The Flathead Braves hope to end a three-game losing streak when they take on the Hellgate Knights at 7 p.m. tonight at Missoula County Stadium.

Flathead (2-5) limps into the contest after consecutive blowout losses to Great Falls C.M. Russell, Helena and Bozeman, but the Braves see an opportunity to get back on track against winless Hellgate (0-7), which ranks last in Class AA in total offense.

“Definitely the last couple games have been rough, but I think if we just put together a full game we’ll be good,” Flathead quarterback Easton Johnson said.

The Knights average only four points per game and have struggled both on the ground and through the air. Their running game averages just two yards per carry and their two quarterbacks have combined to throw 12 interceptions and just two touchdowns.

While those numbers aren’t pretty, Flathead coach Russell McCarvel said Hellgate is better than it appears on paper.

“They’re big up front and they’ve kind of settled in a little bit to being an option running team,” he said. “Last week they took the opening kickoff right down the field on Big Sky and looked good doing it, so they’ve got a few more weapons that it would appear in the box score.”

Specifically, McCarvel said Hellgate wide receiver Hunter Mahlum and tight end Kole Swartz are both capable of making big plays.

“Both of those guys are good basketball players and good athletes,” he said.

Flathead’s offense hasn’t scored double-digit points since a 21-14 win over Missoula Big Sky on Sept. 20. McCarvel said part of that has to do with Flathead’s opponents (Helena and Bozeman rank first and second, respectively, in total defense), but the Braves also need better execution.

“We have struggled with our execution for sure,” he said. “I would say definitely part of that is playing who we’ve played.

“Neither Bozeman nor Helena has given up many points all year long, so to say that we’ve struggled is not totally inaccurate, but also we’ve faced two of the top defenses around.”

Johnson believes Flathead’s offense is primed to break out.

“They have a couple mismatches that I’m definitely going to pick out,” he said. “Hopefully I can throw the ball against them quite a bit if I get some time in the pocket.”

Hellgate nearly pulled off an upset three weeks ago in a 16-14 loss to Billings Senior, but it’s been blown out by Butte and Big Sky in the two weeks since.

“Every coach I talk to says when they get off the bus and walk onto the field they look really good,” McCarvel said. “And they show spurts of being good. They only lost to Billings Senior on the final play of the game, and Billings Senior has four wins. They barely lost to Great Falls High and we barely beat (Great Falls High), so on paper it would seem to be a fairly even matchup.”

While Hellgate is mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, Flathead still has an outside chance of reaching the postseason with a strong finish. The Braves are two games behind Billings Skyview, Billings Senior and Missoula Sentinel, who are tied for sixth in Class AA. The top eight teams make the playoffs.