Rams Hold Off Red Devils For Opening Night Win

Missoula Loyola hopped on the bus Friday night and headed east to play Huntley Project in Bozeman at Bobcat Stadium and the Rams sent the Red Devils home with a 33-25 loss.

Last season the two teams met at Bobcat Stadium and Huntley Project was the victorious team, and Loyola looked to turn the table and be dominate team. Both teams punted on their opening possession, and then the Rams found their groove on their second possession driving the field 61 yards to come away with a touchdown off a Nick Mitzel to Cooper Waters connection. Loyola marched down the field on their third possession and found the end zone off a pass to Waters for his second touchdown of the game.

With 4:09 left in the first half Huntley Project’s run game found its feet and Asher Croy began to wear down the Ram front seven and chewed off a couple of big runs. Croy put the Red Devils on his back and ran down the field and Huntley project went on the board off Croy running in off a first and goal, and the Rams would hold a 14-7 lead at the half.

Coming out in the third quarter Loyola had a seven point lead and the ball and Waters decided he would give the Rams another six points as he returned the third quarter kick off 85 yards for a touchdown. The Rams got the ball back off a three and out by the Red Devils and this time it was Basil Countinho who found the end zone, his first of two on the night.

Huntley Project was down but not out and Coach Croy went to work off his half time adjustments and the Red Devil offense started to gain ground in the run game. The Red Devils picked up points on back to back possessions and suddenly what looked like complete Loyola domination, Huntley Project was back in it.With a high scoring third quarter in the rear view mirror coach Hughs settled his boys in and the Rams would hold off a surge by the Red Devils to begin the fourth quarter.

The Rams were firing on the offensive side of the ball with five touchdowns between Waters and Countinho, and the defense flexing and not breaking to hold off Huntley Project advances, it was now time for the special teams to step up. Huntley Project faced a fourth and long with 4:22 left in the game deep in Ram territory and the Loyola special teams squad rung the bell with a blocked punt to dose any type of Red Devils come back and seal the game for the Rams.

Loyola will enjoy the win and look forward to a game in Whitehall next Friday night.