GREAT FALLS — The Great Falls Central football team is Butte bound after beating Fairview 28-18 in the 8-Man football semifinal round Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
The Mustangs went on top early after a 17-yard run from Riley Dickinson made it 7-0 in the first quarter. Central then scored on a fake field goal, with Noah Ambuehl, the holder, hitting an open receiver to give his team a 15-0 lead after the first quarter.
Fairview answered in the second quarter with a 2-yard run from Alex Schriver to cut the lead to 15-6. Central went to halftime with a 21-6 lead after Isaac Armstrong ripped off a 49-yard touchdown run.
Late in the third quarter, Cody Asbeck broke loose up the middle for a 31-yard touchdown run to cut the Mustang lead to 21-12. But Cayle Schraner seemingly iced the game for Central minutes later with a 5-yard interception return to put GFCC up 28-12 with 5:39 left to play.
Schriver would punch in another touchdown to bring the Warriors within 10 points, but the Mustangs picked up a few key first downs to wind time off the clock and hold on to the win.
Great Falls Central will play for the first 8-Man championship in school history next week at Naranche Stadium in Butte against defending champion Drummond-Philipsburg.
