After a full Saturday afternoon slate of 6-Man football state playoff games, only No. 1 seeds remain in White Sulphur Springs, Froid-Medicine Lake, Shields Valley and Big Sandy.
White Sulphur Springs 44, Savage 6
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS -- In dominant fashion, the White Sulphur Springs Hornets defeated the Savage Warriors, 44-6. The Hornets came out on fire as Shaw Davis hammered a run in from near the 10-yard line and caught a pass from Sam Davis to put White Sulphur Springs up 16-0 in the first quarter.
The Warriors found some life on a touchdown run from about 10 yards out to make it 16-6, but the Hornets continued to pour on the scores. Alex Novark caught a touchdown pass to make it 24-6 before the end of the first quarter, and the Hornets added two more scores before Devon Novark intercepted a Warriors pass that led to a Shaw Davis touchdown run to make it 44-6 before the end of the half.
Starting the second half with a running clock, neither team was able to find pay dirt, wrapping up the game neatly at 44-6. The White Sulphur Springs Hornets will host the Shields Valley Rebels in the semifinals on Nov. 7.
Froid-Medicine Lake 52, Harlowton-Ryegate 6
MEDICINE LAKE -- It was a blustery day in Medicine Lake as the Redhawks downed the Harlowton-Ryegate Engineers 52-6.
Both teams struggled with the wind for the first few minutes of the first quarter before the Engineers broke through first on a Colter Woldstad run from 20 yards out to make it 6-0. The Redhawks jumped in shortly after as Mason Dethman hauled off for two consecutive 50-yard touchdown runs to put Froid-Medicine Lake out in front 12-6 before the end of the first quarter. The Redhawks tacked on two more scores before the end of the half on a pass from Dethman to Colt Miller and a touchdown run from Ashdyn Hobbs to make it 24-6. They narrowly missed another score on a Hobbs fumble into the end zone that the Engineers recovered.
The second half was a much different story with a similar result. In the third quarter, the Engineers fumbled the ball four times, all of which Quinn Abar recovered, and the Redhawks were able to score three times off the turnovers to make it 44-6. The Redhawks blocked a punt for a safety and Austin Hobbs iced the game with a 45-yard touchdown run for a final score of 52-6.
The Redhawks will stay at home next weekend to host the Big Sandy Pioneers in the semifinal round of the 6-Man playoffs on Nov. 7.
Big Sandy 36, Bridger 12
BIG SANDY -- Thanks to a highlight-filled afternoon for Kade Strutz, the Big Sandy Pioneers melted down the Bridger Scouts 36-12 to advance to the semifinals of the 6-Man playoffs.
The Pioneers and the Scouts traded blows early behind a Strutz rushing touchdown for the Pioneers and a touchdown pass from Chance Goltz to Rod Zentner from the Scouts to tie the game at 6-6 midway through the first quarter. Kade's brother, Kody, tacked on another score on a pass from Braydon Cline to take a lead the Pioneers would never give back. Kade added six more points on a 2-yard rush and a kicking point-after try to make it 20-6 before the half.
The third quarter did bring some life for the Scouts as Zentner took a 72-yard interception to the house for a pick-six to make it 20-12 through three frames, but Kade Strutz kept pounding the rock home. He added two rushing touchdowns from 9 yards out each and kicked both PATs to help push the Pioneers to victory, 36-12.
The Pioneers will make the trip to Medicine Lake to take on the Froid-Medicine Lake Redhawks in the semifinal round.
Shields Valley 33, Power-Dutton-Brady 26
WILLSALL -- In the closest 6-Man contest of the afternoon, the Shields Valley Rebels downed the Power-Dutton-Brady Titans 33-26.
The Titans opened the contest with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Nicholas Wildhalm to Tyler Ellsworth, but missed the point-after try. Soon there after the Rebels took a slim lead on a pass from Kaden Acosta to Aidan Jenkins and made PAT to take a 7-6 lead. That lead did not last long as Widhalm took it to the house from 20 yards out on the ground to give the Titans a 12-7 lead through the first frame.
The Rebels rattled off two scores on an Acosta pass to Jenkins and a 20-yard Jenkins touchdown rush to make 20-12, but as the game went, neither team wanted their season to end. The Titans returned the favor on a 1-yard score from Spencer Lehnerz and a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Widhalm to take a 26-20 lead at the half.
After the half, the Rebels' defense buckled down and did not give up another touchdown but rather scored one of its own on a Jenkins fumble recovery to make it 27-26 through three quarters. In the fourth, Hazen Marshall took one to the house from 13 yards out to give the Rebels a 33-26 lead that they would not relinquish.
The Shields Valley Rebels will make the short 41-mile trip to White Sulphur Springs to take on the Hornets in the 6-Man semifinals.
6-Man football scores
Shields Valley 33, Power-Dutton-Brady 26
Big Sandy 36, Bridger 12
Froid-Medicine Lake 52, Harlowton-Rygate 6
White Sulphur Springs 44, Savage 6
