Unbeaten Arlee clinches Western eight-man championship

What started off as a defensive battle between No. 4-ranked Arlee and No. 5-ranked Valley Christian turned into chaos in the second half as the Warriors scored 22 fourth-quarter points to win 34-25. The two teams played Friday, Oct. 13, at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula.

Jake Knoll scored four touchdowns and rushed for 292 yards for Arlee, which improved to 8-0 on the year and clinched the Western eight-man championship.

After a scoreless first quarter, Knoll ran for a 40-yard touchdown to put the Warriors up 6-0, but Valley Christian tied things up before the half. In the third quarter, Arlee secured a 45-yard touchdown run by Knoll to go up 12-6. But Valley Christian countered with a kickoff return and a 37-yard field goal to pull ahead 17-12 in the fourth quarter.

Knoll put the Warriors ahead again on a 29-yard scoring run, then Jace Arca returned a punt 68 yards to push Arlee ahead of Valley Christian 28-17. A touchdown run by the Eagles made the game tight again at 28-25. With one minute to play, Knoll scored his fourth touchdown of the game on a 35-yard run to cement the victory.

Valley Christian fell to 6-1 on the year.

The win capped off a regular season that saw the Warriors score 378 points while giving up just 107. Now Arlee changes its focus to the postseason, hosting a playoff game either Oct. 27 or 28 against the third seed from the Central Division.

At Washington-Grizzly Stadium

ARLEE 34, VALLEY CHRISTIAN 25

Arlee - 0 - 6 - 6 - 22 – 34

VllyC - 0 - 6 - 8 - 11 – 25

SCORING SUMMARY

A – Jake Knoll 40-yard run (conv fail)

VC – Nic Karvandi 10-yard pass from Stoltsfus (conv fail)

A – Knoll 45-yard run (conv fail)

VC – Brayden McCoy kick return (Stoltsfuls run)

VC – Judah Levy 37-yard FG

A – Knoll 29-yard run (conv)

A – Jace Arca 68-yard punt return (conv)

VC – Daniel Stoltsfus 8-yard run (Stoltsfuls run)

A – Knoll 35-yard run (conv fail)