Sophomore Parker Proulx sets the Pioneer offense Saturday afternoon in a 56-22 first round playoff win over the White Sulphur Spring Hornets. The Pioneers trailed 16-14 in the first but went on to outscore the Hornets 42-6 the final three quarters to advance.
Junior Brock Proulx rumbles for positive yards in the Pioneers playoff win. Proulx finished the game with 46 yards and a touchdown. The Pioneers will be on the road for a quarterfinal game this Saturday against the Wibaux Longhorns.
On the road this Saturday against Wibaux County, top seed out of the East.
The Pioneers didn't get off to the fast start fans have become accustomed to over the past several weeks as they took on the White Sulphur Spring Hornets in the first round of the Montana Class C Six-man football playoffs.
Trailing 16-14 late in the first quarter the Pioneers found another gear outscoring the Hornets 42-6 down the stretch to secure a 56-22 first round playoff win.
Big Sandy sophomore quarterback Brock Proulx found sophomore runningback Kade Strutz for a 14 yard completion on the teams second play from scrimmage and three plays later Strutz found the end zone on a 27 yard run for a quick 6-0 lead.
Things seemed to be moving along as scripted but the Hornets weren't going away with out a fight and showed they had some sting in them.
The Pioneers recovered an onside kick putting the offense back on the field only to see the drive end with an interception deep in Hornet territory. White Sulphur would score on their first play from scrimmage, racing 68 yards to even the score 8-8.
Junior Clint Darlington immediately answered back for the Pioneers, returning the kickoff 50 yards to give the Pioneers the lead 14-8.
The Hornets took the ball on their next possession, methodically marched down the field, scoring on a 10 yard run and taking the lead 16-14 over the home standing Pioneers.
Something clearly woke the Pioneer offense up after that as they took over the contest from their and the defense answered the call as well.
Strutz found the end zone from four yards out and added the conversion kick to give Big Sandy a 22-16 lead.
After forcing a Hornet punt, the Pioneers got a five yard gain from junior Brock Proulx, a six yard pickup from Strutz. After an incompletion and another five yard run, Struts again found the end zone, this time on a 25 yard jaunt to paydirt. Big Sandy now led 30-16 after the conversion kick.
The defense again stood their ground, forcing a turnover on downs.
With the offense rolling it wasn't long before the Pioneers again found the end zone, this time on another four yard run from Strutz to give Big Sandy a 36-16 lead at the break.
The Hornets started the second half with a couple of first downs but eventually the Pioneer defense shut the door and forced a turnover on downs.
Strutz had gains of 10 and 20 yards in a eight play 52 yard drive that culminated with a five yard scoring run from Strutz, his fifth of the day to put the Pioneers on top 44-16.
The Hornets did manage a score late in the third quarter but the Pioneers still had the Hornets doubled up at 44-22.
Strutz added his sixth touchdown of the contest to begin the fourth quarter and Brock Proulx scored from 13 yards out to cap the scoring in a convincing 56-22 first round win for the Pioneers over a talented Hornet team.
The Pioneers were led in the contest by Strutz who carried the ball 26 times for 234 yards and six scores. The sophomore also caught two balls for 22 yards and added a 41 yard punt return to his game resume as well.
Parker Proulx completed 4-11 passes for 47 yards and two scores. Brock Proulx picked up 46 yards and a touchdown on nine carries and helped the defensive effort with seven tackles. Junior Ryan Roth recorded a team high eight tackles and recorded an interception, returning it 27 yards for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers will now turn their attention to the Wibaux Longhorns, the No. 1 Seed out of the West.
The Longhorns have a long and storied football tradition winning several State Titles and collecting multiple runner up finishes in Class C Eight-man Football. 2017 was their first year of Six-man football and the Longhorns reach the quarterfinals before bowing out.
The Pioneers have a storied football tradition as well and when these two teams meet in Wibaux County this Saturday fans of football should be well entertained. Good Luck Pioneers.
W.S.S. 16 0 6 0 - 22
Big Sandy 14 22 8 12 - 56
1st Quarter
Big Sandy: Kade Strutz 27 Yard Rush (TD)
Big Sandy: Kade Strutz (PAT)
WSS: Will Collins 68 Yard Rush (TD)
WSS: Sam Davis (PAT)
Big Sandy: Clint Darlington 50 Yard Kick Return (TD)
WSS: Will Collins 10 yd Rush (TD)
WSS: Sam Davis (PAT)
2nd Quarter
Big Sandy: Kade Strutz 4 Yard Rush (TD) 16-20
Big Sandy: Kade Strutz (PAT) 16-22
Big Sandy: Kade Strutz 25 Yard Rush (TD) 16-28
Big Sandy: Kade Strutz (PAT) 16-30
Big Sandy: Kade Strutz 4 Yard Rush (TD) 16-36
3rd Quarter
Big Sandy: Kade Strutz 5 Yard Rush (TD) 16-42
Big Sandy: Kade Strutz (PAT) 16-44
WSS: Novark 42 Yard Pass from Ogle (TD) 22-44
4th Quarter
Big Sandy: Kade Strutz 2 Yard Rush (TD) 22-50
Big Sandy: Brock Proux 13 Yard Rush (TD) 22-56
Game Stats
WSS Big Sandy
First Downs 15 19
Rushes-Yards 28/258 46/305
Recep-Yards 7/116 4/47
Passing Yards 116 47
Comp-Attempts 7/20 4/11
TD-INT 1/1 0/2
Fumbles-Lost 1/0 0/0
Penalties-Yards 9-91 9-108
3rd Down Conv 1-10 5-14
4th Down Conv 2-7 4-7
Tackles 43.0 33.0
Sacks-Yards 1.0/-6 2.0/-3
Time of Possession 16:05 20:21
Rushing: Kade Strutz 26 -234, Brock Proux 9-46, Brady Pleniger 5 -23, Parker Proux 6-2 0
Passing: Parker Proux 4 -11-47-0-2
Receiving: Kade Strutz 2 -22, Brock Proux 1-18, Clint Darlington 1-7
Defense: Ryan Roth 8 Tackles, 1 Int; Clint Darlington 3 Tackles, Sack, Assist; Parker Proulx 5 Tackles; Brady Pleninger 2 Tackles; Kade Strutz 3 Tackles, Assist, Brock Proulx 7 Tackles; Dillon Geyer 2 Tackles, Sack.
