We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Junior Hunter Molyneaux looks for running room during first quarter action of Friday nights contest with the Badgers.
Junior Toby Niederegger returned to the line up Friday after missing the bulk of the season with injury. Niederegger was a force in his return scoring a first quarter touchdown on a 10 yard reception. Niederegger found the end zone again in the fourth quarter, hauling in a pass from senior Quarterback Benton Elliot and racing 47 yards to the end zone.
Staying warm was crucial as temperatures hovered in the teens and single digits throughout the night.
The Chinook Sugarbeeters were knocking on the doorstep of the Montana Class C Eight-man Football Playoffs the past two weeks but following a heart breaking 40-38 loss to the Cascade Badgers on Friday night, their season is over.
Chinook has given fans watching in person or at home through the NHFS Network plenty to get excited about. They sure have kept people tuned in with nail biters this fall, but unfortunately three of their four losses have come down to the final play of the game.
The 'Beeters just missed an opportunity last week in Belt to secure a playoff spot, but a hard to swallow 30-28 loss to the Huskies put them in a win or go home situation this week against the Badgers.
The pace of the game Friday night was fast and furious from the opening kick. Junior Hunter Molyneaux took the opening handoff and busted through the Badger defense for a huge gain to the Cascade 22 yard line. Senior Quarterback Benton Elliot found senior Wide Receiver Reese Elliot for a 22 yard score to give the 'Beeters a 6-0 lead just :35 into the first quarter.
While the 'Beeters found paydirt in just two plays, the Badgers responded in three, scoring at the 10:27 mark of the opening quarter to even the contest at 6-6.
The 'Beeters converted a huge third down play for 18 yards on an Elliot pass to junior Tate Niederegger.
Niederegger returned to the line up after missing the previous five games due to injury. With the Ball at the Badger 30 the 'Beeters failed to move the ball on first and second down. Following a third down incompletion the Badgers called time out.
On fourth and ten Elliot connected with Molyneaux for a 17 yard game to the 13 yard line. Two plays later Elliot finds Niederegger in the corner of the end zone for a nine yard touchdown. Molyneaux added the conversion and Chinook led 14-6 with 7:27 left in the first quarter.
Cascade evened the score as the first quarter wound down. The 'Beeter offense again took the field and after a pass interference call on the Badgers moved them into Cascade territory they again found themselves in a fourth and long situation. Elliot rifled a pass to Reese for 20 yards. Molyneaux took three hand offs from Elliot before finding the end zone once again for a 20-14 'Beeter lead.
The 'Badgers scored two minutes later, taking their first lead of the game 22-20 following a successful conversion run. Chinook has been resilient all season long in answering a score with a score. Sophomore Tyler Schoen kept the 'Beeter drive alive with yet another fourth down conversion, picking up five yards on the ground. Elliot would run it in himself moments later to give Chinook a 26-22 lead with the half coming to an end.
The Badgers took the second half kickoff and pounded the ball between the tackles, marching their way to the end zone and a 28-26 lead.
Chinook started their first possession of the second half at their own 35 yard line. Niederegger hauled in a 35 yard catch from Elliot putting the 'Beeters in business at the Badger 10 yard line.
Elliot and Schoen moved the ball to the two before Elliot hit Reese on a two yard scoring pass to give Chinook a 32-28 lead midway through the third quarter.
The 'Beeter defense has been strong against the run when they needed to and came up with a big stop late in the third quarter forcing a Badger punt late in the quarter.
Facing a fourth and six from their own 25 the 'Beeters converted another fourth down. This time on an Elliot to Elliot 27 yard gain to the Badger 33 on the final play of the third quarter.
The 'Beeter drive ended with a turnover that Badgers quickly converted into points and a 34-32 lead at the 11:25 mark of the fourth quarter.
The 'Beeters put together a sustained drive, marching deep into Badger territory on the ensuing possession.
Elliot dropped back, looked across the middle and let it fly, the ball was tipped and fell right into the waiting arms of a Badger defender laying flat on his back at the seven yard line.
The Badgers went to work with the run game and then tried to mix in the pass. Senior Damon Hannum made a big play on the ball, forcing a fumble that was recovered by senior Ethan MacLeod.
Chinook took over at the Cascade 38 yard line. Molyneaux gained nine yards on first down, but a holding call pushed the offense back.
Elliot then dropped straight back and found Niederegger in the seem racing down the middle of the field while running away from defenders for a 47 yard touchdown reception. The score put Chinook back on top 38-34 with 6:13 left in the contest.
The 'Beeter defense came up big on the ensuing Badger possession, forcing a punt with 2:07 remaining.
The offense, unable to pick up a first down was forced to punt deep in their own territory giving the ball back to Cascade in excellent field position with 1:07 left on the clock.
The defense stood tall and pressure from MacLeod forced an incompletion to set up a fourth and nine for the Badgers at the 'Beeter 24 yard line.
Unfortunately for the 'Beeters, Cascade turned that fourth down into a 24 yard passing touchdown and a 40-38 lead with just :37 remaining.
The 'Beeters didn't have enough time to move down the field and time ran out on their season with a heartbreaking 40-38 loss.
Chinook finishes the season 4-4 just missing the post season. To be noted - the 'Beeters played hard every minute of every game and this year nearly every minute of every game had an impact on the outcome.
