The high school football season officially kicked off this past week, although not without a few problems. Games all over the state had to be moved, rescheduled, or were cancelled due to the smoke. The Polson Pirates football team cancelled their game on Friday night against Browning, then rescheduled it for Saturday in Butte before cancelling it again. The Ronan football team moved their home game to Boulder in hopes of finding clean air in their opponent’s town, but weren’t successful. They called the game at halftime. Arlee cancelled their game on Friday night and moved it to Monday night. Charlo and St. Ignatius were both able to play their games without issues.

Arlee 54, Victor 8

The Arlee Warriors are already back on track for another great season on the football field. In their first game on Monday night, the Warriors showed they have talent on both sides of the field, from many different players. Arlee scored the first two touchdowns of the game, both of which were passes from Pat Big Sam to Tyler Tanner.

Victor would then score their only touchdown of the game before Arlee put up 42 more points.

Tanner finished with three touchdown catches from Big Sam. Isaac Desjarlais had two touchdowns, and Big Sam ran for two and threw for five.

Arlee takes on Superior in Superior on Friday.

Victor- 8  0  0  0  –  8

Arlee- 12  14  6  22  –  54

A - Tyler Tanner 44 pass from Pat Big Sam (run failed)

A - Tanner 30 pass from Big Sam (pass failed)

V - Colt Neville 14 pass from Steven Scheffer (Jesse Pearson pass from Scheffer)

A - Isaac Desjarlais 55 pass from Big Sam (Bigsam run)

A - Desjarlais 41 pass from Big Sam (run failed)

A – Big Sam 30 run (pass failed)

A - Tanner 15 pass from Big Sam (Desjarlais pass from Big Sam)

A – Big Sam 25 run 

(Harold Yocum pass from Big Sam)

A - Lee Bolin 2 run (pass failed)

Charlo 52, Superior 0

 The Charlo football team jumped out to a 38-0 lead in the first quarter on Saturday night, and never looked back. The Vikings would go on to score once in both the second and third quarters. Michael Delaney and Trent Dennison both had impressive first games, with Delaney scoring on a run and throwing for three, and Dennison running for two and throwing another.

Defensively, Greg Montgomery led the Vikings with five solo tackles, two assists, and one sack. Dennison added on an interception for Charlo.

The Vikings host Seeley-Swan on Friday evening.

CHARLO-   38  8  6  0 – 52

SUPERIOR- 0  0  0  0 – 0

First Quarter

CH – 10:31 -  #3 Michael Delaney runs for 5 yards. (Two point conversion run by #10 Trent Dennison good) 

CH – 7:47 - #3 Michael Delaney pass complete to #32 Jared Doty for 40 yards. (Two point conversion run by #48 Jade Smith good) 

CH – 7:47 - #12 Kelly Aaron punts to the Vikings 45 yard line. #10 Trent Dennison return for 55 yards. (Two point conversion run by #10 Trent Dennison no good) 

CH- 4:11 -  #10 Trent Dennison runs for 3 yards. (Two point conversion run by #48 Jade Smith good) 

CH – 3:23- Bobcats line up for the punt. Safety on the play. 

CH – 2:19- #3 Michael Delaney pass complete to #15 Stetson Stipe for 36 yards. (Two point conversion run by #33 Toby Odom no good) 

Second Quarter

CH - 1:08- #10 Trent Dennison pass complete to #12 Brady Fryberger for 9 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion pass by #10 Trent Dennison to #53 Zane Hafliger good) 

Third Quarter

CH – 7:51- #3 Michael Delaney pass complete to #12 Brady Fryberger for 26 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #48 Jade Smith no good) 

Fourth Quarter

No scores

Mission 7, Eureka 37

St. Ignatius traveled to Eureka on Friday night, the only team to not change their schedule because of smoke. In their first game of the year, the team struggled to contain Brenton Pluid, who had four touchdowns for Eureka. For the Bulldogs, Nick Durglo scored the only touchdown of the night on a 79-yard kickoff return. 

Durglo completed 6 passes for 83 yards, Israel Umphrey carried the ball 12 times for 40 yards, Gus Bosley had 38 yards on 9 carries and Bill Von Holtum was the leading tackler with 14. Coach Jake Bosley said the team had a slow start, but played a solid second half.

The Bulldogs host Thompson Falls on Friday night.

St. Ignatius - 0  0  7  0  –  7

Eureka -        13  12  6  6  –  37

E – Brenton Pluid 2 run (kick failed), 8:24

E – Brenton Pluid 6 run (Plemmons kick), 3:32

E – Matt Anderson 4 run (kick failed), 11:13

E – Brenton Pluid interception return (conversion failed), 1:03

STI – Nick Durglo 79 kickoff return (Bravo kick), 11:47

E – Brenton Pluid 24 pass from Austyn Sherwood (conversion failed), 2:51

E – James Dunn interception return (kick failed), 4:00 

Ronan 7, Boulder 22

The Ronan Chiefs traveled to Boulder on Friday night to take on Jefferson High School, after switching sites in hopes of evading the smoke. Unfortunately that plan only lasted until halftime, when both coaches decided to call the game. 

Boulder scored the first 22 points of the game before Ronan answered when quarterback Kasey Mock tossed one to Trevor Anderson for the score.

Bright spots for the team were Josh Morgan’s 10 carries for 45 yards and interceptions by both Zeke Misa and Kade Schutzman. 

The Chiefs take on Bigfork in Ronan on Friday night.

Ronan-      0  7  x  x – 7

Boulder- 15  7  x  x – 22

B - Nick Winfield 38 run (Kick failed)

B - Zach Shanholtzer 29 pass from Jered Padmos (Padmos kick)

B - Safety

B - Winfield 1 run (Padmos kick)

R – Mock 30 pass to Anderson (Kick good)