Remember When?

40 YEARS AGO • NOVEMBER 1, 1979

CINDERELLA HAWKS HEAD FOR ROUDUP

The Cinderella football team of western Montana may still be looking at the clock, but it still hasn't struck midnight, their Bluebird coach hasn't turned into a pumpkin and the role of the big bad witch is handed to the Roundup Panthers this week as the Blue Hawks continue their waltz to the state class B championship.

It was defense again Friday night that dominated play for Coach Doug Walsh's Blue Hawks in their first round playoff battle with the Plentywood Wildcats. The Hawks won 14-12 and dominated the game. The Wildcats did score one surprise touchdown early in the game before the Hawks were able to settle down after their 672-mile bus ride to the northeastern corner of the state.

Plentywood struck the second time it got its hands on the ball when Brent Smith rambled 48 yards around right end to the Blue Hawk eight-yard line. Two plays later sophomore quarterback Kraig Paulson ran an option in for a TD.

Towards the end of the first period, the Hawks got one of their familiar sustained drives untracked with Larry Milner pushing over from three yards out. Mike Fisher then ran in the two-point conversion to give Thompson Falls an 8-6 lead they never relinquished.

On the third play after the ensuing kickoff, Fisher intercepted a Paulson pass at the Plentywood 24. Two plays later Gary Hagerman broke open for 15 yards and Milner followed with another three-yard TD. That gave the Hawks a 14-6 edge.

While the first half belonged to the offense, the second half was clearly dominated by defense and the game unveiled two new defensive stars for Coach Walsh. The stars are the "Sack Twins," Nelson Butler and Todd Hanson.

The Hawk defense sacked the wildcat quarterback six times with the twins – Hanson and Butler – each chalking up two sacks.

Hanson and Butler drew praise from Coach Walsh for their defensive work. Walsh also cited Gary Hagerman and Fisher for their "good defensive work" in the backfield.

The size of the Wildcat defensive line gave the Hawk offensive line trouble and as a result a defensive battle developed. The Hawks gained 258 yards rushing compared to 52 for Plentywood. All of the Hawk gains were on the ground. The Wildcats completed 71 yards by passes to gain a total of 123 yards, less than half that chalked up the smaller Hawks.

Milner carried the ball 16 times for 100 yards, Hagerman got 15 chances and gained 83 yards, Fisher 13 for 63 and Todd Wakefield one for two yards.

The Hawks made 11 first downs, all by rushing, while the Wildcats chalked up 7, two by rushing, three by passing and two on penalties.

The Hawks attempted only two passes, both by Fisher. Thompson Falls received eight penalties costing 90 yards. Plentywood was penalized five times for 35 yards.

The Hawks missed a third touchdown chance in the fourth period when they moved the ball to the Wildcat 20 before losing it on downs. That drive, which was started on the Hawk five, ate up more than nine minutes as Plentywood's chances narrowed.

When the Wildcats finally got the ball late in the fourth period they began a drive from their own 20, mostly filling the air with passes. The drive was stopped cold, however, when Hagerman intercepted a pass with less than 50 seconds remaining in the game. The Hawks took a five-yard penalty for delaying the game, and then after the clock started again, stood around waiting for the time to run out. Plentywood had used up all of its time outs and could no longer stop the clock.

After the game, a disappointed Wildcat cheerleader was seen carrying an uncut victory cake from the gym. No one in Plentywood was in the mood for victory cake after a 14-12 loss to the Blue Hawks. The battle was clean and Plentywood officials and fans were excellent hosts.

Walsh expressed thanks in behalf of the coaches and players for the rousing reception given the Hawks when they returned to Thompson Falls around midnight Saturday.

They were met by fans and parents at Lodge Motel where a large banner, "Welcome Home" was strung across Highway 200 for the bus to run through.

In the high school commons, refreshments of cookies, cakes and soft drinks were provided the squad.

"Such a show of community spirit and support is tremendous and really impresses our squad," commented Walsh.

A note from Sports Editor John Hamilton: The Hawks' Cinderella shoes fell off in Roundup the next week as Thompson Falls fell to the Panthers 24-8. Thompson Falls ended up traveling over 2,000 miles overall on their two round trips in the playoffs that year, comparable to the treks Montana teams are making again this fall.

Also of note, the quarterback for Plentywood described in this article went on to have a highly successful playing career with the Montana Grizzlies. Kraig Paulson, whose nickname was "Barbed Wire" with the Griz, was No. 37 for Montana, and began the tradition of handing that hallowed number down to the next deserving team leader at the end of his career, giving the jersey to Tim Hauck. Hauck, the brother of current Montana coach Bobby Hauck, made the No. 37 famous, and the tradition lives on because of Paulson.