Junior Sawyer Shelmerdine prepares to send out a pass while being hit by a Pirate. He completed 7 passes including this 10-yard pass to Walker McDonald for a first down.
Sophomore Owen Hoag pushes off the first of many defenders on his way to a touchdown in the first quarter.
Sophomore Ben Haley runs in a two-point-conversion though a hole in the defense created by Garrett Saalfeld, Owen Hoag and Klayton Kovatch.
Senior Eric Lorentz breaks free from a pair of Pirates. Lorentz rushed for 107 yards in the game.
Junior Walker McDonald pulls down a pass that he was able to take in for a touchdown.
SEELEY LAKE – The Blackhawks kicked off to the Victor Pirates Sept. 4 for their opening game of the season.
The Pirates' opening drive came to an abrupt end after just a couple plays with a fumble that was recovered by the Blackhawks' Hunter Carpenter.
The Blackhawks' offense took over on the 20-yard line. After two unsuccessful runs up the middle, Blackhawks Quarterback Sawyer Shelmerdine went to the air. He sent a lateral pass to Owen Hoag who, with help from Ben Haley blocking, was able to take the ball up the left side of the field for a first down.
On first and goal, Shelmerdine was able to rush for his first touchdown. The two-point-conversion attempt came up short.
Victor's second attempt on the offense ended in similar fashion with a fumble recovered by Walker McDonald just short of the 35-yard line.
Shelmerdine again connected with a pass to Hoag. Hoag scrambled through several defenders taking the ball all the way to the end zone for the Blackhawks' second touchdown within the first three minutes of play. The Pirates were again successful at stopping the conversion.
The Pirates were not quite ready to go home yet and answered back with a pair of touchdowns and a two-point-conversion before the end of the quarter taking the lead, 12-14.
The teams battled back and fourth in the second quarter until the Blackhawks were able to break away for a pair of touchdowns from Shelmerdine and successful conversions from Eric Lorentz and Ben Haley. McDonald caught a Pirate in the end zone for a safety to put the Blackhawks up 30-14 at the half.
The Blackhawks didn't let up on the Pirates in the second half shutting them out while scoring four more touchdowns, two from Shelmerdine and one each from McDonald and Lorentz. The final score was 60-14
Shelmerdine completed 7 of 15 attempted passes for 102 yards including two touch downs and just one interception. He averaged 11.2 yards per carry rushing for 146 yards. Lorentz had 16 carries for 107 yards while Hoag led the Blackhawks in receiving with 5 catches and 77 yards.
On the defense, McDonald had 3 sacks pushing the Pirates back a total of 18 yards. Shelmerdine and Kaden Thornsberry each got in on 10 tackles with Shelmerdine getting 6 solo and 4 assisted tackles and Thornsberry getting 3 solos and 7 assists.
Shelmerdine, Carpenter and Cannon Hawkinson each recovered a Pirate fumble while Seth Richardson was credited with causing one Pirate fumble.
Blackhawks Head Coach Jay Crum said that Shelmerdine and Lorentz had never played quarterback and running back before. He was pleased that they both had a productive game in their new positions.
Crum felt the Blackhawks' conditioning paid off, especially later in the game. While the team pulled off a win, Crum said the team had a lot of mistakes that they need to work on to be competitive this season.
The Blackhawks' next game is Sept. 11 at Thompson Falls with kickoff at 7 p.m. As of Monday, spectators from the opposing team are welcome. Check the Seeley-Swan High School Activities Facebook page for updates.
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