KALISPELL — In a battle for the No. 3 seed in the Class AA football playoffs, Helena prevailed on a rainy Friday evening against Kalispell Flathead, 22-7.
The two teams were scoreless through the first quarter, but Kalispell Flathead got on the board early in the second quarter. Blake Counts scored on an 8-yard rushing touchdown, on which he reversed field to avoid the Helena defense, to go up 7-0.
Helena answered, scoring twice before halftime. Quarterback Ty McGurran found Alex Johnson from 37 yards out, and the two-point conversion gave Helena an 8-7 lead it would not relinquish.
Following a fumbled snap by Flathead, McGurran struck through the air again. This time, he found Zach Spiroff for a 30-yard touchdown to put Helena up 16-8.
Flathead and Helena played a scoreless third quarter, but saved some fireworks for the final stanza. Flathead was driving with a chance to tie the game, but Sprioff picked off a Flathead pass and was taken down at the Helena 1-yard line.
Backed up against its own end zone, Helena drove the length of the field to ice the game. The Bengals capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Grady Koenig, giving Helena a 22-7 advantage late in the fourth quarter.
With the win, Helena grabs the No. 3 seed in the Class AA playoffs and Kalispell Flathead will be the No. 4 seed.
Class AA football scores
(Click the links for video highlights)
Billings West 42, Billings Senior 0
Butte 37, Missoula Big Sky 14
Great Falls High 19, Great Falls CMR 0
Helena 22, Kalispell Flathead 7
Missoula Sentinel 39, Helena Capital 27
