Titans crush Big Horns, clinch second in Southern Division

PHILIPSBURG – It was a big game against the Big Horns and the Titans, well … they showed up big.

Running back Austin Knoeller and quarterback Michael Goettle led the way on offense as the Flint Creek Titans defeated the Lone Peak Big Horns 58-6.

The win leaves the locals with an 8-1 record at the end of the regular season and in second place in the MHSA’s 8-Man Football South. After the weekend’s play it was determined that the Titans will host the Circle Wildcats, the 7-2 No. 3 seed out of the East. The game will be played Saturday, November 2 at Drummond Schools with a 1 p.m. kickoff.

Lone Peak’s loss leaves them a half-game behind Sheridan and in fifth place, out of the postseason.

Flint Creek kicked off to start the game and quickly made it clear that defense would rule the day. On a Lone Peak pass play, Matthew Tompkins ran an out pattern that put him in proximity to Titan defender Wyatt Daniels. As Big Horn QB William Helms zeroed in on his receiver, Daniels read the play to perfection.

The resulting hit hushed the modest crowd as the ball fell to the ground. Tompkins was fine, but the message had been sent by Daniels Flint Creek, “Not in our house.”

“They threw an out,” said Daniels of the blow. “I look for that every play. He ran right to me and I probably could have picked it off, but … I just wanted to hit him.”

Daniels finished the night with a team-best nine tackles, one for loss, and an interception.

The Titans wasted no time in getting on the board when they took possession, working the ball to the Lone Peak 36 before Goettle rushed around the left side and in for a touchdown. Hauptman added the first of his four conversions on the night (three on the ground), and Flint Creek led 8-0.

The Big Horns responded with a score of their own, a 12-yard pass from Helms to Ebe Grabow that closed the gap to 8-6. That proved to be as close as the visitors would get the entire night.

The Titan line and the rushing game then took center stage as Knoeller pounded in the next two scores, one to close out the first period and one to open the second. The junior running back finished the night with 132 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries.

Goettle got Flint Creek two more scores before halftime, one of a 19-yard pass to Logan Fluharty and the second on a 35-yard run. The pass to Fluharty was perfectly placed as he had a defender draped on him whom he battled into the end zone.

“Jake’s a main part of this team and I’m just trying to do my best,” said Goettle, who has played the last two games in place of starting QB Jake Dauenhauer who has and injured wrist. “We’ve got good leaders on this team and they’re easy to follow.

“It was a shock, but you’ve got the varsity line and everyone makes you look good. It was easy because they all know their jobs.”

Dauenhauer’s cast comes off Monday and he should be ready to return for Saturday’s playoff opener.

The Titans added three more scores after intermission, including short TD runs from Tony Barkell and Lucas Shoutis.

Defensively Knoeller and Kadin Graveley each had eight tackles, with the latter and Fluharty each getting interceptions. Eric Pitcher, Boston Bradshaw, Collin O’Kelly and Gus Smith each had QB sacks.

NOTEBOOK – Flint Creek qualifies for the postseason for the 11th time, every season that they have been in existence. … Granite County has had a football team in the postseason every year since 2009. … The Titans are now 4-0 versus Lone Peak, including wins in each of the last three seasons. … The 58 points against the Big Horns is the second most Flint Creek has ever scored against them. The Titans shut out Lone Peak 64-0 in the 2017 postseason. … Flint Creek was 4-for-8 on touchdown conversions against Lone Peak, bringing their season total to 35-for-60 (58.3%). … With his 82 yards rushing in the game, senior Logan Hauptman has now climbed into third place on the all-time list for Flint Creek. He has 2,960 career yards, slipping by Colby Manley at 2,900. He trails second place Tyler Burden (3,451 yds) by 491 yards. Kade Cutler sits atop the list at 3,746. … Looking ahead to Flint Creek’s playoff opener against the Circle Wildcats, the Titans have only faced them once in their 11 seasons of existence. Circle played Flint Creek in Drummond in 2017 and lost to the Titans, 46-14.

SCORING

Lone Peak – 6/0/0/0 – 6

Flint Creek – 16/22/12/8 – 58

FIRST QUARTER

9:15 FC Goettle 36-yard run TD. Hauptman run.

2:28 LP Helms 12-yard pass to Grabow TD. Pass failed.

1:41 FC Knoeller 26-yard run TD. Hauptman run.

SECOND QUARTER

6:44 FC Knoeller 4-yard run TD. Hauptman pas to Pitcher.

6:18 FC Goettle 19-yard pass to Fluharty TD. Pass failed.

0:56 FC Goettle 35-yard run TD. Hauptman run.

THIRD QUARTER