Blackhawks take down Tigers

SEELEY LAKE – The Blackhawks kicked off their season with a victory over the Darby Tigers Aug. 30.

The Boys in black and gold wasted no time putting points on the board. After stopping the Tiger's opening drive, Caleb Maughan took the ball 49 yards to the 1-yard line where Avery Smith was able to punch through for a touchdown.

The Tigers were not going to go down easy though and fought their way down the field for a touchdown of their own. The Blackhawks answered right back. Dakota Wood returned the kickoff 70 yards setting up a 3-yard touchdown from Owen Mercado.

In the second quarter the Tigers held the Blackhawks out of the end zone and tied the game up at 12-12 heading into the half. It would be the Tiger's last points.

In the third quarter Wood took a pass from Mercado in for a 15-yard touchdown and a second pass for the two-point conversion. Four minutes later the Blackhawks scored another touchdown after Mercado broke free for a 63-yard run. Smith ran in the extra points.

As the game clock wound down the Blackhawks scored one last touchdown with a pass from Mercado to Walker McDonald for 15 yards. Smith stuck the extra points bringing the final score to 34-12.

The Blackhawks had 158 yards in rushing with Mercado leading with 5 carries and 74 yards followed by Maughan with 54 yards, Smith with 17 yards and Wood with 14 yards.

Mercado completed 13 of 16 passes for 163 yards hitting Wood 10 times and McDonald twice.

On the defensive side, the Blackhawks had 5 sacks and recovered 2 turnovers. Smith led with 10.5 tackles followed by 9.5 from Sawyer Shelmerdine and 9 from Wood.

Other notable plays include a pair of punts made my McDonald. Both punts were well placed and proved to be difficult for the Tiger's receiver to handle gaining 50 yards on the first one and 45 on the second.

The Blackhawks travel Sept. 6 to take on Plains, who defeated Charlo 8-0 last week.