Top-ranked Billings Central edges Belgrade, 7-6

 By Dan Chesnet • Sports editor

BILLINGS — This time there would be no last minute rally.

For a dozen seconds late in the third quarter it looked as if Matt Thibault and Belgrade’s special teams might have saved the day again. But the senior’s ninth kick off return for a touchdown was called back on a holding penalty, and with it came an end to the Panthers’ magical postseason run.

Thanks a 71-yard touchdown scamper by Cole Cattelan with 1:02 remaining in the third quarter, Billings Central rallied to beat Belgrade 7-6 in the State Class A semifinals at Wendy’s Field at Daylis Stadium Saturday. The top-ranked Rams earned a berth in their third straight championship game where they’ll battle No. 2 Frenchtown, which routed Butte Central, 43-0, in the other semifinal game.

“I’m very pleased about the performance of my kids and the effort that they gave,” said third-year Belgrade coach Eric Kinnaman. “We just came out on the wrong end.”

Belgrade nearly came out on the right end following Cattelan’s long touchdown run. On the ensuing kick off, the Rams booted the ball out of bounds and Kinnaman opted to have Central re-kick.

The second attempt wound up in the hands of Thibault, who after a couple of quick moves, dashed to the east end zone for what appeared to be a 72-yard touchdown. Thibault had returned two kicks, including the game-winner with just 2:17 remaining, in Belgrade’s 18-16 victory over Polson in the previous week’s quarterfinals. But this time the run back was negated by a holding call, much to the relief of seventh-year Central coach Jim Stanton.

“You don’t want to get the ball in his hands for sure. He got an opportunity. We had it covered,” said Stanton. “It was one of those things were we got the penalty, and that was the difference.”

In actuality, the difference was a missed extra point by the Panthers. Belgrade had taken a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter when tailback Ryan Guenther broke loose for a 48-yard score.

But Kyle Hunter’s PAT kick was low and blocked by Cattelan, leaving it a 6-0 game with 10:30 left in the first half. The missed kick eventually came back to haunt the Panthers.

“It is a disappointing,” said Kinnaman. “We have special teams win it for us all year long and we just had a special teams mishap with the low kick. It didn’t necessarily cost us the game. It looks like it on the scoreboard, but it’s one of those things you look back and go ‘man, if could have just made that field goal or that extra point, we’d have been all right.’”

Belgrade (7-5), led by its defense, certainly had its chances in the first half. The Panthers forced three first quarter turnovers, including interceptions by Thibault and linebacker Justin Ricker.

The biggest turnover came after the Rams had marched to the Belgrade 10 with midway through the first quarter. But on second-and-goal from the 10, running back Kevin O’Brien fumbled and the Panthers’ Michael Lingo recovered at the 11.

“Give credit to Belgrade. They came out and played real hard,” said Stanton. “They’re aggressive and we caught them in a few things. But they came ready to play. And it came down to just a couple plays and we were fortunate enough to make them.”

Belgrade’s lone score was set up by the defense when Cole Moller was sacked by Garrett Long for a 15-yard loss at the Central 23. Joe Warren shanked the fourth down punt, which covered just 25 yards, then Guenther scored on the first play from scrimmage.

Outside of that, the first half was a battle of field position with the two teams combining for 10 punts, five first downs and four turnovers. It was just kind of defensive battle that both coaches expected.

“This time of year defenses are playing hard and playing like it’s their last game. And they certainly did today, both defenses played real hard,” said Stanton.

With Belgrade’s defense holding its ground on Central’s first two possessions of the second half, it was starting to look like Guenther’s TD run might hold up. But after the Rams forced a punt late in the third quarter, Cattelan took the ball on a keeper, slipped through the interior of Belgrade’s defense, then raced down the left sideline for a 71-yard score.

“We let one big play get away from us, the 71-yard touchdown run. And that got us,” said Kinnaman. “Billings Central had one big play and that’s the play that beat us.”

Cattelan finished the game with 124 yards rushing on 23 carries. He was also 2-of-7 through the air for 44 yards, sacked four times, and threw the two interceptions.

Cattelan’s big day was nearly for naught when Thibault returned the ensuing kick off for a touchdown. But the Panthers’ elation turned to despair when they were flagged for holding.

“It is what it is. I’m sure it was a holding or a block in the back or whatever it was. The refs today, they did a great job,” said Kinnaman. “I was very impressed with the crew that they had out there. It was just one of those things where you get all excited, then dang it. It comes back and you’ve got to replay it.”

Belgrade was unable to move ball past midfield in fourth quarter, and two of its drives ended with punts and another by a fumble. Still, the Panthers had one last chance with 1.5 seconds remaining at their own 43. But backup quarterback Talon Taylor’s Hail Mary pass was picked off by none other than Cattelan to end the game.

Despite their struggles late in the contest, Kinnaman was happy with how the offense performed. Belgrade finished with 142 total yards and five first downs, led by Guenther’s 84 yards rushing.

“Our offense played pretty darn well. Again, we controlled the ball. We did almost just enough to get the job done,” said Kinnaman. “We got first downs. We flipped field position.”

Central (11-0) did most of its damage on the ground, rushing for 191 of its 235 total yards. O’Brien finished with 56 yards on eight carries, while fullback Max Tolstedt had 34 yards on 10 attempts.



Billings Central 7, Belgrade 6

Belgrade 0 6 0 0 - 6

Central 0 0 7 0 - 7

Second quarter

Bel - Ryan Guenther 48 run (kick failed), 10:30

Third quarter

BC - Cole Cattelan 71 run (Kaleb Suek kick), 1:02