Butte High will clash with Flathead for the 77th time tonight at Naranche
It is Friday, and time for football here in the Mining City! The Butte High Bulldogs are back at home tonight to host the Braves of Kalispell Flathead at Naranche Stadium. The Bulldogs are coming off a crazy game in Helena a week ago, looking to bounce back against the Braves tonight.
The Braves went 1-1 in their non-conference schedule with a 38-0 loss to Gallatin, and a 28-0 win over Skyview. They opened their Western AA schedule last week with a 51-14 loss to Helena Capital. The Bulldogs also enter the game tonight with a 1-2 record overall, going 1-1 in nonconference with a 36-28 win over Billings Senior, and a 41-17 loss to Great Falls High.
The Bulldogs will faceoff with the Braves for the 77th time tonight with a chance at evening the overall series. Before kickoff Flathead has won 37 times, the Bulldogs have taken 36 victories, with 3 total ties in the game that was first played in 1927. Amazingly one of the ties came in the state championship game in 1951 when they ended the game knotted up at 7 apiece!
Butte High will be led by a powerful passing game, with senior Jace Stenson at QB once again. Jace has thrown for 847 yards so far this year (that 847 yards rank him as the #2 passer in the AA.) So far he has completed 58% of his passes, with 65 completions on 112 attempts. He has thrown 8 TD’s, with 5 Interceptions. Stenson also comes into tonight’s contest as the Bulldogs leading rusher with 176 yards on 39 carries, next on the rushing list for Butte High is Trey Hansen with 65yards on 28 carries, Trey has gotten across the goal line twice so far this season.
The Butte High receiver group is stacked.. The Dogs are led by Cameron Gursey at wideout, Gurnsey so far this year has 21 receptions for 280 yards, averaging over 93 receiving yards a game. Junior Rueso Battermann has already hauled in 15 receptions good for 214 yards, and 2 TD’s, right behind him are a pair of outstanding Freshman, Hudson Luedtke, and Cayde Stajcar. Hudson has 10 receptions for 113 yards and 3 TD’s and Cayde has pulled down 7 catches good for 144 yards and 1 TD so far this season.
The Braves come into the game led by Jackson Walker at quarterback, he has taken the bulk of snaps so far this season (195 passing attempts), Nate Skonord has also seen time at quarterback with 11 passing attempts. Walker have thrown for 195 yards so far, with 2 TD’s and 2 Interceptions.
Walker is also has the most rushing attempts on the team with 24 carries, good for 49 yards. Joe Jones is a running back who will get snaps tonight, so far he has 18 carries good for 27 yards, and Gabe Lake will see time, he is credited with 19 carries good for 56 yards.
Kickoff is 7pm tonight at Naranche Stadium, the finest football field is all existence. See you there.