Page 60 - Flathead Beacon // 8.24.16

SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
FLATHEAD SEEKING HEIGHTENED SUCCESS WITH SOLID CORE
BRAVES BRING BACK 10 STARTERS WHOSE MOTTO IS ‘UNFINISHED BUSINESS’
T he taste of success is sweet, and it’s motivating this year’s Flathead Braves to keep their
exciting revival alive.
Head coach Kyle Samson
welcomes back 10 starters and a large group of underclassmen who are collectively playing with a noticeable pep in their step entering the fall.
“I’m very, very happy with where we’re at,” Samson said. “The work the guys have put in this summer has really helped us coming into the fall as far as being ahead of the game. I’ve really liked our excitement and leadership and a lot of positive energy on the football eld.”
The Braves open the new season at Leg- ends Stadium against Great Falls C.M. Rus- sell on Aug. 26 at 7 p.m.
With a strong contingent of returning players, Flathead is hoping to build on last year’s success. A year ago, the team jumped out to a 3-1 start for the rst time since 2006 and picked up a big win over CMR, the reigning state runner-ups. It sparked noticeable excitement around the program, which advanced to the playo s for the rst time since 2011. The team nished 6-5 overall after falling 15-0 to Helena Capital in the rst round of the Class AA playo s.
“We’re very proud of what we did last year,” Samson said. “But we want to take the next step in the program, so we’re not just happy or satis ed with making the playo s. We want to get there and our goal is to compete for a state championship.”
Senior Bridger Johnson, standing 6-foot- 3, 205 pounds, is back at quarterback after a stellar junior season, when he passed for 1,466 yards and 12 touchdowns. Senior running back Seth Adolph is also back to replace Josh McCracken, who became the Braves’ reliable battering ram in the back- eld with 1,345 yards and 18 TDs.
Senior James Flannigan is back at receiver a year after tallying 470 yards, sec- ond most on the team.
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On defense, senior linebacker Jonas Nyman is returning from an injury with a lot of potential for a big season, while one of the state’s best cornerbacks, Trae Vasquez, is following up a season in which he snatched ve interceptions. Two pow- erful linemen — junior Daniel Long and senior Matt Gash-Gilder — are anchoring the defense in the trenches.
“I really believe what will take us to the next step is our leadership, day in and day out,” Samson said. “And we want to out- work everybody. We want to make sure we’re the hardest-working team. We might not be the most talented or absolute biggest or best, but we want to work hard.”
O the eld, Samson is leading weekly lm nights for Braves fans at Fatt Boy’s Bar & Grille. The public events are Sept. 7, Oct. 19 and Oct. 26 from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Sam- son will go over highlights from the previ- ous week’s game and preview the week’s upcoming matchup.
“Now that we’ve had success, they’re really looking forward to not just being sat- is ed,” Samson said of the Braves.
“We want to be the best.” ■
“THE WORK THE GUYS HAVE PUT IN
THIS SUMMER HAS REALLY HELPED US COMING INTO THE FALL AS FAR AS BEING AHEAD OF THE GAME.“
- KYLE SAMSON, BRAVES HEAD COACH
2016 SCHEDULE
Head coach
Kyle Samson.
BEACON FILE PHOTO
AUG. 26 SEPT. 2 SEPT. 9 SEPT. 16 SEPT. 23 OCT. 7 OCT. 14 OCT. 21 OCT. 28
FLATHEAD BRAVES
GREAT FALLS CMR HELENA
@GREAT FALLS @MISSOULA BIG SKY BOZEMAN
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7 P.M. 7 P.M. 7 P.M. 7 P.M. 7 P.M.* 7 P.M. 7 P.M. 7 P.M. 7 P.M.
*HOMECOMING
HEAD COACH
Kyle Samson (3rd season, 9-12)
2015 SEASON
6-5 overall (sixth place in Class AA regular season, lost 15-0 to Helena Capital in rst round of the playo s)
RETURNING STANDOUTS
Bridger Johnson, Sr., QB; Seth Adolph, Sr., WR/DB; Matt Gash-Gilder, Sr., DL; Trae Vasquez, Jr., DB; James Flannigan, Sr., WR/DB
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