The Big Sandy Pioneer football team faced the Valier Panthers in a clash with postseason implications on the line.
The Panthers led the Northern C 6-Man Division while the Pioneers were looking to take over the top spot.
With so much on the line getting off to a fast start would set the tone for the entire contest. Unfortunately it was the Panther special teams that got that start returning the opening kickoff 69 yards for a 6-0 lead just seconds into the contest.
The Panthers found the endzone again later in the opening quarter to extend their advantage to 12-0 over the Pioneers.
Six man football is known for its high scoring games where no lead is safe but Fridays game turned out to be a defensive battle for most of the contest.
Senior Weston Allderdice has been the Pioneers driving all season and was again the go to guy Friday.
With 4:25 remaining in the opening half Allderdice found paydirt from six yards out to get Big Sandy on the scoreboard. After the conversion run the Pioneers had cut the deficit to 12-7.
The defenses held strong during the third quarter keeping both offenses from putting points on the board.
The Panthers however were able to break through in the fourth quarter scoring a late touchdown to secure a hard fought 19-7 win to remain in the drivers seat of the Northern C 6-Man Division.
Allderdice carried the ball 37 times for 154 yards and a touchdown on the day. Freshman Kade Strutz added 28 yards on one carry.
Parker Prouix connected twice with Tanner Allderdice for 55 yards through the air.
Duke Darlington led the Pioneer defense with 9.5 tackles. Prouix and Clint Darlington each intercepted the Panther quarterback
With the loss the Pioneers (3-2, 5-2) fall into a tie for the third place in the division with Power-Dutton-Brady. Valier is first (4-0, 6-0), Geraldine-Highwood is second (4-1, 5-1).
The top four in the Division will advance to the Montana Class C Six-Man Football Playoff which begin, Saturday, October 28.
Big Sandy has steamrolled their opponents in their five wins but their two losses have come to teams ahead of them in the standings and this weekend they face another stiff test when they head out on the road to face Geraldine-Highwood. A win against the Rivals would secure a playoff berth and improve their position heading into the playoffs. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Valier Panthers 19
Big Sandy Pioneers 7
Valier - 12 0 0 7 - 19
Big Sandy - 0 7 0 0 - 7
1st Quarter
Valier - Colten Curry 69 yard kickoff return (pass failed)
Valier - Colten Curry 13 yard pass from Koltin Christiaens (pass failed)
2nd Quarter
Big Sandy - Weston Allderdice 12 yard run (run good)
3rd Quarter
No Scoring
4th Quarter
Valier - Tanner VandenBos 10 yard pass from Koltin Christiaens (Trever VandenBos run)
