Early Exit: Miles City edges Polson in defensive battle
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POLSON – In the playoffs, every point a team can scratch up is worth its weight in gold. That proved to be true Saturday for the fourth-ranked Polson Pirate football team, as a failed extra point kick after Vince DiGiallonardo’s 5-yard touchdown early in the first quarter made all the difference. No. 5 Miles City quickly responded when Robert Naleweja ran back the following kickoff 80 yards. The Cowboys followed with a successful extra point attempt, and they rode out a one-point lead for the remaining three quarters during a battle of two powerhouse defenses.
“We played a great defensive game,” Pirate head coach Scott Wilson said. “The players left it all out on the field.”
The defending State A champion Cowboys improved to 9-2 and will play Billings Central in the Semifinal game next Saturday.
DiGiallonardo led the Pirate offense with 26 carries for 74 yards and completed six of 19 passes for 67 yards.
The Pirates nearly pulled out a last-minute score when they were on their own 43-yard line with 1:48 remaining in the fourth quarter. DiGiallonardo launched a pass to Will Davey at the 15-yard line, which fell incomplete, but a flag was thrown on the play. The referee called defensive passing interference, moving the ball up to the 35-yard line with 1:36 remaining and a fresh set of downs.
Following an incomplete pass, DiGiallonardo hooked up with Davey as he made it down to the 17-yard line with 56 seconds left.
The Pirates secured another first down after DiGiallonardo completed a pass to Justin Hoel.
As the Pirates neared the end zone, their last-minute effort to pull out a win failed as DiGiallonardo threw an interception with just 25 seconds remaining.
The Pirates’ season came to a halt after they crushed all of their regular season opponents to earn a perfect 8-0 record before meeting Miles City.
Paul McClurg was yet again a force on offense, amassing 55 yards on eight carries, while Chris Cote finished the game with five carries for 15 yards.
On defense, Polson held the Cowboys to 103 yards rushing and only 46 yards in the air. Polson collected 144 yards on the ground and 67 yards passing. “These young men were a great bunch to coach,” Wilson said. “We had a great year.”
SUMMARY
Miles City 6, Polson 7
Miles City 7 0 0 0 - 7
Polson 6 0 0 0 - 6
P - Vince DiGiallonardo 6 run (kick failed)
MC - Robert Naleweja 80 kickoff return (Andrew Abel kick)
