Polson/Ronan Football: Backyard Brawl

RONAN - This wasn't how it was supposed to play out. But the

musical chairs the Chiefs (1-2 conf., 4-4 ovr.) football team has

played all season finally caught up to them. And the Pirate team

(2-1 conf., 6-1 ovr.), diverse in its ability to score, took

advantage of prime field position throughout the game to drub its

geographical and conference rival 56-6 as Polson continues to

jockey for postseason positioning.

RONAN - This wasn't how it was supposed to play out. But the musical chairs the Chiefs (1-2 conf., 4-4 ovr.) football team has played all season finally caught up to them. And the Pirate team (2-1 conf., 6-1 ovr.), diverse in its ability to score, took advantage of prime field position throughout the game to drub its geographical and conference rival 56-6 as Polson continues to jockey for postseason positioning.

"We almost outgained them yardage wise," Ronan head coach Jim Benn said of his team's 192 yards gained to the Pirates' 213. "We did a great job of giving them field position and just putting them in a position where they could be successful. We gave them short fields, and when you play a good team, that's what'll happen."

A methodical drive, capped by a four-yard run by junior quarterback Vince DiGiallanardo, put the Pirates on the board first 7-0. A punt on the Chiefs next position gave the Pirates the ball right back, but a fumble on Polson's first play was recovered by Ronan. The resulting field position allowed junior running back Lucus Black to scamper into the end zone on a nine-yard run.

With the two-point conversation failing, that was the first, and last, score Ronan would put on the board for the game.

"The biggest issue was turning the ball over," Benn said. "It made it difficult for our defense, that's why it became such a runaway score."

The Pirates would go on to score 49 unanswered points, including 35 more in the first half. By being up by 35 points or more, the clock was continuously running before the first half had ended.

Two short runs by senior running back Sheldon Fisher and a touchdown catch by senior wide out Kyle Bagnell got the rout started. But the next two touchdowns really put the game out of reach. Bagnell fielded a Chief punt on a few bounces and ran down the field untouched, putting the Pirates up 35-6. On the very next play, sophomore defensive back Will Davey picked off a short pass by Chief junior quarterback Robbie Gauthier and took it 20 yards to the end zone for another score.

"We scored in several different fashions," Pirate head coach Scott Wilson said. "The punt return and interception return were turning points that sealed the deal. When you have situations like that it puts the opposing team in a tough position."

The Pirates added a blocked punt return for a touchdown by junior Brock Bleazard to cap the scoring in the fourth quarter, just another way the boys found the end zone.

"To me, its just a matter of beating a rival, to get those bragging rights," Wilson said of the win, regardless of the score. "This year, the score just seemed to portray how the game went for us that night, scoring in all those different ways."

Wilson noted that Ronan missed quite a few starters that may have played a role in the outcome of the game. Benn admitted the injuries have been tough, as his team has been decimated throughout the season, but that such misfortunes don't alter his outlook on a season.

"It's more of a cumulative thing," Benn said. "You work with a kid and then start doing the musical chair thing and you don't have that consistency week in and week out. It creates trust issues and you don't know how a play will turn out. It creates problems with important parts of the game, but it's never an excuse. It's just tough, I've never seen quite so many (injuries)."

While Benn said the team is now fighting to have a second consecutive winning season, the Pirates have put themselves in a prime position come playoff time. The team heads to Libby for another intense inter-conference road game.

"We hope we can play as well as we did this weekend in a tough place to play," Wilson said. "Hopefully we use the momentum we have to have success this weekend."

The Pirates will play at Libby Friday night at 7 p.m. while the Chiefs head to Columbia Falls for a 7 p.m. matchup.