Scotties Smoked by Powerful Baker in First Road Game

Glasgow drove the three-plus hours to Baker with an air of progress and possibility at its back. Last weekend's late loss to Glendive dropped the team's record to 0-2, but the performance and the scoreline represented a marked improvement from the opening defeat versus Colstrip, and served only to steel Scottie spirits. The chip in the young squad's shoulder, though, apparently needed further carving. 

Much to the Glasgow boys' calamity, the maroon-clad unit awaiting their arrival from the North was the Baker Spartans. It had defeated Wolf Point 36-6 the prior weekend, and the team's form held true to its upward trajectory. The home side brushed aside its tartan visitors with facility, racking 358 yards and 40 points in the first half alone en route to a 40-0 trouncing.

Friday's game, if nothing else, relayed the gospel of Luke -Luke Gonsioroski, that is. The Spartans' quarterback, touted as "a big guy who can move really well" by Glasgow Head Coach Greg Liebelt in the days leading up to the battle, ran rampant for 24 minutes, torching through Scottie defenders as fire through snow. Gonsioroski accounted for three of Baker's five touchdowns - two rushing, one passing - and provided four of his team's five successful two-point conversions. 

"He's a phenomenal athlete," said Liebelt. "Throws the ball well. Runs exceptionally well. Difficult to get a tackle on. [Baker's] offense is not just a one-dimensional threat."

In total, the quarterback scampered for 154 yards on 17 carries and completed 9-15 passes for 126 yards. He and the rest of the first-stringers were lifted from the game at halftime; Baker's B-team tallied 19 second-half yards.

As incapable as the Glasgow defense proved at halting the Baker boys' charge, the team's offense - when it was allowed on the field - staged a similarly-inept performance against a stout Spartans 11.

"Strong teams don't give you much time to pass the ball," said Liebelt. "We need to be able to pass if we're going to win games."

Liebelt notes that after this debacle, and given that his team's record sits at 0-3, tied for last-place in District 2B with Wolf Point, he and his staff are working to "remap the offense to fit the personnel," and that "it's apparent a change is needed if we're going to get better."

To qualify for the playoffs, Liebelt's charges must start winning games, and fast - but in order to do so, the coach acknowledges they first must coalesce. 

"We're going to keep giving new, young kids looks," the coach said. "As good as Baker was, it makes it twice as bad when our players are in the wrong positions and playing the wrong style of game."

The Tartan Army travels to Lewistown next Saturday, Sept. 19, to meet Big Timber. The Herders, 2-1, are aiming to rebound from a 27-13 Homecoming loss against Manhattan.

"It'll be a good, competitive game for us," said Liebelt. "This is a great week for us to look at taking a step forward. Where we've been these last few weeks - if we're going to get things going, this is when it's going to happen."