Titans Use Big Returns For TDs In Claiming 8-Player State Title

If one had to “pick” the play of the game during the Saturday, November 21, Montana High School Association Class C 8-Player State Championship Football Game in Drummond, it was undoubtedly the second interception served up by the Scobey Spartans. In the closing seconds before halftime and the score tied at 6-6, junior Avery Metesh returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown, his senior brother Preston Metesh tacked on the 2-point conversion and the Flint Creek Titans (12-0, 650-76, 50.5-5.8) headed into intermission with an 8-point lead and some unexpected momentum. It carried over into the third quarter leading to a 44-6 victory, giving the cooperative agreement team consisting of Drummond High School and Granite County (Philipsburg) High School its third 8-Player state title in four seasons.

Asked if he felt that was the turning point of the entire game, fourth-year Flint Creek head coach Mike Cutler immediately answered “Absolutely. He (the younger Metesh) was our player of the game! As the quick interview wound down and his team right behind him hoisting the state championship trophy at midfield, Cutler was looking to the north end zone at the Spartans and said: “Scobey is one helluva football team. They are a great quality of kids. I hate to see that down there in the end zone right now.” He was right, Scobey being “one helluva team,” but the Spartans have no one to blame but themselves for Saturday’s outcome.

If the pick-6 with 9.4 seconds left before halftime wasn’t bad enough, the Titans provided the exclamation point on the first play of the second half. Flint Creek won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, electing to receive the kickoff to open the third quarter.

Coach Cutler’s son, senior quarterback Kade Cutler who is headed to Bozeman next fall to play football for the Montana State University Bobcats, hauled in the kickoff at the 12-yard line and was gone! The 68-yarder created a 20-6 lead.

To make matters worse Scobey committed another turnover on the ensuing possession giving the Titans excellent field position at...