Scotties Are Conference Champs!

The Scotties put on quite a show in Malta Oct. 21. Facing the rival Malta Mustangs on their home turf can be daunting, but the Scotties left it all on the field in an exhilarating win for the title of 2B conference champions.

At times, it was an uphill battle, as Glasgow was assigned 17 penalties during the game, while Malta only received two. The Scotties' stellar moments, however, more than compensated for the less than balanced penalty distribution.

Cade Myrick started things off with a 43-yard reception from Darrin Wersal to light up the Scottie scoreboard. Cache Younkin extended the score to 7-0 with his successful PAT. Less than a minute-and-a half later, Malta's Ostin Welch scored off a 26-yard pass from Keenan Schipman.

While the Mustangs would not score again in the first, Glasgow extended their lead. First, with a short pass from Wersal to Trent Herbert for the touchdown and an additional point by Younkin, followed by a solid 34-yard reception and touchdown by Nolan Viste from Wersal. A failed two-point conversion attempt left the score at 20-7.

It also left the Mustangs hungry for redemption, and they found it in the second quarter, steamrolling over the Scotties' defense and scoring three unanswered touchdowns. At the end of the half, the Scotties were behind 20-27.

In the second half, the Scotties energy seemed to wane and they struggled to make any progress offensively. With less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter, Wersal finally found the end zone with a short five-yard run. Younkin split the goal posts with another successful kick and the game was knotted up at 27-27.

The contest seemed to stall in the fourth quarter, with both teams struggling to make any meaningful progress, until Malta achieved a first down within two yards of the goal line. The Scotties braced themselves to prevent the score and were rewarded with a Mustang fumble. Younkin scooped up the pigskin and never looked back, running a breathtaking 98 yards to the end zone for the high school football play of the week. Younkin capped off his own scoring TD with another successful PAT, bringing the score to 34-27.

With just minutes left in the game, Glasgow fans were becoming confident of a win. Malta's gridiron boys deflated that confidence with less than a second left in the game when Trace Simonson scored off a 31-yard pass from Schipman. A failed attempt at a two-point conversion by the Mustangs clinched the game and the conference title for the Scotties.

Now, while the Mustangs pack for a road trip to Eureka, the Scotties prepare to take on Colstrip at Scottie Field this Saturday, Oct. 29, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.