EAST HELENA – Lewistown started its Class A state title defense on the right foot Friday night with a 44-7 rout of East Helena.
Lewistown took a 7-0 advantage on a 1-yard QB draw out of shotgun by Dash Ruff. Max Ray added a 29-yard touchdown reception from Ruff to make it 14-0.
The Eagles built their lead to 21-0 early in the second with a 15-yard touchdown run by Kieran Netburn. Ruff then had a 50-yard scoring run. Lewistown continued to pile it on, going up 28-0 lead on a 3-yard TD run by Netburn midway through the second.
Ruff and Netburn connected later on a 50-yard touchdown pass. Netburn also made a 47-yard field goal.
East Helena, in its first season in the Eastern A, scored on two short touchdown passes, the last of which was caught by Cooper Dighans.
Last season, the Eagles won their first state championship in 21 seasons.
Elsewhere in Class A:
Bigfork 55, Polson 20
Billings Central 22, Glendive 20
Columbia Falls 42, Frenchtown 12
Corvallis 45, Browning 0
Hamilton 21, Whitefish 7
Havre 43, Hardin 12
Laurel 35, Sidney 0
Libby 21, Stevensville 7
Ronan 29, Butte Central 15
