Flathead looks to bounce back against Helena Capital
FRITZ NEIGHBOR | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 6 months AGO
Flathead quarterback Jackson Walker (2) runs for a first down in the first quarter against Billings Skyview at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 26. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
SPORTS EDITOR Fritz Neighbor is the Sports Editor for the Daily Inter Lake. He oversees sports coverage across the Flathead Valley, including high school athletics, youth sports, and regional competitions. In his leadership role, he helps shape the newspaper’s sports coverage and editorial direction. Fritz’s column, Full Count, taps into his decades’ long career covering Montana sports. You’ll also see Fritz sharing his thoughts and insights on the Big Sky Now podcast. IMPACT: Fritz’s work celebrates the athletes and teams that bring Northwest Montana communities together. | September 8, 2022 12:00 AM
Coming off a landmark victory, the Flathead football team got brought back to earth last Friday with a 38-0 loss at Gallatin.
A week later, first-year head coach Caleb Aland singled out center Austin Schabel, tight end/defensive tackle Braden Capser and defensive back Connor Skalsky.
“We ask a lot of Braden Capser. He plays tight end and then the three-technique,” Aland said. “He played a lot of snaps. Connor Skalsky did a good job defending No. 3 (6-foot-5 receiver Quinn Clark).”
But beyond that, Aland noted, there was a lot not to like.
“Honestly I thought we had the better athletes,” Aland said. “But I just thought from the jump our guys were flat, and Gallatin played their butts off.
“It was disappointing, the effort our guys put in. Especially after watching the film.”
Things won’t get easier Friday, when 2-0 Helena Capital visits Legends Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
“They’re a good looking team,” Aland said of the Bruins. “They’re big, they have a lot of athletes. I want to say there are 28 seniors.”
Two of them split the quarterback duties: Hudson Grovom and Joey Michelotti. The top rusher is senior Tom Carter (153 yards), who until the State AA meet didn’t lose a 100 meters race last spring.
Nicholas Michelotti is the top pass catcher, but Carter has an 80-yard touchdown reception and there’s also Tyler Kovick and tight end (and Griz commit) Hayden Opitz.
The Bruins have another Griz commit in 6-6 lineman Austin Buehler. The group has beaten Bozeman 28-21 and last year’s AA runner-up, Billings West, 42-6.
Flathead quarterback Jackson Walker and the offense found the sledding much tougher in Bozeman last week. Junior receiver Brody Thornsberry had one catch for 24 yards, for one example. For another the team rushed for minus-7 yards.
“I think it was a pretty decent week (of practice),” Aland said. “There’s some areas we need to work on. It’s a work in progress. It’s not anything that’s going to get fixed overnight, or even in a year.”
“We cleaned up some things. We had a long talk about effort. … I just have to make sure I’m bringing it every day while demanding our players do.”
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