Jenna Cederberg / Leader Staff

CHARLO — A well-disciplined Charlo team took the ball to the endzone 11 times on Saturday, in a runaway 81-0 win over Hays-Lodgepole.

Hays-Lodgepole traveled more than eight hours, with a stop over in Missoula for the night, with just 10 players for the game.

"Our guys took care of business right away and from there it was a blowout," head coach Steve Love said. "I've been on both sides and you have to give the Thunderbirds a lot of credit for competing to the end of the game."

The Vikings embraced the hot day and took the field looking practiced and sharp, it was a day that let them spread their wings a little and see what the offense could do.

Sophomore running back Chico Stipe had two of the team's five first quarter touchdowns. After a 1-yard sneak by junior running back Cody Nitschke, Stipe darted in front of the Hays-Lodgepole offense grabbing a lob pass for the interception and running it 18 yards to bring Charlo up 14-0 with 8:56 left in the first quarter.

Stipe again found the endzone less than two minutes later on a 60-yard punt return. Diving beyond the goal line, Stipe scored his second of three touchdowns, wracking up nearly 80 yards of offense in the first quarter.

Nitschke added another six for Charlo after an interception and 25-yard run. Next, junior Chance Firestone caught a sweet, short pass for the fifth touchdown of the quarter putting Charlo up 41-0 after a successful kick.

Stipe scored his third touchdown of the afternoon just three seconds into the second quarter on a pass from senior quarterback Cloy Hoyt.

Minutes into the second quarter, the starting players were replaced by younger Vikings who got a good piece of field time.

"We played lots of young kids so hopefully that experience will help us in the long run," Love said.

Sophomore Shiloh Kerr had a 5-yard run for a touchdown and five tackles for the team. Sophomore Austin Bauer followed Kerr with a 4-yard touchdown run as Charlo continued a strong rushing day. Bauer had 78 rushing yards on six carries.

A hot and ragged Hay-Lodegpole team continued to take position, but could not convert passed fourth downs and did not score for the entire game.

Freshman Stephen Delaney had a breakout night that showed he might be the next best thing for the VIkings running for close to 42 yard on a second quarter touchdown and 40-yard fourth quarter punt return. Freshman Kolten Anderson also score for the VIkings early in the third quarter off a 6-yard run.

Next, the team will be away at Noxon.