Pirates end season 9-1
Linda Sappington
Cedrick Smith reaches for a pass in the first quarter of Saturday’s semifinal playoff game against Dillon, hosted by the Polson Pirates.
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
With temperatures staying below freezing, Taylor Pitts heads to the sidelines as Saturday’s contest comes to a close.
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Pirate Will Davey eludes the grasp of a Dillon Beaver defender.
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POLSON — They put it off as long as they could, but the Polson Pirates finally saw an end to their undefeated season on Saturday when the Dillon Beavers came to town. Polson lost the semifinal playoff game 28-7 in an emotionally-charged battle against the defending state A champions.
“I felt our players played a great game,” Pirate head coach Scott Wilson said. “They played with a lot of heart and emotion … Dillon is a quality program with a great coaching staff, and I felt our kids gave it their all during the game.”
The Pirates started out strong with a touchdown from Beau Mills on a 5-yard run, followed by a good extra point kick by Brady Hislop, ending the first quarter with the score 7-0, Polson. Dillon answered with a 5-yard run from Ben Folsom for a touchdown, and Polson senior Eric Williamson was able to block the extra-point kick, holding the score at 7-6. Dillon’s Folsom scored two more touchdowns and passed to Austin Carver for a fourth before the game ended in a 28-7 Beaver victory.
Polson had 39 carries for 72 rushing yards, with Mills contributing 30 carries for 66 yards, to Dillon’s 134 rushing yards (Folsom 19 — 67).
Pirate quarterback Andrew Weltz threw 28 passes for 12 completions and 125 yards with one interception.
Pirate Dillon Kelley caught three passes for 20 yards, and Hislop had two catches for 38 yards.
Polson ended the season with an impressive 9-1 record, just one win away from playing in the state A championship. The Pirates’ stellar season was the product of hard work and dedicated senior leadership, Wilson noted. Polson will say farewell to 14 seniors on the team, leaving some big shoes to fill for the Pirates.
“Our senior class (players) were great leaders and built a formula for success with our younger players,” Wilson said.
The Beavers will take on an undefeated Billings Central team in the state title match Saturday — a rematch from last year’s state championship game, which Dillon won.
Dillon 28, Polson 7
Dillon 0 6 8 14 — 28
Polson 7 0 0 0 — 7
Polson - Beau Mills 5-yard run (Brady Hislop kick)
Dillon - Ben Folsom 5-yard run (kick blocked by Eric Williamson)
Dillon - Folsom 6-yard run (Folsom run)
Dillon - Folsom 5-yard run (Taylor Cashmore kick)
Dillon - Austin Carver 11-yard pass from Folsom (Cashmore kick)
