Charlo ends Drummond's win streak

DRUMMOND - Two years ago, Drummond lost to Charlo 48-6 and hadn't lost a game since.

Until now.

The Charlo Vikings (8-0) secured an undefeated regular season and their first division title since 2004, taking out the Trojans on the road last Thursday night with a 38-14 victory and ending the longest active win streak in the state of Montana at 19.

"It was a huge win for us," Charlo head coach Mike Krahn said. "We saw that game looming out there."

The Vikings came into the game with a plan of ball control and it paid off. Charlo had a slim 14-6 lead at halftime but then exploded for 24 points in the second half for the victory.

"If you can get a lead and you can grind it out, the pressure starts to get to the other team," Krahn said. "They get impatient."

The speedy sophomore Trae Ludeman scored Charlo's first touchdown in the first quarter, followed by a rushing touchdown by senior quarterback Chico Stipe. Both were on short runs as Charlo gutted it out on the ground with 316 yards.

"We were able to have some nice sustained drives," Krahn said.

Their big play ability did make an appearance in the third quarter as Stipe threw a 35-yard pass to senior receiver Austin Bauer. Bauer caught another 35-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter as Stipe passed for 106 yards. Stipe also had a ten-yard touchdown run in the fourth.

"They really had the belief that we could win," Krahn said.

The Vikings ended a string of finishing behind Drummond in second or third place, and were able to have history repeat itself from two years ago with the win. No hard feelings though.

"Those Drummond kids are such great kids it hard not to root for them," Krahn said.

Now the Vikings will switch their attention to the task at hand, the playoffs. They'll face White Sulphur Springs in the first round, a 6-2 team from the Southern C-East conference that employs the spread offense just like Charlo. It's the team's first trip to the postseason since the 1990s.

"They're a bunch of tough-working kids," Hornets head coach Barry Hedrich said of his team.

The team likes to pass a lot as junior quarterback Cy Williams set a state record for completions in a game this season with 48. Hedrich said that his team's success starts with the offensive line. White Sulphure Springs has a nose guard that is 295 pounds and a center that is 260.

"That's what I try to emphasize to everybody," he said. "It doesn't happen without those guys."

Hedrich said that his team employs a no-huddle offense to keep the other team on their heels.

"It depends on who your opponent is. With the no huddle, a well-condition opponent will do better." Hedrich said.

Against Harlowton/Ryegate last Saturday, the Hornets tuckered out the opposing team and their defense had its way gap-blitzing in a 58-36 win.

"They were dog tired by the last quarter," Hedrich said. "They were too tired to pick it up."

Krahn was at that game, driving three and a half hours one-way to see the team his Vikings would be facing up against. Hedrich had already preceded the honor by watching Charlo play Drummond.

"They're real similar to us," Krahn said. "They use a lot of the same formations that we do."

Krahn said that his defense is used to playing against the spread in practice so they should be more comfortable with it. White Sulphur Springs might try to employ the same ball control strategy that Charlo used against Drummond.

"Were going to try to find out how to keep that run game contained," Hedrich said.

Hedrich said that his team is excited for the playoffs and is ready for the challenge of playing a tough team like Charlo.

"They're incredibly excited. I couldn't be happier for them," he said. "You don't get better by playing the weak teams."