Big Horns bring the thunder, Titans claim the win

BIG SKY – Thunder and lightning struck all over the place in Big Sky this weekend, and only some of it was due to the weather.

The Flint Creek Titans rallied on Monday to win a game start Friday night 64-32 over the Lone Peak Big Horns in Big Sky. The win elevates the Titans to 2-1 on the year while Lone Peak falls to 1-2.

Friday’s game started under inclement weather, with skies gray and storms broiling around the field. The Big Horns took the ball and were at their own 22 when on fourth and long, the snapped sent the ball over the kicker’s head. Rather than give the Titans six points, he booted it out of the end zone for a safety and a 2-0 lead.

But little did the punter know that on the ensuing free kick, Kadin Graveley would pick it up and return it 62 yards for a score just 11 seconds later. Logan Hauptman added the point after run and Flint Creek was sailing to a 10-0 advantage.

As has been the case this year, Titan opponents have found some success with the long ball and Lone Peak did just that. On their next possession quarterback Aidan Germain unloaded a 50-yard bomb to receiver Ebe Grabow for six points, cutting the lead to 10-6.

And so the shootout began.

The two squads traded scores once more before the first lightning warning halted play. Graveley and Hauptman each added TD runs for Flint Creek, while Germain hit Bryce Houghteling with a 34-yard scoring pass. The score stood 32-12 with the Titans ahead as play stopped for an hour and 15 minutes.

When play resumed at 9 p.m., Flint Creek got back on the board with Hauoptman’s second scoring run of two yards and a 32-12 lead.

But the Big Horns pushed back using a 65-yard Germain TD throw to Grabow to make it 32-18. And with 6:06 to play in the second period, a second lightning warning halted play altogether. Administrators from the two schools met and, since each felt they had a chance to win, the continuation of the game was slated for Monday afternoon at 5:30 p.m.

When play resumed, Germain was back at it in the air, hitting Grabow with another TD pass of 34 yards and narrowing the margin to 32-24

That was as close as the Big Horns would ever get.

After halftime the Titans outscored the Big Horns 32-8, using a ground assault that included four rushing touchdowns and a few interceptions.

“The split game is tough,” said Flint Creek Head Coach Jason Ostler, but the kids came out, made good adjustments and played well.”

The Titans will return to Philipsburg Friday to face the Eagles of Manhattan Christian in their Homecoming game for 2023.

SCORING

Flint Creek – 24/8/12/20 – 64

Lone Peak – 12/12/0/8 - 32

FIRST QUARTER

10:18 FC Safety

10:07 FC Graveley 62 yard kick return TD. Hauptman run.

9:13 LP Germain50 yard pass to Grabow TD. Run failed.

7:18 FC Graveley 1 yard run TD. Run failed.

3:48 FC Hauptman 27 yard run TD. Graveley run.

2:34 LP Germain 34 yard pass to Houghteling TD. Pass failed.

SECOND QUARTER

9:24 FC Hauptman 2 yard run TD. Graveley run.

9:13 LP Germain 65 yard pass to Grabow TD. Run failed.

0:04 LP Germain 37 yard pass to Grabow TD. Run failed.

THIRD QUARTER

7:31 FC Graveley 40 yard run TD. Run failed.

1:48 FC Knoeller 20 yard run TD. Run failed.

FOURTH QUARTER

8:46 FC Graveley 1 yard run TD. Pass failed.

7:30 LP Houghterling 3 yard run TD. Germain to Perdue pass.

2:43 FC Hauptman 7 yard run TD. Pass failed.

0:23 FC Dauenhauer 23 yard pass to Pitcher TD. Dauenhauer run.

NOTES – Flint Creek remains unbeaten against Lone Peak in three meetings dating back to the 2017 postseason. The Titans are 2-0 against the Big Horns in divisional play. … Friday’s game was the first-ever Flint Creek game postponed by weather, and the first game ever continued on another day, Needless to say, they are 1-0 in such games. … 64 points in the highest point total by the Titans since Week 2 of 2022 when they defeated Powell County in Deer Lodge, 64-8. … Flint Creek has only had a sub-.500 record once in its 10 seasons, that coming in 2016 when they dropped to 1-2. They won the next two games and never dropped below .500 again. They finished that season 5-4. The Titans are now 36-11 on the road since their inception in 2014. … In playing the game in two pieces, Flint Creek drove approximately 752 miles over the two days. It is still less than a road trip to Fairview and back (928 miles) which the Titans made in 2021.