Ronan rolls on

RONAN — They’re BAAAAAAACK.

The Ronan Chiefs (1-0 conf., 3-2 ovr.) are returning to full health and it was quite evident last week in its 50-26 homecoming victory over Whitefish last Friday.

“It’s been a busy, busy kind of week,” Ronan head coach Jim Benn said. “It’s fun, the kids had a good time with it. The community really got behind the team.”

Senior running back Lucus Black had 16 carries for 116 yards in his first action since getting injured in the opening game of the season against Browning.

Junior fullback Chris Clary had 119 yards on 15 carries.

Junior running back Marcus Hungerford started the scoring for the Chiefs with a 12-yard run in the first. Sophomore quarterback Robbie Gauthier had a 38-yard pass to junior receiver Dalton Molzhon for a touchdown and ran for a 9-yard score before the half.

“[Robbie] has done a great job,” Benn said. “On a run, he was actually in front of Lucus and put up two blocks for him.”

Hungerford had a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter before Gauthier showcased his air skills again with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Clary and a six-yard pass to Black in the fourth quarter.

He finished the game with 113 yards passing on five-for-six passing.

“I was real proud about how unselfish our kids were with players coming back,” Benn said about the returning starters playing in positions that some kids had to fill in for. “They just set that aside. It’s been a fun year to coach.”

Ronan will host the Flathead High School junior varsity team at 7 p.m.

“We don’t want to sit there,” Benn said. “We want to tune up.”