After three straight weeks on the road to open the 2024 season, the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks returned to Previs Field for their annual Homecoming game against highly ranked Jefferson High (Boulder) this past Friday.

They ran into a buzzsaw on both sides of the ball in the form of the Panthers, who spoiled the festive atmosphere with a 41-6 win over the home team in Western Conference,11-player action. 

Jefferson, which left town with a 3-1 season mark following the win, struck first when Cobe Burnett scored on a 35-yard touchdown pass.  The point after touchdown (PAT) kick was good, giving the visitors a 7-0 lead. 

Before the first quarter ended, senior running back Kaden Robins, scored on a 16-yard run for T Falls, cutting the Jefferson lead to 7-6.  the PAT failed. 

Robins' touchdown was to be the only score for the Blue Hawks as the Panthers defense clamped down the rest of the game, shutting out T Falls the final three quarters of the game. 

Meanwhile, Jefferson added a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter, one a 30-yard TD pass by Burnett that put Jefferson up 14-6 when the PAT kick was good.  Later in the quarter the visitors got a 52-yard punt return touchdown from Brady Armstrong.  The PAT was no good, but at the half, Jefferson led 20-6. 

The Panthers opened the third quarter with a three-yard TD run that, along with a successful PAT kick, upped their lead to 27-6.  Before the third quarter ended, they scored again, with Ben Werner running for a seven-yard touchdown.  A successful PAT kick put the score at 34-7 in favor of the Panthers. 

Jefferson scored one more time, this in the fourth quarter, when Werner scored his second TD of the game on a four-yard dive into the end zone.  The kick was good, and the final score was 41-6. 

Robins had a good night for the Blue Hawks, throwing for 68 yards and rushing for 61 yards on 11 carries. 

Michael Koskela had one reception for 47 yards to lead the Blue Hawks receivers. 

Jefferson racked up 305 total yards of offense on the night, while T Falls had 159 combined rushing and passing yards.  

On defense, senior Bryson LeCoure led the Blue Hawks with 10 tackles and seven assists.  He also had three sacks and five tackles for loss on the night.   The Blue Hawks’ defense sacked Jefferson quarterbacks five times. 

Next on the agenda for Thompson Falls is another road game, this time a trip to Anaconda this Friday (Sept 27) to take on the Copperheads. 

    Thompson Falls senior Ian Myers (2) latches onto a Jefferson running back during their game Friday night at Previs Field. (Phot by Tracy Scott)