FLORENCE — Florence's playoff quest for a fourth consecutive Class B football state championship got started Saturday with a 56-20 first-round win over Fairfield.
The Falcons, who last fall became the first Class B to win three straight titles, will play Jefferson in the second round.
Florence took an early 6-0 lead on a Jake Schneiter touchdown run, but Fairfield got in front later in the first quarter. Ryder Carper scored an Eagles touchdown and then Porter Hatch returned an interception 70-plus yards for another Fairfield TD. The Eagles led 14-6 after the first quarter.
But the Falcons took control from there, scoring the game's next 50 points to advance to the quarterfinal round. Mason Arlington threw six touchdown passes — two each to Drew Wagner and Bridger Alexander and one each to Levi Winters and Isaac Bates — and Schneiter added a second rushing score.
Florence (9-1) has now won nine straight games after a season-opening loss to Jefferson. The Falcons will try to avenge that loss next weekend when they host the Panthers in the quarterfinal round. Jefferson (8-2) got a 55-10 win over Joliet in the first round Saturday.
To watch highlights of Florence's win Saturday, see the video player above. The rest of the Class B playoff scores and updated pairings are below.
2024 Class B football state playoffs
Saturday, Nov. 2
Game 1: Red Lodge 35, Townsend 17
Game 2: Missoula Loyola 21, Conrad 12
Game 3: Manhattan 47, Baker 8
Game 4: Eureka 35, Glasgow 14
Game 5: Malta 45, Thompson Falls 8
Game 6: Three Forks 43, Huntley Project 6
Game 7: Florence 56, Fairfield 20
Game 8: Jefferson 55, Joliet 10
Quarterfinals
Nov. 8-9
Game 9: Red Lodge vs. Missoula Loyola
Game 10: Manhattan vs. Eureka
Game 11: Malta vs. Three Forks
Game 12: Florence vs. Jefferson
Semifinals
Nov. 15-16
Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner
Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner
Championship
Saturday, Nov. 23
Game 15: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner
