Noxon routs Sheridan; hosts Gardiner for Homecoming

Noxon stayed in contention for a Class C 8-man football playoff berth with a 55-14 road victory over Sheridan last Friday.

The Red Devils are 2-2 in the Western Division heading into the first of two consecutive home games. They host Gardiner for Noxon’s Homecoming game this Friday at 7 p.m.

Noxon sits in fifth place in the division. West Yellowstone, White Sulphur Springs and Hot Springs are all 3-1 in league play, with Valley Christian also in the mix.

“We still have some tough ones ahead,” Noxon head coach Bart Haflich said, with three games remaining in the regular season. “It’s good to get back on the winning track, especially after the long bus ride.”

Homecoming is a time of celebration this week, but can be distracting to athletes.

“We have to try to stay focused and get a win at the end of the week,” Haflich said. “That West Yellowstone game with us down the road (Oct. 12 at home) is going to be a good one. We have to take care of what we can take care of.”

NOXON SENIOR Levi Brubaker scored in five different ways to lead the Red Devils to the win. He returned the opening kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown. Brubaker had scoring runs of 1 and 45 yards, and caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Jeriko Smith. He kicked four two-point conversions, and capped the Noxon scoring with a 35-yard field goal.

The Red Devils took a 16-0 lead on Brubaker’s first rushing touchdown and his PAT kick. Sheridan got on the board on a 60-yard pass from Moxon Lee to Cade McParland.

Noxon scored twice more yet in the first quarter, on a 17-yard run by freshman Cade VanVleet and a 40-yard aerial from Smith to Rylan Weltz. It was 30-7 after one quarter.

The Red Devils padded their lead on Brubaker’s first TD reception, and a conversion pass from Smith to Weltz.

The Panthers cashed in on a 24-yard pass from Lee to Hartson VanHouten, but Noxon responded with touchdowns on a 38-yard VanVleet run and another from 45 yards out by Brubaker.

“We got all the young guys in in the second half,” Haflich said. “I saw a lot of good things, but we have things to work on and get better.”

Smith threw two interceptions, but Noxon did not lose a fumble.

“We took care of the ball a little bit better,” Haflich said.