There’s a new look to the Flathead Braves football team this year and it isn’t just their flashy orange jerseys.

The Braves started fast and finished strong en route to a thrilling 13-12 Class AA victory over the Great Falls Bison on Friday night at Legends Stadium.

In Kyle Samson’s first game as head coach at Flathead, the Braves needed just five plays to find the end zone on their opening drive as junior running back Josh McCracken’s 4-yard plunge gave the Braves an early 7-0 lead and plenty of momentum.

“I thought our offensive line did a great job,” Samson said.

“Our backs definitely broke some tackles, but there were some big holes to run through. We’ve got two tailbacks that are pretty darn good and it really gives us some balance.”

The drive was highlighted by a 26-yard completion from senior quarterback Easton Johnson to senior wideout Alex Croyman, who streaked up the sideline on a wheel route that brought the Braves to the Bison’s 5-yard line.

Both teams traded punts and plenty of penalties throughout the first half and not another point was scored, sending the Braves into the locker room with a one-score lead.

Great Falls finally found the end zone, and rather empathetically, in the third quarter as senior quarterback Jordan Wilkins was a perfect 7 for 7 through the air before senior running back Nate Williams punched in a touchdown on the ground from 2 yards out.

The Bison lead grew early in the fourth quarter when Wilkins tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to senior Casey Dobson in the back of the end zone on a play-action bootleg.

The Braves, who blocked the Bison’s first PAT attempt, denied Great Falls a two-point conversion when senior Dominick Faith smacked Wilkins’ pass out of the air, keeping the Braves within one score.

On the very next possession, Easton Johnson constructed a eight-play drive punctuated by another McCracken touchdown.

Johnson rolled out to his right and floated a pass to McCracken, who did the rest, scoring from 17 yards out.

Great Falls took over with 6:44 left in the game.

Starting on their own 24-yard line, Wilkins navigated the Bison down to the Flathead 30, hoping to take back the lead, but it was all for naught.

Senior cornerback Levi Brenneman jumped in front of Wilkins’ pass, intercepting it with 4:46 to play in the fourth quarter.

Legends Stadium erupted as the turnover allowed the Braves offense to run out the clock.

“That was huge. Probably the play of the game right there,” Samson said.

“They were moving the ball and our defense was getting tired because they were on the field too much. It was just a great play by Levi, reading the backfield. He was sitting on it and it was just a heck of a play by him.”

The one-two punch of McCracken and fellow junior Peyton Boyce was too much for the Bison to handle. The Braves outgained Great Falls on the ground 215-65.

McCracken finished with 117 yards on 15 carries while Boyce added 72 yards.

“That’s what we’ve been saying all summer,” Boyce said,

“We’re going to run it hard and run it in the fourth (quarter). Me and Josh ran our hardest and our offensive line was blocking really hard. We just gave it our all out there.”

The ground and pound philosophy took some of the pressure off Johnson, who finished 5 for 11 passing for 51 yards and a touchdown.

“I thought our offense did pretty well,” Johnson said.

“We kind of went down hill in the second quarter but we picked it up in the fourth and ended up pulling out the win. We’ll have to put the bad things, like the penalties, behind us and just work forward as much as we can and focus on that.”

The Braves are back in action Friday when they travel to Billings Skyview for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Flathead 13, Great Falls 12

Great Falls 0 0 6 6 — 12

Flathead 7 0 0 6 — 13

First Quarter

F — Josh McCracken 3 run (Alex Croyman kick), 9:36.

Third Quarter

GF — Nate Williams 2 run (kick blocked), 2:54.

Fourth Quarter

GF — Casey Dobson 10 pass from Jordan Wilkins (conversion failed), 10:30.

F — McCracken 17 pass from Easton Johnson (conversion failed), 6:52.

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Team Statistics

GFH Flathead

Rushes-yards 24-65 43-215

Passing 18-26-1 5-11-0

Passing yards 225 51

Total yards 290 266

First downs 14 12

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1

Penalties 10-73 11-98

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Great Falls: Jordan Wilkins 6-11, Rashon Thomas 4-29, Maxx Sitzman 2-8, Nate Williams 12-17. Flathead: Easton Johnson 10-23, Payton Boyce 16-72, Josh McCracken 15-110, James Flannigan 1-11, Alex Croymans 1-(-1).

PASSING — Great Falls: Jordan Wilkins 17-25-1-228, Rashon Thomas 1-1-0-(-3). Flathead: Easton Johnson 5-11-0-51.

RECEIVING — Great Falls: Leonard Kessler 8-66, Robert Bruskotter 3-66, Maxx Sitzman 5-69, Jamison Hermanson 2-29, Casey Dobson 1-10. Flathead: Payton Boyce 1-(-1), Josh McCracken 1-17, James Flannigan 1-5, Alex Croymans 1-26, Cody Eacker 1-4.