Braves home opener derailed by lightning, ruled no-contest
JON ALLEN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 months AGO
Flathead wide receiver Tim Zundel (0) scores a touchdown on a 14-yard reception in the second quarter against Great Falls at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead quarterback Eli Coopman (6) picks up yardage on a run in the first half against Great Falls at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead defenders bring down Great Falls running back Mason Cannon (0) on a run in the first half at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead linebacker Nolan Campbell (24) wraps up Great Falls wide receiver Kayden Davison (2) on a reception in the second quarter at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead quarterback Eli Coopman (6) rolls out to pass in the first half against Great Falls at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead wide receiver Boston Case (3) picks up yardage after a reception against Great Falls at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead wide receiver Dillon Wink (18) reaches for a pass in the first half against Great Falls at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead defenders Nolan Campbell (24), Oliver Rosenberg (5) and Tim Zundel (0) bring down Great Falls wide receiver Kayden Davison (2) in the first half at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead quarterback Eli Coopman (6) picks up yardage on a run in the first half against Great Falls at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
SPORTS REPORTER Jon Allen is a sports reporter for the Daily Inter Lake. He covers youth and high school athletics across the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana. Allen reports on major games, athletes and teams throughout the region’s prep sports landscape. In addition to game coverage, he contributes features and analysis across print and digital platforms. Jon can be seen on our Big Sky Now podcast, weighing in on the college landscape. His work highlights the athletes and communities that define Northwest Montana sports. IMPACT: Jon’s work tells the stories of local athletes and the communities that support them. | August 30, 2025 12:00 AM
Flathead and Great Falls were ready to open up the 2025 high school football season, but the sky had a different plan.
Lightning in the area forced a delay at halftime and the eventual suspension of Friday’s opener at Legends Stadium with the Bison leading 21-7. As this is a non-conference matchup, the game will not be finished at a later date and will not count on either team’s record.
“I wish we would have been able to finish out the game,” Brave coach Mac Roche said. “I would have been willing to stay out here until 4 a.m. to play this one.”
Flathead activities director Matt Allison set a 10:30 p.m. deadline to restart the game, but no gap in the storm came.
The game opened under partly cloudy skies with Great Falls taking a 7-0 lead on a 52-yard end around to Steele Harris. Harris had 109 yards receiving on four catches on top of his one carry.
The Bison doubled the advantage as Mason Cannon punched it in from 1 yard out early in the second quarter.
Flathead’s offense wasn’t stagnant, pushing into Great Falls territory on two of their first three drives. The Braves found paydirt on their fourth drive as Eli Coopman hit Tim Zundel on a receiver screen for a 14-yard touchdown making it 14-7.
Coopman finished 7-of-14 for 64 yards through the air and added 66 yards with his legs.
“I thought our toughness was great, we had guys who showed a lot of character out there tonight,” Roche said.
The Bison responded quickly as Harris found himself all alone for a 56-yard pitch and catch from Tristan O’Leary and Great Falls’ advantage was 21-7.
The Bison looked to make it 28-7 as Harris again found the edge, but a penalty negated the play. Kohen Rilley and Hudson Casper combined for a sack of O’Leary to push Great Falls back further leading into the half.
That’s when the lightning struck, and it did not relent.
Flathead goes on the road Friday to play Billings Senior, who fell 41-3 in their opener to Missoula Big Sky.
Flathead quarterback Eli Coopman (6) picks up yardage on a run in the first half against Great Falls at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead defenders bring down Great Falls running back Mason Cannon (0) on a run in the first half at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead linebacker Nolan Campbell (24) wraps up Great Falls wide receiver Kayden Davison (2) on a reception in the second quarter at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead quarterback Eli Coopman (6) rolls out to pass in the first half against Great Falls at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead wide receiver Boston Case (3) picks up yardage after a reception against Great Falls at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead wide receiver Dillon Wink (18) reaches for a pass in the first half against Great Falls at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead defenders Nolan Campbell (24), Oliver Rosenberg (5) and Tim Zundel (0) bring down Great Falls wide receiver Kayden Davison (2) in the first half at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead quarterback Eli Coopman (6) picks up yardage on a run in the first half against Great Falls at Legends Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
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