By Ben Catley
MaxPreps.com
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Football: Top Two Teams in 8-man a Near Mirror Image
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When an outsider looks at the state of 8-man football in the state of Montana, it's not hard to find the state's top two programs.
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The top of the regular season heap has been Western C power Drummond, and Eastern C leader Wibaux. While the teams are on opposite ends of the state, their regular season success is a mirror image of the other.
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Class C No. 1 Drummond -- who has won 39-straight games and has won three-straight Class C state championships -- has scored 50 or more points in all four of its wins this season. In their 50-8 win over Phillipsburg, the Trojans exploded for 44 second-quarter points after playing the first 12 minutes to a scoreless tie. The Trojans, led by runners Parker Roher and Tyler Cochrell, have outscored their opponents 230-14 this season.
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In the eastern part of the state sits Class C No. 2 Wibaux, winners of five state titles and two other appearances in the championship game. The Longhorns, though, have gone one step beyond the Trojans on the offensive end.
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The Longhorns' defense has allowed points this season -- 44 in four games -- but the offense has been on a tear. Led by quarterback Jeff Bakken, and scoring threats Travis Bertelsen and Rob Bacon, the Longhorns have scored at least 60 points per game, and have already put up 262 points in four games. It's continued dominance for a team who has not lost in the regular season since 1999.
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For the record, the teams have met twice in the last three postseasons in the state semifinals, with Drummond winning both times. If they are able to handle their business for the rest of the regular season, and the first two rounds of the playoffs, Wibaux would host the rematch in the semifinals.
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Football: Much Success in Billings Area, Again
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Just how good is football in the Billings area?
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Consider this ... in the latest MaxPreps rankings, four of the top 10 teams in the state call that area home. Three of the four Billings high schools are in the top 10, with Billings Senior, Billings West, and Billings Central sitting in spots seven through nine. Add to the mix No. 2 Huntley Project, a school just a short 15-minute drive from the Billings Heights area on the east end of the city, and you have some good football in a 15-mile radius.
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The Red Devils were knocked out of the catbird seat this week by Helena Capital, one of two Class AA teams still unbeaten. The other AA team which has gone the first five weeks unscathed is Butte, who will have a bye this week.
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Billings Senior is 3-2 on the 2006 campaign, with their best win coming over cross-town rival Billings West. They have a chance to run the table for the rest of the season, but their hardest test may be this week, as C.M. Russell will be up first Saturday at Wendy's Field at Daylis Stadium.
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The eighth-ranked West Golden Bears will have a tough road from here, however, as they will play Bozeman (3-2) at Daylis Stadium, followed by road tests at Natrona County (Casper, Wyo.), Missoula Sentinel, and Butte, then finish at home against current No. 1 Helena Capital.
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No. 9 Billings Central is the favorite to win the Eastern A, with their lone loss coming at MaxPreps No. 4 Beaverhead County. The Rams play two of their remaining key games at home, this week against Glendive and in three weeks, when Miles City comes calling.
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The success comes at a great time, as Daylis Stadium underwent a facelift during the summer. A new PlayTurf was installed, and other amenities were fixed up around the stadium. The stadium is used by all four Billings schools (Skyview being the other) for both football and soccer.
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Soccer: Bozeman Hopes Lights Will Lift Attendance
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The powers that be at Bozeman High School are hoping that putting the spotlight on their boys and girls soccer teams will help in a number of ways.
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The school has set aside funds to run electricity to a concession stand at the soccer field, which is located behind Chief Joseph Middle School. That move would enable the school to put up lights at the field, and play night games as soon as next season.
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Bozeman activities director Randy Russell hopes that night games will do two things -- boost attendance at the games, and help make sure student-athletes don't miss as much school. Nearly every soccer program in Montana plays games in the afternoon, causing students to miss time in the classroom to travel to play games. Work on the lights could begin as early as this summer, with the hope of playing night matches as early as next September.