Prep Football Game Preview 9/19

For the second week in a row the Hellgate Knights have landed on the MPSN Prep Football Game of the Week Preview, and for good reason because this Friday night under the lights at MCPS Stadium Hellgate could find themselves with a check in the win column as they take on the CMR Rustlers.

Every season there is a roller coaster ride that most teams take on the football field and for the CMR Rustlers they are banking on they are at the bottom of the hill and working their way back up. After four weeks of play CMR is one of three teams with a 1-3 overall record, putting the Rustlers in the 11th spot in the Montana AA Prep Football rankings. CMR picked up their first win of the season with a 9-0 victory over the Glacier Wolfpack in week two, since then they the Rustlers have fallen to Big Sky 24-14, and last week to the Senior Broncs 35-14. Outside of the first two weeks of play where they were held to 15 points combined, the Rustlers have been able to score twice in each game.

Growth has been key to the rebirth of the Hellgate Knight football, gaining numbers to beef up not only their current team, and also to build their future. Since the Knights have returned to Class AA varsity football Hellgate has been searching for a win and this week could be the week for it to happen. Scoring has not been an issue as the Knights have been able to get on the board in the first half, but rather longevity due to players having to play both ways since they have low numbers causing the Knights to slow down in the second half. Last week in a crosstown game against the Big Sky Eagles the Knights where able to move the ball around and put up the highest number of points this fall, only to come up short and lost 35-27 to their crosstown nemesis.

The Skinny

One of the biggest games of the year for these two teams will be played at MCPS Stadium between a pair of teams who are in the bottom third of Class AA football. Hellgate will need to ride the offensive wave from last weeks game where they were able to put 27 points, the true test for the Knights will be on the defensive side of the ball. CMR has legs on the outside and a quarterback that is capable of getting the ball out of the pocket, the question will be whether the boys on the front line will be able to hold off the Knights front seven. The story line for this game reads defense, who’s going to have the stamina to keep the pressure on the other side.