Chiefs prevail in Baker
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BAKER - It can be easy to get distracted when playing on the road during the playoffs. Leaving days before a game, staying in a hotel and fatigue can all play a factor in determining the outcome of a closely contested game. In the past two weeks, the Ronan Chiefs have racked up more than 1,800 miles traveling to Big Timber and Baker, but the team is thriving despite the pressures of the road.
The 10th-ranked Chiefs advanced to the Class B Semifinals with their second straight road win Saturday, a come-from-behind 14-9 victory over No. 5 Baker.
The Chiefs got off to a rough start as Baker opened up the game with a clock-chewing drive, but the Chiefs were able to make the Spartans settle for a field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, Baker was able to recover the onside kick, leaving the Chiefs a little deflated early on.
“We only had the ball for three plays in the first quarter and eight in the first half,” head coach Jim Benn said.
Jake Skelton gave his team some momentum right before halftime when he returned a fumble 45 yards for Ronan’s first score of the game to bring the Chiefs to a halftime score of 9-7.
During the second half, Ronan began to move the ball down the field with more success, but the Chiefs’ drives stalled out several times.
In the fourth quarter, Ronan was in a second and short, and Baker called a timeout, which gave the Chiefs an opportunity to give Benn a heads-up, which resulted in a 40-yard touchdown pass from Robbie Gauthier to Marcus Hungerford.
“The kids told me in the huddle that they thought our ‘boot’ pass would work,” Benn said. “Robbie’s pass hung up in the wind a little bit, and Marcus was able to go and pull the ball out of the air for the touchdown.”
Ronan’s defense played a key role in the victory, as they held Baker to a three-and-out and the Chiefs were able to burn four additional minutes off the clock with an offensive drive.
Baker got the ball back with two minutes remaining in the game, but the Chiefs were able to hold them to a four-and-out to close the game.
Skelton led the Ronan offense with 21 carries for 82 yards, while Chris Clary ran the ball nine times for 37 yards. In the air, Hungerford caught a pair of passes for 48 yards and a touchdowns. Gauthier completed four of six passes for a total of 59 yards. On the ground, the Chiefs totaled 169 yards.
On defense, Ronan held Baker to 110 rushing yards and only 15 passing yards.
With the win, the Chiefs have made it to the Semifinals for the first time since 1990, and they will be jumping back on the bus, traveling 425 miles to Malta this weekend.
“They have a huge powerful offensive line and an excellent tailback in Jade Olsen,” Benn said. “Like Baker, they are disciplined and hardnosed.”
Malta has played in three State Championships in the 2000s and has numerous State Semifinal trips. Malta coach Scott King has won more than 200 games as head coach and is only the second coach in a 50-year time span in Malta.
SUMMARY
Ronan 14, Baker 9
Ronan 0 7 0 7 - 14
Baker 3 6 0 0 - 9
Baker - FG Jordan Gray 24 Baker - Kodee Barnar 3 run (PAT failed)
Ronan - Jake Skelton 45 fumble return (Leo Michelin kick)
Ronan - Marcus Hungerford 40 pass from Robbie Gauthier (Michelin kick) 쇓
