Scobey Faces Fairview Saturday On Starr Field In Big Semifinal

It was an absolutely gorgeous day weather-wise in Fort Benton, Montana Saturday, November 9, when the Scobey Spartans traveled for a Montana High School Association football quarterfinal playoff game.

It was 58 degrees above zero at the 12:54 p.m. kickoff, sunny, zero percent of precipitation, humidity at 40 percent and no wind at all!

Let’s play ball! The Spartans managed to do that just fine in a 36-20 victory over the local Longhorns, vaulting them into the semifinals against fellow East C Division mate and defending State C champion Fairview Warriors, who scored a tight 28-20 win against the Spartans back in week seven on their Starr Field grass turf.

Only the Circle Wildcats came closer to the Warriors in week six at 29-24 in Round Town (see semifinal preview on page 7).

Neither team could put some points on the scoreboard in the first quarter but Scobey struck two plays into the second frame when junior quarterback Brecken Maher bolted 39 yards for a touchdown and 6-0 lead.

After Fort Benton knotted it at 6-all the Spartans fumbled two plays into their third possession. The Longhorns failed to convert on a 4th-and-4 from Scobey’s 9-yard line and the boys in blue and gold began revving up their engines, both offensively and defensively. Kolten Machart scored on a 2-yard pass reception making it 12-6 at the half.

The Spartans went three plays and punt on their initial possession of the third quarter but the Longhorns were moving the ball on the ensuing drive. Facing a 4thand-5 at Scobey’s 17, Fort Benton went to the air but Scobey junior Evan Tande produced a huge defensive play near the back line of the end zone, swatting the ball down to avoid a tie game at 12 and, if converting the deuce, 14-12 with 8:18 left in the third quarter.