30 Years Ago

Thursday, October 26, 1989

Hawks are playoff bound

The Broadus Hawks, for the first time in nearly two decades, are headed towards the Montana Class B Football Playoffs!

The Hawks smashed Forsyth last Friday night, 27 to 6, to earn the right to advance into the playoff picture. Broadus (5-3) will now take on Columbus (7-1) at Columbus this Friday evening at 7 p.m.

Should the Hawks win that contest, they will advance to play the winner of the Huntley Project/Whitehall game, the following weekend. If there is any a preference, the Hawks would rather face the Huntley Red Devils, a team they could have, and should have beaten earlier this year in home field action.

But, for the time being, Broadus will begin the playoffs, taking one game at a time.

“I know they (Columbus) are a well-coached team and I know they have good size and good balance. They were ranked second in the state until they got beat by Big Timber,” said Hawk coach Lynn Safranski. “They have an offense where they can run and throw the ball very well so we can’t concentrate on just one aspect of the game.”

To help pave the way for the Hawks entrance into the playoffs, while Broadus beat Forsyth, Baker shut down Shepherd, as was expected, and Huntley Project beat Roundup.

In Friday evening’s action at Forsyth, the Hawks turned in one of their finest offensive and defensive performances of the Centennial Year Season. While senior running back Tary Hanson pounded out an impressive 208 yards on the ground to set the pace on offense, linebackers Bill Isaacs and Ty Robinson dominated on defense. Isaacs had two interceptions, both at opportune times, along with three tackles and three assists. Robinson raised havoc with the Forsyth offense with a quarterback sack, eight tackles and five assists.

Forsyth scored the first touchdown of the game, but then it was all Broadus.

“Our offensive line was a bit sluggish to start with but once they got their momentum going they started playing really well. After the first quarter they pretty much dominated the rest of the game,” said Safranski. “Our defense again played really well, especially in the second, third and fourth quarters. In the first quarter we gave up 82 yards rushing which wasn’t too good. We came out a little flat. I’m not sure why. Once we got through the first quarter though the next three were as good as football as we played all year.”

“We put a lot of pressure on their quarterback and Bill Isaacs’ two interceptions came at opportune times. Bill is as good of a linebacker as there is in the state. He just read the plays and stepped in front of the ball,” said Safranski. “Ty (Robinson) also had a real good game on defense. He didn’t start the year as linebacker. He’s learning more and more every game and is getting better and better each game. He really helps Bill out at linebacker.”

“Now, we just have to get in there and have fun and play football,” the coach continued. “It’s a nice thing for the team and the school. It’s a good experience for both the team and the school to learn what it’s like to be in the playoffs.”

After the first quarter, Broadus opened up in the second period with two scoring drives. Quarterback Shawn Samuelson ran in from the three-yard line with 11:15 to go in the second quarter. Then, several minutes later, Leon Olson found the end zone on a six-yard run. He capped the touchdown with a two-point conversion play to put the Hawks up, 14 to 6. Olson then went into the end zone again with 4:06 left in the third quarter to help put the Doggies further behind, giving his team a 20 to 6 point lead after the conversion failed. With minutes left in the fourth quarter, Hanson broke free and ran 21 yards downfield for the Hawks final score of the contest. Scott Coulter kicked the extra point through the uprights and Broadus was playoff bound.

Samuelson had less than a great afternoon throwing the ball. He put the football into the air eight times for two completions and eighteen yards. Sophomore classmate Brian Viker was the target on both occasions.

Hanson, however, took the pressure off the Hawk offense. Behind solid blocking, the young man made his second 200 plus yard game of the year, picking up 208 yards on 22 carries. And, Leon Olson did his part as well working out of the Hawk backfield. He gained 81 yards on sixteen carries. Junior athlete Bill Hoffman picked up five yards on a single carry.

Isaacs ran back his interceptions for two and sixteen yards, respectively.

On the defensive side of the game, Olson finished between Isaacs and Robinson in points, with 19 total. Showing his exceptional athletic abilities, Olson had five tackles and eight assists for a fine afternoon, working both sides of the field. And young Josh Richards, the Hawks’ outstanding freshman defender, had one sack, two tackles and four assists to his credit. Senior Jamie Reinholz had three tackles and three assists; senior Lee Bloxom had two tackles and four assists; Hanson had four tackles also for a fine showing; senior Travis Traub had one tackle and four assists; senior athlete Brian Malone had two tackles and two assists; young Curran Schaffer, another up and coming freshman, had three solo tackles; Samuelson had two tackles and two assists; Hoffman finished with a blocked pass to his credit; sophomore Bryan Bogner, junior Scott Coulter, freshman Justin Kane and Viker all had solo tackles.