Scotties hurdle Glendive in opener, 40-24

The Glasgow football team set a tone for the 2009 season in its first game of the year, defeating the Dawson County Red Devils, 40-24.
The Scotties overpowered Glendive from the very start of the game, asserting their dominance through defense and the running game. 
The Glasgow backs shared the wealth, accounting for four touchdowns in the game with three different players running the ball into the end zone. Senior Zach Remus showed his versatility, leading the bunch with two touchdowns, the first on a one yard rush up the middle to open the game and the second closing the scoring for Glasgow on a 30-yard romp up the left side of the field. Seniors Aaron Hartsock and Kirk Capdeville also got into the act, each taking in a score for the Scotties. Combined, the Glasgow backs ran for 138 yards and averaged more than five yards per carry.
“We looked good in a lot of ways,” head coach Dan Dale said. “We moved the ball offensively. The things that we worked on came through … We came out with some things that we felt we could take advantage of and we were able to do that.”
Though Dale’s offense is predicated on the rushing attack, the passing game flourished in the first half. The first drive was highlighted by a 25-yard pass from senior quarterback Dylan Hughes to senior wide receiver Drew Croy, in which Croy ripped a jump ball from the hands of the Glendive defender and wrangled in the catch at the eight-yard line to set up Remus’ touchdown a few plays later. Hughes, who finished 12-14 for 137 yards passing, found Croy again just before the first half ended on a 22-yard catch in the end zone to give the Scotties a 27-6 halftime lead.
“It was a good complete win,” Dale said. “Here I’ve always told everybody we’re a run-oriented offense and then I don’t know how many passing yards we had in the first half. I think it was a good balance. We kept the defense off pace, where they couldn’t just sit back and stop the run. I thought we made some good choices.”
The defense held its own too, holding the Red Devils to only six points in the first half before letting up a little in the fourth quarter, when mostly backups were in the game. The defensive front was in the Glendive backfield the whole night, racking up two sacks and forcing them into two turnovers.
The team quickly responded to the only real challenge of the night after a drive by Glendive to tie the score at 6-6. On the following kickoff, Remus found a seam on the left side of the field, returning the kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown.
“They’ve got a lot of pride in who they are and they didn’t like the fact that Glendive drove on them and they answered,” Dale said. “They did what you’re supposed to do. When somebody punches you, you punch back.”
Though the kicking game faltered, missing two extra points, Dale said he felt the team did a lot of good things in the game.
“We still had some areas that we’re not consistent in,” Dale said. “But we’re making good adjustments. We called some plays that we hadn’t worked on a lot in practice and the kids came through with them … We just take what the defense gives us and the kids they took care of business.”
The Scotties are on the road the next two weeks, beginning with their showdown with Shelby on Friday. The Coyotes are 1-0 this season after winning at Three Forks 24-7 in their season opener.