Saisbury's late TD lifts Braves over Bison

GREAT FALLS — "It's pretty fun to start the season 1-0," Flathead coach Mac Roche said. 

Leum Saisbury caught a Bear Barker touchdown pass with 20 seconds left for Flathead to take a 34-31 victory in a back-and-forth football game over the Great Falls Bison Friday. 

"We started off slow with some of our offensive operations; once we got things rolling we were operating well and we were moving the ball really well," Roche said. 

Roche called a crossing route for Saisbury, who caught the pass from Barker and scampered into the end zone to put Flathead ahead for good. 

"Either we run the ball and we don't get it and have to run the field goal team on quickly or we put it in the air and tell Bear to put it on him or if it's not there to throw it away," Roche said. 

The Braves and Bison countered each other through the first half to enter the break tied at 21. 

Out of the halftime break Great Falls worked a long drive down the field that resulted in a field goal to go ahead 24-21. The ensuing kickoff bounced off a Braves up-man and the Bison recovered. 

Flathead held strong on the possession to get the offense on the field for the first time in the half — with two minutes left in the third quarter. 

"We have so many kids that play both ways, the majority of our offense is on defense anyways," Roche said of keeping his offense warm. "I was on the headset a little and told people to make sure Bear is warm." 

The Braves took the lead back in the fourth as Saisbury found paydirt on the ground, making it 27-24. 

Flathead put the Bison in a third-and-long scenario on the next drive but Tristan O'Leary fought out of the grasp of two Brave defenders and found Rivers Herring for a long touchdown to put Great Falls back in front. 

Barker and the Braves then worked the ball down the field methodically to set up the winning score 

Barker — a Whitefish transfer — finished his first Braves start with three touchdowns and one interception. 

Kellen Mouat and Kellan Manning each found the end zone along with Saisbury who had one receiving and one rushing score. 

The Braves now return home to battle Billings Senior Friday at 7 p.m.