Bobcats cruise through quarters
Nick Ianniello/Mineral Independent Superior Bobcat Drew Walen pushes over Absarokee Husky Jeff Royce during the Bobcats’ 62-12 playoff victory Saturday afternoon.
After a stunning 62–12 victory over the Absarokee Huskies Saturday afternoon, Superior Bobcat Tyler Stenberg could be heard saying to his teammates, “Welcome to the mountains, boys.”
And the Bobcats gave the Huskies one heck of a welcome Saturday.
The Bobcats drew first blood in their second playoff game of the season, with Bobcat Drew Walen running in a 22-yard touchdown with less than six minutes to go in the first quarter.
The Bobcats struck early and often in the first quarter, with Bobcat Brian Labbe picking up a fumble within five yards of touchdown territory, setting Walen up for another touchdown almost immediately after his first.
After a Huskies kick and an impressive drive from Bobcat Bajin Smith that put the Bobcats within spitting distance of a touchdown, Eric Steinebach ran the ball in to give the Bobcats a 21–0 lead over the Huskies after only five offensive plays in the first quarter.
With little time left in the first quarter, the Bobcats defense stopped the Huskies, turning the ball over on the down. Quarterback Travis Stroot followed up the impressive defensive play with a 38-yard touchdown dash with only 29 seconds left in the quarter, giving the Bobcats a 28 –0 lead going into the second quarter.
At the beginning of the second quarter, a back-and-forth vie for the ball began when Steinebach picked up an interception from the Huskies, only to fumble the ball on a later play and allow the Huskies possession of the ball. Not to be stopped, Steinebach picked up another interception before the Huskies could make their way in for a touchdown. However, Husky Tim Duffy then snagged a pass intended for Stenberg, and after a barrage of short runs and passes, the Huskies scored their first touchdown with a little less than four minutes to go in the quarter. The Bobcats stopped the Huskies’ attempt at a two-point conversion, and the score stood at 28 – 6.
The Huskies then made an attempt to capitalize on their momentum with an on-side kick, but Rollin Rennick picked up the ball just past midfield, setting the Bobcats up for another touchdown.
Steinebach then caught a 25-yard pass from Stroot, and then ran the final 15 yards for another Bobcats touchdown.
After the Bobcats defense stopped the Huskies dead in their tracks, Stroot connected with Stenberg on a 35-yard pass that put the Bobcats within five yards of the end zone and set Walen up for another touchdown with only 23 seconds left to go in the half.
Despite the ticking clock, the Bobcats managed to pull off one more touchdown, with an interception by Steinebach and an impressive downfield drive that culminated in a touchdown pass to Stenberg just as the clock rolled over to zero.
The Bobcats came into the second half of the game confident, with a 49 – 6 lead over the Huskies, and the game clock was running nonstop since the Bobcats had more than a 35-point lead.
The third quarter consisted of a slow but steady, 15-play downfield push from the Bobcats that lasted into the fourth quarter.
With only two yards to go for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Bobcats failed to complete and the Huskies took possession. However, on the next play, Labbe dove through the Huskies’ offensive line, picking up a fumble and landing square in the end zone for another Bobcats touchdown. Kicker Yim Sribenjakul delivered for the Bobcats once again, making his eighth straight touchdown kick in a row for the evening and setting the Bobcats up with a 56 – 6 lead.
On the Huskies’ first play after the Bobcats’ kick, Smith picked up a fumble giving the Bobcats possession.
Bobcats Head Coach Dan Lucier then put a good portion of the team’s junior varsity line to finish up the game, with Bobcat quarterback Tanner Coon leading the offense. Coon connected with junior Garrett Stephens for a touchdown pass, and the Huskies stopped the Bobcats’ attempt for a two-point conversion.
“They’re tough little buggers,” Lucier said about the junior varsity squad. “They’re next years’ varsity, so they’ve got to be tough.”
The Huskies picked up a touchdown in the final 33 seconds of the fourth quarter, when Duffy snagged a touchdown pass. The Bobcats stopped the Huskies attempt at a two-point conversion and won the game 62 – 12.
This is the Bobcats second victory in the Montana State Class C Football Championships, and another victory in their so far undefeated season. Lucier said that the team has high hopes and good chances at winning the state championship this year.
“If we keep playing like this we’ll be in good shape,” Lucier said.