Rams Charge Past Mustangs

After a rough start to the season the Loyola Rams found themselves hosting the first round of the 2017 Montana Class B Football playoffs with the Malta Mustangs coming to town with Loyola taking a step closer to returning to the championship game with a 48-6 win over the Mustangs.

The Mustangs played their way into the postseason with a 6-2 record with impressive wins and lopsided losses to Class B powerhouses. Malta ran their way through the season on the legs of a running duo anchored by a strong offensive line. Senior quarterback Trace Simonson headed the running attack by the Mustangs and was aided by the power running of senior tailback Trey Simanton who would lead the team in yards in 2017. The one two punch offensive players also anchored the middle of the defense for Malta who dominated their opponents with a tough four four defense.

Things looked to be in the hands of the Mustangs as they would force a three and out for the Rams on their opening drive to start the game, and then proceeded to pound the ball down the Rams throats on a 72 yard drive that was capped off by a two yard touchdown run by Simonson. Having been stalled out by the Mustangs on their first drive offensive coordinator Troy Waters set Scott Twite up with a successful series of plays putting Rams in the end zone to take a 7-6 lead.

From their it seemed that luck would lie in the hands of Loyola who scored on four of their seven first half possessions that included two one play drives that the Twite brothers connected on. The first was a one play 72 yard screen pass from senior quarterback Scott Twite to his younger brother Jeff Twite who scampered down the sideline untouched, and a 64 yard catch and run for a touchdown by Jeff. The Twite brothers would not be out down in the first half as David Koppang scored two touchdowns off passes from Scott, and a Basil Coutinho interception he returned for a touchdown.

Malta would get the second half kickoff down 28-6 in need of a quick score to get themselves back into the game. The Mustangs moved the ball with ease on their second half opening drive on the legs of their star player Trace Simonson, but lady luck remained on the side of the Rams when freshman safety Austin Ogilvie picked off Simonson,the third turnopver on the day to halt the drive deep in Ram territory.

Loyola’s defense prevailed in the second half as it did in the first, only allowing the Mustangs to score on their opening drive of the game. The Rams went on to score off the turnover which put the mercy rule in play and kept the clock running for the rest of the game. The Rams added their final touchdown on the following drive to seal the win.

Loyola will have a road trip next week as they head East to play the Colstrip Colts in Colstrip. The Colts earned their quarter final bid off of a 27-13 win over the Townsend Bulldogs.