Spartans Fall Just Short In Quarter-final Round Playoff Game

The Scobey Spartans went head to head in a physical battle against Chinook on Saturday, but the Spartans’ effort fell barely short, 34-30, in a quarter-final round playoff game.

Scobey had a slight advantage against the Sugarbeeters during the first half of play. After falling behind 6-0, the Spartans marched into scoring position late in the opening quarter. Quarterback Reese Tande broke away for a 33-yard run to put the ball at the Chinook 10.

On first down at the 10, Kolten Machart raced in for Scobey’s first touchdown with 31 seconds left in the quarter. Quinn Axtman took a pitch-out and ran in the conversion for an 8-6 lead.

The Sugarbeeters responded by driving as inside the Scobey 25. Defensive plays by Aydan Stentoft, Machart and Cam Cromwell forced Chinook into a fourth-and-11 situation, and the threat ended with an incomplete pass in the end zone.

The score remained at 8-6 until Scobey accounted for a 62-yard drive late in the half. A scramble run by Tande resulted in a 26yard gain to the Chinook 36. Axtman then rushed for a short gain that featured a face-masking penalty for a first down at the 29, After picking up a first down at the 22 on an offsides penalty, the Spartans scored when Machart broke a couple of tackles on the way to the end zone. Tande fought his way in for the conversion and a 16-6 lead with 1:47 remaining in the half.

Chinook, however, got the first big break of the second half when Carter Alisch recovered a fumble at the Scobey 19. Strong defensive plays by Scobey’s Torsten Lamb and Teagan Fishell forced the Sugarbeeters into a fourth down at the 16, but quarterback Ryan Bell had the time needed to find Patrick McKenzie in the end zone for a touchdown. McKenzie ran in the conversion to close the margin to 16-14 with 9:26 left in the third quarter.

The Spartans were able to responde when Machart broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown run to put Scobey ahead 22-14 with 6:29 remaining in the period.

Chinook, however, came right back with a score of its own on a 29-yard pass play from Bell to Jameson Nordboe for a 22-20 game.

The Sugarbeeters moved ahead with a 58yard scoring drive. After Chinook gained a first down at the Scobey five, the Spartans kept the Sugarbeeters out of the end zone for the next three plays. On fourth down from the two, Alisch fought his way into the end zone for a 26-22 advantage with 7:35 remaining in the game.

Another long run by Tande put the Spartans into scoring position at the Chinook 16. The junior quarterback then scrambled 14 yards down to the two. On third down from the one, Tande faked a handoff and then ran around the left end for a touchdown with 3:57 remaining. Tande also ran in the two-point conversion for a 30-26 lead.

Tackles by Axtman and Stentoft put Chinook into a fourth-and-two situation at its own 23, but the Sugarbeeters kept possession on a 16-yard rush by Alisch. On second down at the Scobey 33, Chinook went back ahead on a throw from Bell to McKenzie with only 1:07 left. Bell threw to Nordboe for the conversion to put the margin at 34-30.

Fighting against the clock, the Spartans moved to midfield on a roughing the passer call. Short passes to Axtman produced a first down at the 33 with 37 seconds left.

The Spartans, however, soon faced a fourth-andthree, and a running attempt by Tande came up just inches short of the needed yardage with 20 seconds on the clock.

Tande led Scobey’s offensive attack with 134 yards rushing. Machart added 85 yards on the ground.

Chinook’s Bell passed for 148 yards in the contest.