB—Damien Nelson, #21, 5-9, 155, Sr.; FS—Tucker Greenwell, #10, 6-0, 167, Jr.; CB—Cason Taylor, #3, 5-9, 155, Jr.