Blue Hawks fall to Missoula Loyola
Blue Hawks' quarterback Bryson LeCoure sets up for a throw during T Falls' game Friday night versus Loyola in Thompson Falls. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)
Loyola of Missoula was looking to establish momentum early during their game in Thompson Falls on Friday night at Previs Field.
The Rams did that just one play into the game when they scored on a 68-catch and run touchdown on their first play from scrimmage after the Blue Hawks’ opening kickoff.
It was a lead from which the home-standing Hawks could not overcome the rest of the way as Loyola picked up a 33-14 Western B conference win.
Before the first quarter ended, the visitors scored again, this time on a 25-yard pass. The point after touchdown (PAT) kick was good, giving Loyola a 13-0 lead after one quarter of play.
In the opening minutes of the second quarter, Loyola struck again, this time via a 10-yard TD pass. The Rams added the PAT kick, boosting their lead to 20-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, T Falls senior Ian Myers broke loose on a 60-yard return for a TD. Kaiden Robins PAT kick was good, cutting the Loyola advantage to 20-7.
However, the Rams answered that score before the first half ended on yet another touchdown pass, this one good for 28 yards. The PAT try was no good, leaving Loyola with a 26-7 lead as time ran out in the first half.
Thompson Falls opened the second half and scored from 33-yards out when Myers hauled in a touchdown strike from senior quarterback Bryson LeCoure. Robins added the PAT kick, trimming the Rams’ lead to 26-14.
Before the third quarter came to an end, Loyola scored via its fifth touchdown pass of the game, this one from 30-yard out. The PAT kick was good, boosting the visitors’ lead to 33-14.
Neither offense scored in the final quarter as Loyola wrapped up the conference win, lifting their Western B, 11-player conference mark to 3-0. The Rams are 4-3 overall.
The loss dropped T Falls to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in league games.
The game was closer than the final score indicated, as Loyola racked up 305 total yards to 274 yards for Thompson Falls. The Blue Hawks out-rushed Loyola 173 yards to 48 yards, led by LeCoure’s 61 yards on the ground. He also threw for 101 yards during the game.
Loyola had 257 yards passing.
Robins had a solid night for T Falls, rushing for 58 yards on nine carries, and catching a team-best five passes for 42 yards.
LeCoure led the Blue Hawks with eight tackles, while teammate Noah Stevens had five tackles and five assists, along with one tackle for loss. Gabe Hutton added three tackles, four assists and three tackles for loss for the Blue Hawks defense.
The Thompson Falls offense had three turnovers, including a fumble lost and two interceptions that hampered their offensive effort.
Next up for the Blue Hawks is a road trip to Florence for an encounter with the conference-leading Falcons, who are 3-0 in Western B play and 6-1 overall.