BUTTE — Naranche Stadium played host to two 8-Man football games on Saturday afternoon as it prepares to host the 2018 8-Man state championship game in November. Defending state champion Drummond-Philipsburg took on Alberton-Superior in the first game, with Ennis and Choteau clashing in the nightcap.
Drummond-Philipsburg 50, Alberton-Superior 16
The defending champions wasted no time imposing their will against the Mountain Cats of Alberton-Superior. The Titans jumped out to a 36-0 halftime lead, thanks largely to the efforts of senior running back Colby Manley, who had five rushing touchdowns in the first half.
Manley routinely broke away from defenders, ripping off 15-to-20-yard runs before a defender touched him. With the Titans up big through three quarters, Manley got his well-deserved rest.
“He’s a beast,” Drummond-Philipsburg head coach Mike Cutler said. “We’ve got great guys up front blocking for him. If you noticed, he wasn’t touched for 10, 15, 20 yards. At that point, anyone can run through those holes. It’s what he did after contact and things like that. He’s a three-year starter for us, I don’t expect anything different from him. Everybody got a good dose of (Manley Saturday), but we’ve got a lot of weapons on this team.”
Sophomore quarterback Kade Cutler made his first career start and threw two second-half touchdown passes — one to the electrifying Jaxon Lee.
Choteau 34, Ennis 28
In a matchup of playoff teams from last season, Choteau edged by Ennis thanks to the right arm of Johnny Rappold. Rappold tossed four touchdowns on the afternoon, two to Bryce Gramm, to lead the Bulldogs to a non-conference win over the Mustangs.
Choteau head coach Luke Gunderson continually put the ball in the hands of Rappold to make plays, and Rappold delivered. On the two-point attempt after his fourth touchdown pass, Rappold threw perhaps his best ball of the night. With pressure in his face, Rappold lofted a beautiful back shoulder fade to Kyler Crabtree in the corner of the end zone that only Crabtree could catch.
“He’s good, man,” Gunderson said of Rappold. “He’s worked his butt off, went to a lot of camps this summer, lifted a lot, and his accuracy is phenomenal. If you give the kid time to sit back, he can put it right over the shoulder. That’s why we ran that little corner route with (Crabtree). I told him, ‘Just put it right on the pylon, (Crabtree) will run under it and grab it.'”
Ennis got strong performances from Brayden Oberg, Trevor Swanson and Daniel Johnson. Swanson and Johnson connected twice through the air for scores.
Saturday football scores
(Click the links for video highlights)
Bainville 55, Savage 41
Charlo 42, Plains 6
Chester-Joplin-Inverness 28, Absarokee 14
Choteau 34, Ennis 28
Colstrip 34, Whitehall 0
Drummond-Philipsburg 50, Alberton-Superior 16
Eureka 40, Cut Bank 7
Florence 23, Jefferson 0
Grass Range-Winnett 38, Denton-Geyser-Stanford 0
Laurel 38, Lewistown 12
North Star 44, Heart Butte 7
Roy-Winifred 31, Shields Valley 21
Shelby 48, Chinook 6
West Yellowstone 56, Valley Christian 20
Westby-Grenora 54, Kaycee (Wyo.) 12
Wibaux 40, Geraldine-Highwood 38
