Quarterfinals Bound: Arlee battles back in playoff win against Flint Creek

Finding themselves down 16-8 in the first quarter, the Arlee Warriors dug deep and battled back for a 36-16 State eight-man playoff victory over three-seed Flint Creek on Saturday, Oct. 28, on the Warriors’ home field.

“The team reacted like a battle-tested team does,” Arlee Head Coach Quinn Huisman said. “They remained calm because they knew they were the better team, and they knew we just needed to clean up a couple of things, and then we would be fine.”

Flint Creek struck first with a 37-yard touchdown pass at the 10-minute mark, but Arlee’s Jace Arca responded five game minutes later with a two-yard touchdown run to tie things up. Flint Creek would retake the lead on a score from the one-yard line with just seconds left in the first quarter.

The Warriors, however, didn’t allow another score while they continued to pour the points on.

“The defense’s ability to make changes mid-drive is what stood out to me,” Huisman said. “They remain calm and shut them down after the first quarter.”

Late in the second quarter, Kendall O’Neill threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Arca to pull Arlee within 16-14 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Jake Knoll scored on a 17-yard run to take the lead at the 10:55 mark and then punched the ball into the endzone again from the one-yard line to give the Warriors a 28-16 lead with 7:06 left in the third.

Arca delivered the finishing score with 5:28 left in the game, running the ball in from 21 yards out.

Arlee improved to 9-0 on the season and advanced to the State eight-man quarterfinals, where they will host No. 1 East seed Fairview on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 1 p.m.

Fairview is also undefeated at 9-0 and is averaging 54 points a game on offense, while the defense is giving up just 12 points per game.

“If we play our game, good things will happen,” Huisman said.

At Arlee

ARLEE 36, FLINT CREEK 16

Flint Creek - 16 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 16

Arlee - 8 - 6 - 14 - 8 - 36

SCORING SUMMARY

F – Trey Phillips 37-yard pass from Logan Hauptman (Phillips run)

A – Jace Arca 2-yard run (Knoll pass from O’Neill)

F – Hauptman 1-yard run (Austin Knoeller run)

A – Arca 22-yard pass from Kendall O’Neill (run failed)

A – Jake Knoll 17-yard run (Matthew Johnson pass from O’Neill)

A – Knoll 1-yard run (run failed)

A – Arca 21-yard run (Knoll run)

    Warrior Jake Knoll races for the endzone during Saturday's game against Flint Creek. (Jamie Sievers photo)
  

    The Arlee Warriors bested Flint Creek Valley 36-16 in the first round of playoffs Saturday. (Jamie Sievers photo)