We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
The Chinook Sugarbeeters put the finishing touches on their 2019 campaign by winning four of their five contests.
Chinook started off the season competitive, but were just a few plays short here and there in dropping their first four contests. Granted those games were played against teams who turned in playoff worthy seasons.
The 'Beeters were within a score of top ranked Fort Benton with less than two minutes remaining in the first half and played Centerville, and Park City strong for two and a half quarters. They gave the Shelby Coyotes all they could handle before falling late.
Chinook used the experiences of those tough losses against quality teams to dominate teams when they were the favorites going in. After starting 0-4 the Sugarbeeters manhandled the Cascade Badgers 56-8. Two weeks later they soared past the Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds 72-30 and the blasted the Rocky Boy Northern Stars 69-6.
Last Tuesday in Chester, the Sugarbeeters continued that dominance with a 56-0 shutout of the Hawks in the season finale.
The Hawks never gave themselves a shot, deferring to receive the kickoff until the start of the second half gave the 'Beeter offense the opportunity to put points on the board first and they did just that.
Chinook began the opening drive at their own 18 yard line. Junior quarterback Benton Elliot scampered 12 yards on a first down to jump-start the offensive attack. Following a short run by senior halfback Sam Dumas and a face mask penalty by the Hawks, Dumas added a 21 yard scamper deep into Hawk territory.
Elliot hit sophomore Toby Niederegger on a six yard screen play then found him again streaking down right sideline a perfectly timed 21 yard touchdown strike at the 10:57 mark of the opening quarter. The five play, 62 yard drive was lightning fast and gave Chinook all the points they would need and a 6-0 early lead.
The 'Beeter defense held the Chester offense in check. With the ball back in the hands of the offense the 'Beeters were looking to keep the tide rolling. Stagnant the first three plays of the drive the 'Beeters were looking to punt the ball back to the Hawks when their return man muffed the catch and 'Beeter sophomore Drake Berreth recovered the ball, leaving the offense on the field.
Elliot dropped back in a third and long situation from midfield and delivered a perfectly thrown ball to junior Tight End Reese Elliot for a 40 yard touchdown pass. The two would hook up again on the conversion to give Chinook a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Junior Ethan Macleod broke through the Hawk line and forced a fumble, then recovered the loose ball and the 'Beeters offense was back on the field looking for more points.
Elliot looked off the outside defender, gave a pump fake and delivered a 42 yard bomb to Niederegger in stride for his third touchdown pass of the contests and a 20-0 'Beeter advantage.
After another stop by the 'Beeter defense put the offense back on the field. Elliot audibled at the line of scrimmage, looked left then found Reese Elliot for a 25 yard gain to the Hawks 13. Dumas rumbled down to the eight yard line and Elliot finished the drive with an eight yard shovel pass to senior JT Hauer for another score. Elliot to Elliot added the two point conversion for a 28-0 Chinook lead.
The wind was hauling Tuesday night and the 'Beeter special teams may not have intended to but the high kickoff was blown backwards as it came down, essentially resulting in a successful on-side kick.
Dumas picked up five yards then Elliot hit Niederegger for a seven yard gain to the 12 yard line. Elliot then capped the drive with a 12 yard scamper of his own. Dumas added the conversion run and suddenly it was 36-0
The only thing that seemed to be able to slow the 'Beeter attack was a 16 minute delay at the nine minute mark of the second quarter. For whatever reason the stadium lights went out while power remained in the town of Chester.
When the light came back on the 'Beeters were still in full attack mode. With a running clock, time was winding down quickly in the half. Dumas got the drive started with a 15 yard run down to the 12 yard line but a 'Beeter penalty pushed them back to the 28.
Elliot's fifth touchdown pass of the half, was a 28 yard lob over the attacking defender to Dumas with :32 remaining in the opening half. Dumas added the conversion to give Chinook a 44-0 lead.
Elliot added a sixth touchdown pass to begin the third quarter, finding freshman Tyler Schoen on a 15 yard screen pass that extended the advantage to 50-0.
Schoen busted through the left side of the Hawk defense and then had nothing but open field on a 44 yard touchdown run that put the final points of the 2019 season on the board. Chinook concluded the 2019 season with a 56-0 shellacking of conference rival Chester/J-I in Chester.
Elliot finished the contest 10-12 for 214 yards and 6 touchdowns through the air while also rushing for another. Niederegger caught six balls for 81 yards and two scores. Elliot completed passing touchdowns to five different receivers.
In five losses the Sugarbeeters were outscored 43.8 - 18, in four wins they outscored their opponent 63.25 - 11. In the nine games played for the season the 'Beeters still come out on top 38.11 - 29.22. It's all in the numbers. The season may not have resulted in a playoff run, but it wasn't without some success either. Goals were met and benchmarks were achieved, most of all the 'Beeters competed start to finish.
