Loggers find running game in win at Browning
The Western News
Over the first two games of the season, Libby High School’s spread offense produced some mighty good numbers. Quarterback Joel Fuller and his talented crew of receivers put up big stats against two exceptional opponents.
But during Friday night’s 40-7 victory over Browning, Loggers coach Neil Fuller and his staff tested the running game. With a developing offensive line and a 210-yard rushing performance by junior T.J. Benson, it appears Libby passed the test with flying colors.
“Coach (Tim) Hodel, who coaches our offensive line, literally played every series we had with a different combination of offensive linemen in there,” Coach Fuller said. “We had some sophomores, a couple of juniors and a senior who all had significant action. Throughout the game, there were times when they got the best of us up front but that’s going to happen. Š Overall, our kids did a nice job adjusting with the different looks.”
The Loggers suffered a setback in the trenches with last week’s season-ending injury to James Nash.
“Early on we had a tough time getting things going running the ball,” Coach Fuller said. “It took a while to get our feet wet and figure out how to best to attack them from an offensive standpoint.”
Browning came at the Libby offense with a scheme that featured blitzing linebackers. But the Loggers took control and held a 34-0 lead by halftime.
Libby’s Conner Benson scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 45-yard hookup with Joel Fuller. In the second quarter, the Loggers erupted for 27 points with TD receptions of 15 and 50 yards to Colton Cannon and TD runs of 65 and 20 by Fuller.
Fuller finished the game with 226 yards passing and four TDs.
“Our running game’s kind of been missing,” Coach Fuller said. “The week before the Frenchtown game, we didn’t work at all on our running game. The emphasis in practice has been to spend more time on our running game.”
Conner Benson scored his second TD in the third quarter on a 15-yard catch. The Loggers then backed off and Browning scored in the fourth on a 75-yard jaunt by Dontae Northcutt, who had 185 yards rushing.
Libby senior Justin Graham suffered a bruised sternum during the second quarter and sat out all of the second half. Coach Fuller said Graham could play this week against Corvallis but should definitely be ready to go in two weeks vs. Polson.
The Logger defense came up with several big plays in the victory. On one occasion, Browning returned a kick to the 2-yard line. The Loggers’ Charlie White caught the returnee from behind to save the TD. Then from scrimmage, the Libby defense sacked the quarterback and T.J. Benson picked off a pass and ran it back near midfield.
On another series when Browning threatened, Kelly May came up with an interception and returned it to around midfield.
Libby (2-1) plays at Corvallis on Friday.
Loyola shuts out Trojans on gridiron
The Western News
In an early-season battle of unbeatens on Friday night at Rollin Field in Missoula, Loyola Sacred Heart took advantage of turnovers, broke off a few big plays and played tenacious defense in a 41-0 victory over Troy.
Over the past two meetings between the two schools, Loyola has outscored the Trojans, 81-0.
“It’s one of those games you don’t want to spend too much time dwelling on and go to the next one,” Troy coach Rich McElmurry said.
Loyola (2-0) simply would not budge on defense in the nonconference matchup. The Rams allowed a mere 52 yards of total offense – 39 on the ground and 13 through the air.
“It was a struggle from start to finish,” McElmurry said. “They dominated up front and that’s a concern. Š We knew coming in that they were going to be a very tough team.”
Minus the second quarter, Troy played a fairly competitive game against the Rams. Loyola took a 7-0 lead in the first on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Billy Chilton to Caleb DeGroot. But miscues reared their ugly head in the second.
“Turnovers were a big factor and then we got out of position a couple times on defense and they took advantage of it,” McElmurry said. “Offensively, we just did not move the ball at all. We could not move the ball against them.”
Loyola scored three TDs in the second. Joe Mitzel, who rushed for 86 yards on 11 carries, reached paydirt on a three-yard run. Then, DeGroot scored again when he intercepted Troy quarterback Aaron Palmer and ran 21 yards to the end zone. On the play, Palmer was under intense pressure and endured a hit just as he let go of the ball.
Peter Shaughnessy lit up the scoreboard again for the Rams on a 49-yard pass from Chilton for a 28-0 Ram lead at the break.
“We played much better in the second half,” McElmurry said. “Defensively we played better and offensively, we moved the ball a little bit better.”
The Trojans never came close to scoring with no red zone possessions the entire game. A highlight for Troy occurred early in the third quarter when Palmer made a diving interception in the end zone.
Palmer had 27 yards rushing on 15 carries and completed 3-of-16 passes for 13 yards.
The Trojans (1-1) hope to rebound on Friday at 7 p.m. at home against Florence.