GREAT FALLS – McCade O’Reilly rushed for five first-half touchdowns to lead undefeated Bozeman to a 52-26 win over Great Falls High on Thursday.
With the win, Bozeman (9-0) clinched the No. 1 seed in the Class AA state football playoffs.
The Hawks scored on their first play of the game when quarterback Kris Brown, who recently committed to the University of Montana, threw a 62-yard touchdown to Ryan Simpson for a 7-0 lead.
Great Falls High responded with a scoring drive capped off by a 17-yard touchdown run from Gabe Longin to make it 7-6 after a botched snap on the point-after attempt.
That’s when O’Reilly took over. He scored on 20-, 1-, 4-, 31- and 1-yard runs to help the Hawks build a 49-12 lead at halftime. The Hawks also added an 87-yard touchdown run from Kenneth Eiden in the first half.
Blake Thelen had a good day under center for Great Falls High, throwing a first-half touchdown to Kyle Torgerson and adding two more to Kyle’s younger brother Levi Torgerson in the second half.
The Bison’s playoff hopes took a hit with the loss. Great Falls High falls to 4-5 on the season after starting the year 3-0 and will likely need a win over crosstown rival Great Falls CMR (2-7) next weekend to sneak into the AA playoffs.
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Class AA football scores
Billings West 34, Great Falls CMR 21
Bozeman 52, Great Falls High 26
Kalispell Glacier 34, Missoula Big Sky 14
