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Mission's stellar season ends at Fort Benton

by Lake County Leader
| November 10, 2021 7:00 AM

The Mission Bulldogs put a scare into the No. 1 team from the north on the road Saturday at Fort Benton. One week after knocking off Joliet 34-12 on the road in the first round of the state 8-man playoffs, Mission (7-3) came out swinging against the Longhorns (8-1), a team that beat them 61-6 during the 2020 playoffs.

Mission quarterback Kellen McClure threw for 276 yards and three TDs as the Bulldogs built a 22-6 first-half lead before falling 42-26 in the state quarterfinals.

McClure hit Canyon Sargent from 34 yards out to start things off. After the Longhorns put six points on the board, Charley Adams punched in a score from 1 yard out. Then McClure found Sargent again for a 55-yard score.

McClure’s third TD pass was a 70-yarder to Bryce Umphrey.

Fort Benton’s defense put the clamps on the Bulldogs from there, and the Longhorns’ running game began to click. Fort Benton outscored Mission 22-0 in the second half for the win.

Sargent had seven catches for 146 yards and two scores.

Under first-year head coach Carson Oakland, the Bulldogs’ three losses this season all came to teams still alive in the 8-man playoffs: Thompson Falls, Drummond-Philipsburg and Fort Benton.

Fort Benton 42, Mission 26

St. Ignatius — 6 - 20 - 0 - 0 — 26

Fort Benton — 6 - 16 - 6 - 14 — 42

Mission — Canyon Sargent 34 pass from Kellen McClure (run failed)

FB — Cade Ball 1 run (Socorro De laFuente kick failed)

Mission — Charley Adams 1 run (Kenny Ness pass from McClure)

Mission — Sargent 55 pass from McClure (run failed)

FB — Colter Ball 1 run (Ballyntine run)

Mission — Bryce Umphrey 70 pass from McClure (pass failed)

FB — Ballyntine 50 run (Ballyntine run)

FB — Cade Ball 5 run (kick failed)

FB — Ballyntine 4 run (Ballyntine run)

FB — Ballyntine 13 run (run failed)

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Kenny Ness looks for some running room during Mission's quarterfinal game at Fort Benton. (Courtesy of Daisy Adams)

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Mission's Canyon Sargent pulls down a reception at Fort Benton. (Courtesy of Daisy Adams)

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Bulldogs running back Charley Adams takes on a Fort Benton defender. (Courtesy of Daisy Adams)

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The Mission Bulldogs take the field before their 8-man state quarterfinal game at Fort Benton. (Courtesy of Daisy Adams)