It wasn't a walkover, that's for sure.
Flathead outgained Missoula Sentinel on the night, but the Spartans capitalized more in a 49-30 victory in the regular season finale for both teams.
The Braves finish the season 3-6 overall and 1-6 in Western AA games.
A night to honor Flathead's seniors saw multiple find their way into the end zone, including a rushing touchdown for offensive lineman Kohen Rilley.
"Those guys have been three-year starters and they have done all the tough, gritty stuff all of the years. It was time for them to get the rock and I wanted to get them in the end zone," Braves coach Mac Roche said.
Rilley and fellow lineman Hudson Capser both ran in 2-point conversions for the Braves as well.
Sentinel (6-3 overall, 5-2 in Western AA games) started on the right foot early, forcing an early 3-and-out from the Braves before Tucker Laslovich found Jayce Eby for a 23-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.
After a fumbled snap quickly gave the ball back over to the Spartans, Laslovich doubled the advantage with a 6-yard run midway through the first.
"We had the turnover early with operational errors, but I am really proud of the way that our kids competed," Roche said. "They kept fighting and they didn't stop."
Flathead answered back with Leum Saisbury breaking off a 19-yard touchdown run on the next Braves possession, capping off an 80-yard drive.
Flathead appeared to have a stop on the next Spartans drive, but a roughing the punter call extended the drive and Kaden Thennis made the Braves pay. He took a handoff 41 yards to restore Sentinel's 14-point lead.
Just before the half, Laslovich kept a read option on 4th-and-1 and went 44 yards to extend Sentinel's lead to 28-7.
Out of the break the Spartans continued the offensive show as Cole Laslovich found Eby for another score from 22 yards out.
Flathead wasn't going away easy though.
Bear Barker hit it big to Ben Reichner on the Braves next drive for a 58-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-14.
Cooper Tschan answered back quick after Sentinel returned the ensuing kick back to the Braves 4-yard line to extend the lead back to 42-14.
Rilley then capped off a 66-yard Flathead drive with a 4-yard run and Capser added the 2-point conversion to make it 42-22.
Tucker Laslovich added one last touchdown scamper for the Spartans, his third of the day, at the 9:47 mark of the fourth.
The Braves had one last big hitter in the final minute as Leum Saisbury tossed a 36-yard rainbow to Dillon Wink for a touchdown. Rilley added the 2-pointer to make it 49-30.
"Dillon Wink on both sides of the ball; there may not be a tougher kid," Roche said. "He plays all three phases and he is getting contact on every single play and he is going to lay people out."
Missoula Sentinel is off next week with a bye as the No. 2 seed in the Western AA standings.
Sentinel 14 14 14 7 - 49
Flathead 7 0 15 8 - 30
S — Jayce Eby 23 pass from Tucker Laslovich (Blaise Olsen kick), 8:05 1Q
S — T Laslovich 6 run (Olsen kick), 4:53 1Q
F — Leum Saisbury 19 run (Kellen Mouat kick), 1:26 1Q
S — Kaden Thennis 41 run (Olsen kick), 10:09 2Q
S — T Laslovich 44 run (Olsen kick), :59 2Q
S — Eby 22 pass from Cole Laslovich (Olsen kick), 10:01 3Q
F — Ben Reichner 58 pass from Bear Barker (Brett Chivers kick), 7:53 3Q
S — Cooper Tschan 1 run (Olsen kick), 6:58 3Q
F — Kohen Rilley 4 run (2-point run good), 4:02 3Q
S — T Laslovich 5 run (Olsen kick), 9:47 4Q
F — Dillon Wink 36 pass from Saisbury (2-point run good), :24 4Q
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: Missoula Sentinel (37-254) — Tucker Laslovich 12-127, Kaden Thennis 12-97, Jude Leder 10-27, Cooper Tschan 3-3. Flathead (32-174) — Leum Saisbury 20-123, Brett Chivers 6-28, Bear Barker 3-17, Dillon Wink 1-5, Kohen Rilley 1-4, Ben Reichner 1-minus 3.
PASSING: Missoula Sentinel — Tucker Laslovich 11-12-0 for 109 yards, Cole Laslovich 2-3-0 for 32 yards. Flathead — Bear Barker 12-16-0 for 151 yards, Leum Saisbury 6-10-1 for 99 yards.
RECEIVING: Missoula Sentinel — Jayce Eby 8-117, Kaden Thennis 3-11, Cooper Decker 1-9, Max Holden 1-4. Flathead — Dillon Wink 4-61, Ben Reichner 3-95, Robbie Wells 3-33, Leum Saisbury 3-27, Liam Rech 3-19, Kellen Mouat 1-13. Hudson Capser 1-2.
Flathead quarterback Bear Barker (6) drops back to pass in the first quarter against Missoula Sentinel at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead defenders tackle Missoula Sentinel wide receiver Jayce Eby (1) after a reception in the second quarter at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead offensive lineman Kohen Rilley (55) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown run in the third quarter against Missoula Sentinel at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead wide receiver Dillon Wink (18) picks up yardage after a reception in the third quarter against Missoula Sentinel at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead offensive lineman Hudson Capser (54) picks up yardage on a trick play in the second quarter against Missoula Sentinel at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead running back Leum Saisbury (2) picks up yardage on a run in the first quarter against Missoula Sentinel at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead offensive lineman Kohen Rilley (55) celebrates with wide receiver Kellan Manning (20) after a touchdown run in the third quarter against Missoula Sentinel at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead defenders stop a run by Missoula Sentinel running back Kaden Thennis (6) in the third quarter at Legends Stadium on Friday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider