Football, Volleyball may be underdogs, but they can beat big, bad Devils

If it sounded like it was out of a movie, it's because it was, sort of.

When volleyball head coach Lori Dailey sought advice on playing at the State Tournament from former coach John LaBonty, he told her that in Bozeman the nets are the same height and the balls are the same size. Just go out and play.

Of course when Gene Hackman used that line in Hoosiers he was talking about basketball not volleyball, but the message is still the same. Even if you're playing the best team in the state, you have the same chance to win as they do.

There's no hiding from the fact that the Scotties will be underdogs this weekend.

Whether it's the football or volleyball team we're talking about it makes no difference.

Both will be taking on Huntley Project in their respective playoffs this week and both will be fighting uphill for a win against the school that has epitomized South Bend Central, or Iceland, or whatever fictional bad guys you want to use for this metaphor. The fact is they wear black and win a lot. They even have the Devil mascot. They're clearly movie villains.

Regardless, my point is everybody wants to see David topple Goliath. Sometimes David just needs to be reminded he's holding the slingshot.

And the Scotties can win this weekend. They've been winning all season.
Sure Huntley Project has looked nearly untouchable in football this season, but it doesn't mean they can't be beat. Just last week they were only up 7-0 at halftime to Baker. I probably shouldn't add the fact that they ended up winning 45-6, but the point is they are beatable.

The Scotties have the talent and skill level to hang with the Devils, but to win they will need to play flawless, if only because Huntley has played virtually flawless all season.

The offense won't be able to get away with stupid penalties this week. False starts and illegal motions that have plagued the Scotties all season will just be ammunition for a Devil defense that only gave up 138 total yards of offense last week. The Scotties will need to block well and protect the football too. When the Scotties run their offense efficiently they are nearly unstoppable, but when they haven't played well, much of their trouble has come from defenses getting too much penetration into the backfield.

The home crowd should help the Scotties. Huntley will be playing on the road for the first time this postseason, and Glasgow is undefeated this season at home. If the Scotties can stay with them through most of the game, a big boost from the crowd can pull Glasgow home in the fourth quarter.

The volleyball team doesn't get quite as much luck. Their playoff is being played at a neutral site, in a gym bigger than any they've played in all season. Hence the Hoosiers quote, they'll be playing in front of a crowd bigger than many of them have ever seen.

Yet this Red Devil team may not be as invincible. The Huntley volleyball team has been solid all season, with most of its losses coming to Red Lodge, in a very similar showdown to the matches this season between Glasgow and Wolf Point. Like Wolf Point, Red Lodge is a state qualifier and every match between the teams has been close.

The Scotties will have to play their game if they want to win the state championship. That's cliché, but this team has been scary good when they've limited their errors. Against Glendive, the Scotties looked like they were in a different league, but there have also been games where the team tends to disappear, forgetting how good they can be.

The Scotties on both sides will need to play perfect to come home with trophies this season, but that's what championship teams do.

No matter how big the competition may be in front of them, sometimes they just need a reminder they've been holding the slingshot all along.