HAMILTON -- After cruising in its first two games of the season, Hamilton got its biggest test of 2020 on Friday and made perhaps its biggest statement.
Getting a visit from perennial Class A power Dillon, Hamilton pulled away for a 37-14 win to cement itself as one of the Class A football favorites this fall.
The Broncs built a 9-0 lead after the first quarter thanks to a 2-yard touchdown run from Ben Tack and a 27-yard field goal from Austin Drake. Hamilton extended the advantage to 16-0 midway through the second quarter when Tristan Lewis took a pass from Tyson Rostad for a 34-yard touchdown.
The Beavers didn't go away easily, though. Jace Fitzgerald, a Montana State commit, found Cole Truman for a 33-yard TD to cut Hamilton's lead to 16-7 at the halftime break. Dillon's Kale Konen added a 1-yard scoring run in the third to get Dillon within 16-14, but it was all Hamilton from there.
Tack added his second TD of the game just before the third quarter ended, and then Rostad and Ben Rooney each found the end zone in the fourth to push the lead to the final 37-14 margin.
Hamilton is now 4-0 on the season after starting with a forfeit win over Butte Central in Week 1. The Broncs now sit alone atop the Western A after Libby suffered its first loss of the season on Friday. The Loggers lost to Columbia Falls 35-33. Five teams -- Columbia Falls, Dillon, Frenchtown, Libby and Polson -- have 3-1 records in the Western A.
Class A football scores
(Scroll through the above videos for game highlights)
Billings Central 42, Hardin 0
Butte Central at Corvallis (Postponed to Saturday)
Columbia Falls 35, Libby 33
Frenchtown 40, Stevensville 0
Glendive 32, Havre 14
Hamilton 37, Dillon 14
Laurel 31, Sidney 7
Miles City 22, Lewistown 7
Polson 52, Ronan 34
