Titans get back to basics – and winning – against Troy

The Titans battled the Trojans of Troy and the elements Friday night in Philipsburg, prevailing with a 68-20 victory.

PHILIPSBURG – After a season opening loss at Clark Fork, the Flint Creek Titans decided they needed to go back to their roots; to go back to executing the little things and doing them as well as they possibly could.

That attitude of reset put the Titans back in sync as they rolled past the visiting Trojans of Troy, 68-20. The win evens Flint Creek’s record at 1-1 on the year while Troy falls to 0-2.

“We only ran about five or six plays the entire game,” said Titan Head Coach Mike Cutler, “but there are still a lot of things that we’ve got to get better at.

“I’m still proud of the guys. They played hard and physical.”

The shortened week due to the holiday put Cutler and his staff behind the eight-ball to get the Titans back on track.

“We had practice Monday morning and just kind of talked and we had the JV game on Tuesday, so we just didn’t get a lot of time. We had to build some spirits a little bit. We’ve just got to keep getting stronger and better and doing what we’re taught and we’ll be fine.”

Despite the minimal practice time, the Titans looked better from the opening kickoff than they did a week earlier. After holding the Trojans on their opening drive, Flint Creek got to work on taking a lead they would never relinquish. Their first drive ended when sophomore Leyton Wagner carried the ball in from the two yard line for the first of two touchdowns on the day. He also added the conversion run and the Titans were up 8-0.

Once the rushing game was on track, Flint Creek took to the air. Junior QB Kade Cutler – wearing a black cast on his left hand after suffering a spiral fracture of his pinkie Wednesday – found senior Daniel Brabender for the first of three scoring passes on the day on the Titans very next drive. Cutler added the conversion run and the locals held a 16-0 advantage.

Troy wasn’t to be counted out as they struck back on their third possession. QB Terren Winebart connected with receiver Kolten Lewis for a 46-yard score to trail 16-6.

But Flint Creek was on a mission to regain its form and continued their assault. The Cutler-Brabender connection hit pay dirt for a second time and Cutler ran one in from seven yards out to assume a 30-6 lead.

Winebart tossed a second TD pass in the period, this time to Keller Tibuler, to cut the lead and close out the first period.

The next 12 minutes before halftime saw Flint Creek turn up the heat even more; scoring 32 points that included a Wyatt Rigby sack of Winebart in the end zone for a safety.

The rest of the game saw a running clock as the Titans cruised to the 48-point win.

Next up for Flint Creek is a trip to Charlo to play the Vikings on Friday the 13th. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m..

NOTES ... The home victory extends the Titans home win streak to 17 straight games, dating back to September 9, 2016 when they lost to Charlo at home, 54-6 … Conley Wagner had surgery on his injured foot Friday to correct three broken bones in his left foot. He had two plates and four screws placed in his foot to repair the two displaced breaks. The third came back together as the others were repaired. He will be in non-weight bearing rehab for four weeks and hopes to return by basketball season for the Drummond Trojans.

SCORING

Troy – 14/0/0/6 - 20

Flint Creek – 30/32/6/0 – 68

FIRST QUARTER

8:14 FC Wagner 2 yd run TD, Wagner Conversion run 4:28 FC Cutler to Brabender 12 yd pass TD, Cutler Conversion run

3:20 TR Winebart to Lewis 46 yd pass TD, Conversion failed

2:57 FC Cutler to Brabender 43yd pass TD, Cutler run

0:28 FC Cutler 7 yd run TD, Conversion failed

0:12 TR Winebart to Tibuler 45 yd pass TD, Winebart to Tibuler Conversion Pass

SECOND QUARTER

11:32 FC Cutler 32 yd run TD, Cutler Conversion run

10:22 FC Rigby sacks Winebark for safety.