There isn’t a whole lot of positives that can be taken from Butte Central’s 52-6 loss to Billings Central in the “Bishop’s Bowl” Saturday night.
Billings Central is regarded as one of — if not the — favorites to win the Class A State title. The Rams, who have been in the last five state title game, wasted little time in showing why they are so highly-touted.
Jacob Stanton scored two first quarter runs before the Rams exploded with 24 second-quarter points on their way to the lopsided win.
Three different Billings Central players — George Smith, Forrest Mawyer and Torry Huppert — ran for touchdowns in the second frame. Luke Daily drilled a 20-yard field goal as the Rams led 38-0 at halftime.
“They’re outstanding, but we’re disappointed,” Butte Central coach Don Peoples Jr. said. “We wanted to compete better. Our kids are young, but it’s time we step up and go to another level and grow up a bit.”
The Maroons had just one yard of total offense in the first half.
With the clock running continuously as part of the Class A’s 35-point rule, the Maroons, though, came to play after halftime.
The Maroons racked up 105 yards of offense in the second half. The team picked up five of its first downs after the break.
“I was pleased that we didn’t quit,” Peoples said. “We came out and competed.”
Kale Guldseh caught four passes for 49 yards in the loss. Wyatt Kingston, Connor McGree, Kaemen Richards and Dalton Sessions also caught passes.
Danny Peoples, BC’s sophomore backup quarterback, came in late and completed 4 of 8 passes for 59 yards. He hooked up with Guldseth for a 16-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Rams (3-0), though, capped the scoring when Bryce Hawbaker busted up the middle of the Billings Central Wing-T for a 33-yard touchdown.
Stanton and Connor Cerkovnik each ran for 57 yards for the Rams, while Huppert ran for 50.
Butte Central (1-2) continues its brutal non-conference slate when the Maroons travel to Laurel for a battle with the Locomotives Friday night.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, and I know our coaches and kids didn’t want that to happen,” Peoples said. “This is going to be something that we turn into a positive. We’re going to work hard this week, and we’re going to get better.
“I know our kids are competitors,” Peoples said. “They’ll work hard and they’ll fight back. ”
Billings Central 14 24 7 7 — 52
Butte Central 0 0 0 6 — 6
First Quarter
Billings — Jacob Stanton 10 run (Luke Daly kick), 3:20
Billings — Stanton 3 run (Daly kick), :17
Second Quarter
Billings — George Smith 5 run (Daly kick), 10:28
Billings — Forrest Mawyer 11 run (Daly kick), 7:04
Billings — Torry Huppert 7 run (Daly kick), 4:37
Billings — Daly 20 FG, :06
Third Quarter
Billings — Huppert 41 run (Daly kick), 6:27
Fourth Quarter
Butte — Kale Guldseth 16 pass from Danny Peoples (kick failed), 4:25
Billings — Bryce Hawbaker 33 run (Daly kick), 1:15
Billings Butte
First downs 12 6
Rushes-yards 31-211 22-3
Passing yards 100 103
Comp-att-int 4-6-0 8-17-3
Total yards 311 106
Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1
Penalties-yards 3-25 1-5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Billings: Jacob Stanton 8-57, Connor Cerkovnik 9-57, Torry Huppert 4-50, Bryce Hawbaker 2-33, George Smith 4-23, Forrest Mawyer 2-10, Alex Fitzgerald 1-3, Kyle Gunderson 1-(-2). Butte: Brady Tippett 11-2, Joe Joyce 7-11, Wyatt Kingston 1-(-5), Danny Peoples 3-(-5).
PASSING — Billings: Jacob Stanton 4-6-0-100. Butte: Brady Tippett 4-9-2-47, Danny Peoples 4-8-1-59.
RECEIVING — Billings: Connor Cerkovnik 2-30, Ian Byorth 1-37, Torry Huppert 1-33. Butte: Kale Guldseth 4-49, Wyatt Kingston 1-17, Connor McGree 1-12, Kaemen Richards 1-9, Dalton Sessions 1-17.
