Arlee football opens victorious

Arlee came out on top at Friday's home game against Darby, getting a 23-14 victory to open the season.

Darby was off to a good start when they scored the first touchdown in the first quarter, but the Warriors didn't stay down for long. A delayed hand-off by Jacob Whetzel took them to the 30-yard line for the first down. Jacob Santos gained five yards on the next play, before Arlee picked up a touchdown in the second quarter, tying the score 7-7.

On offense, the Warriors took the lead 13-7 when Jared Foust passed off to Whetzel taking the ball the final three yards for a touchdown.

The half-time show featured New Waves/Team Extreme and Hawaiian dancers in native attire reenacted stories of their past through a heart-pumping dance. A stack of bricks was broken with the forearms of a Team Extreme member. Phone books were ripped to shreds before a car was single handedly turned on its side.

Darby caught back up on the offense taking the ball 12 yards for their second touchdown, making it 13-14 in the third quarter.

Warriors' Jerry Brovold's birthday was announced during the game.

Warriors were tough on defense as they brought down the Tigers. Warrior defensive lineman Buddy Hietela started an attack on Darby's Patrick Evers and Whetzel and Ritter finished it by by bringing him down.

With 8:25 in the fourth quarter and the score 16-14, the Warriors John Ritter caught the ball at the 25-yard line for a gain of four yards on the play.

Buddy Hietela took the ball to the end zone for the touchdown and extra point, bringing the score to 23-14.

The Warriors defensive line was strong in the last quarter. They pushed the Tigers back keeping the game from going into overtime.

"They don't have nothing on us," said Coach Shawn Orr of the Tigers' effort.

Santos capped off his night with an interception late in the game.

With six seconds on the clock Hershel Clizbe, Foust and Whetzel tackled the final receiver, leaving the score at 23-14, giving the Warriors the game.

"The team played really good. We practiced a lot for this," frosh Ethan Willoughby said after the game.