TOWNSEND’S PLAYERS SHINE AT NORTH-SOUTH ALL-STAR GAME
 | Author:
Nancy Marks, Reporter
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
TOWNSEND’S PLAYERS SHINE AT NORTH-SOUTH ALL-STAR GAME Nancy Marks Reporter Townsend’s quarterback Ryan Racht threw a touchdown pass and ran for another to lead the South Team to a 14-8 victory last Saturday in the 34th annual Big Sky Class B All-Star football game at Lockwood High School stadium in Billings. The win crowned the class B coaching career of Travis Rau who coached 23 years at Broadwater High School. He will become head coach at Class A Laurel High School.
The Class B squad was trailing 8-0 with about two and half minutes remaining in the first half. A kick return plus a 15-yard interference penalty allowed the South to take over on the North team’s 27-yard line. Four plays later, on 4th down Racht threw a 21-yard scoring pass to Sage Buus of Whitehall with 45 seconds left in the half. Coach Rau gambled for a two-point conversion with a running play that failed, leaving North ahead 8-6 at the half.
The North team suffered a disaster on its first possession of the second half when the South’s Zach Zody of Jefferson High intercepted a pass by North’s quarterback Caleb Utter of Eureka. Six plays later Racht scored on a three-yard run to make the score 12-8 in South’s favor. Again Coach Rau gambled for a two-point conversion. Townsend’s Dawson Sweat successfully ran for the conversion to make the final score 14-8. The scoring drive was sparked by a 38-yard pass play from Racht to Townsend’s Jesus Garcia.
Sweat added two big runs of 11 and 27 yards on the South’s last drive before they punted the ball with two minutes left in the game.
Racht was named offensive most valuable player (MVP) for the South team. The South’s defensive MVP was Guy Lesh of Baker. Utter was named offensive MVP for the North team. North defensive team MVP honors went to Manny Baldi, Bigfork.
The game ended the North’s four-game winning streak. Overall the North leads the series 18-16.
Rau said he was proud of the way the South responded after trailing 8-0 with two:38 left in the first half. “It feels great to have the opportunity to coach these kids and the mental toughness they showed,” Rau said.
He said they planned to throw the ball a lot, but the “elements did not allow it” .
The game was played almost entirely under a heavy downpour.
Article Images
Click on Image Thumbnail(s) to view fullsize image
PhotoCredit: Sheri Heavrin
Image 1 Caption: Left to right- Walker Spurlock, Jesus Garcia, Coach Joe Horne, Dawson Sweat, Ridger Jones, Ryan Racht, Coach Rauh.
