Linder, Bruins outlast Braves in OT

HELENA — Brit Linder was already having a heck of a game before that tackle, and before his fourth touchdown. 

The Helena Capital running back’s touchdown in overtime helped the Bruins survive the Flathead Braves Friday, 27-20 in a Western AA football game at Vigilante Stadium.  

The Bruins’ back finished with 211 yards on 21 carries as Capital improved to 2-4, and 1-3 in Western AA games. His efforts offset a huge game by Flathead quarterback Eli Coopman, who ran for 142 yards and a touchdown and threw two long TD passes on the way to 254 passing yards.

Coopman’s 63-yard pass to Oliver Rosenberg with 3:36 left in regulation, along with Brett Chivers’ PAT kick, tied the game at 20-all.  

With 2:19 left the Braves (1-4, 0-4 in league) got the ball back and drove from their own 10-yard line to Capital’s 31.  

Facing a fourth-and-1, Coopman was stopped short by Linder with 16 seconds left. 

Flathead coach Mac Roche was hoping to get a little bit closer for a Chivers field goal attempt. 

“Pick up a first, clock it, and maybe have time for one more chunk play, clock it again,” Roche said. “Hats off to them on the fourth down. They had their stud linebacker (Linder) on the opposite side of the field flow over and make the play.” 

Linder also had scoring runs of 27, 1, 9 and — on the first play of overtime — 10 yards. 

Flathead then got a turn in overtime, but its possession ended at the 4-yard line with an incomplete pass. 

Coopman, who’d hit Tim Zundel on a quick seam route for 69 yards and a score to put the Braves up 13-6 in the second quarter, completed 16 of 29 passes. He and Capital QB Carson Toivonen were both intercepted twice. 

“We were able to get them into coverages we knew would get us some one-on-one matchups,” Roche said. “It was nice to have a couple big plays, explosive plays.” 

Coopman also had a 15-yard scoring run. He carried the ball 29 times, while Leum Saisbury had 11 carries for 32 yards. 

Kellen Mouat had nine tackles and Matthew Lewis eight for Flathead. Lewis had an interception. In the end it was another close loss. 

“We’re in a tough place to play against the defenseing state champion,” Roche said. “We went toe to toe with them and certainly had our share of mistakes and could-have-should-haves. But our kids never quit. I told them I was proud of them, and we’re growing every week. They continue to fight and battle adversity.” 

Flathead    6    7    0    7    0    -    20 

Capital    7    7    6    0    7    -    27 

HC – Brit Linder 27 run (39 Jenkins kick), 6:41-1Q 

F – Eli Coopman 15 run (kick failed), 1:50 –1Q 

F – Tim Zundel 69 pass from Coopman (Brett Chivers kick), 8:34-2Q 

HC – Linder 1 run (Jenkins kick), 1:27-2Q 

HC – Linder 9 run (kick failed), 3:10-3Q 

F – Oliver Rosenberg 63 pass from Coopman (Chivers kick), 3:36-4Q