Chiefs break 18-year playoff drought with win at Big Timber
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It’s been a long time coming for the Ronan Chiefs (7-2) to pick up a win in postseason play. That all changed Saturday afternoon, when the 10th-ranked Chiefs registered their first playoff win since 1993 after racking up a total of 545 yards on the ground to defeat Big Timber in the opening round of the playoffs. Ronan’s ground game was so successful that the only had two passing attempts.
Ronan has now set a new school record of 3,155 yards on the season.
“We very nearly had four 100-yard rushers,” head coach Jim Benn said. “Our offensive line blocked exceptionally well and our running backs ran hard, faked well and blocked for each other.”
Ronan’s unity allowed Jake Skelton, Marcus Hungerford, Jack Humphreys and Robbie Gauthier to each collect touchdowns.
Skelton led the rushing attack with 13 carries for 177 yards and one touchdown, while quarterback Gauthier ran the ball 13 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
On defense, Ronan held Big Timber to 122 rushing yards in 43 carries, and only 48 passing yards on two completions.
Hungerford took a kickoff back 80 yards for a score and added a 70-yard run. Gauthier scored on a 60-yard touchdown run. Both of Skelton’s scores came from 30 yards out.
“Defensively, we held them under three yards per rush,” Benn said.
Ronan will travel 622 miles to play Baker (8-1) next Saturday, which could prove to be a grueling Eastern Montana playoff schedule from here on out.
“They have a small quick offensive line and the fastest man in class B in Kodee Varner,” Benn said.
Varner won the State B-100 meter dash with a time of 11.2, and will test the Chiefs’ run defense.
“Baker is disciplined and hardnosed, as always,” Benn said. “They have won four state championships in the 2000s and have numerous state semifinal trips.”
Baker is led by head coach Dave Breirbach, who was a long-time assistant for coach Don Schillinger, who won six state championships and more than 200 games as the head coach in Baker.
SUMMARY
Ronan 47, Big Timber 14
Ronan 20 6 14 7 - 47
Big Timber 0 7 0 7 - 14
R - Jake Skelton 30 run (kick failed)
R - Marcus Hungerford 80 kickoff return (kick failed)
R - Robbie Gauthier 1 run (two-point conversion good)
BT - Dalen Wood 20 pass from Nels Flanagan (Flanagan kick)
R - Hungerford 70 run (kick failed)
R - Gauthier 60 run (Clary run)
R - Skelton 30 run (kick failed)
R - Jack Humphreys 10 run (kick good)
BT -Colten Wheeler 3 run (Flanagan kick)
