Wolves Stop Colstrip For Homecoming Victory
The Wolf Point Wolves got stronger as their home opening football game went along against Colstrip on Friday, Sept. 4. The Wolves took a 7-0 half-time lead and then exploded for 26 second-half points for a 33-0 non-conference victory.
“The defense played phenomenal,” Wolf Point Coach Anthony Red Cloud said after the win.
The coach noted that the defense held Colstrip in check despite the Colts having a short field at times in the first half. “We had a couple of goal-line stands,” Red Cloud said.
It was the second half, however, when the Wolves gained total control as a 62-yard pass play when Tanner MacDonald to speedy Kayden Charette occurred on the third quarter’s second play from scrimmage.
“Things opened up in the second half. We trusted each other,” Red Cloud said. “There was a lot that we can build on.”
Wolf Point’s lone touchdown of the first quarter came after a special team miscue by the Colts. On a punt return attempt, Gunner Damboise forced a fumble that was recovered by Jesse Reed at the Colstrip 21. After two runs by Reed put the ball at the 16, Mac-Donald hit Prestyn Klatt on a swing pass that resulted in a touchdown with 1:46 left in the period. Klatt kicked the conversion for a 7-0 advantage.
Colstrip’s offensive attack struggled against strong defensive plays provided by Zandon Calder and Reed. On pass play after pass play, one or both of the defenders made sure that Colstrip’s quarterback Ethan Krebs had little time to connect with his receivers.
The Wolves were unable to add to their lead during the first half as penalties or ball-handling problems stalled possessions.
The Colts had a chance to pull even when Ethan Goodluck recovered a fumble at the Wolf Point 35. Passes from Krebs to Keegan Wildman and Tryton Shindler got Colstrip as deep as the Wolf Point four. After a pair of penalties moved the Colts back, the threat ended on an interception by Klatt to end the first half.
Wolf Point quickly increased its lead early in the third quarter on the 62-yard strike from Mac-Donald to Charette at the 10:53 mark.
Wolf Point’s defensive unit also kept stepping up as Calder forced a fumble and the Wolves took over at the Colstrip 18.
On first down, Reed broke loose for a touchdown to put the margin at 20-0 with 4:04 remaining in the quarter.
Colstrip’s next possession ended when Chris Traeholt made a thirddown tackle.
An exchange of fumbles put the Wolves in great scoring position early in the fourth quarter. After the Wolves lost a fumble, Wolf Point’s Aaryn Hamilton recovered a fumble on the Colstrip three on the first next play. From there, Reed battled his way in for a 27-0 advantage.
The Wolves’ final touchdown was also a thrilling play for the fans as Mac-Donald connected with Charette for a 46-yard pass with 8:06 remaining for a 33-0 margin.
Reed finished the game with 182 rushing yards to lead the Wolves’ attack.
MacDonald passed for 122 yards.
The Wolves will travel to Shelby on Friday.
