Posted by (+6123) 8 years ago
A few – okay, considerably more than a “few” – drippings regarding the Cowboys in anticipation of their quarterfinal game against Whitefish this Saturday:
Of all of the great teams the Cowboys have ever had, this may be the most balanced team CCDHS has ever fielded. They average 171.5 yards per game through the air – easily the most in team history – and 192.5 on the ground. Those aren’t just random numbers that mean little. It’s common knowledge that CCDHS has had a long tradition of dominant rushing offenses and, over the last few seasons, has placed more of an emphasis on the pass than the team had seen before. But the 2014 season marks the first time the Cowboys have been equally dangerous on the ground or through the air.
First, a little history: From 1992 - the first season since the Gary Lucas-led offenses of the early 1980s that the Cowboys passed more than a handful of times per game - to 2013, Miles City averaged 318 ypg of total offense. Of that 220 ypg, or 69.2% of the total offensive output, has been via the rush, meaning that the Cowboys could generally expect to gain more than twice as many yards on the ground as through the air (98 ypg, 30.8%). Only once during that span (2012) did the Cowboys generate more offense via the pass than the rush.
The Cowboys’ shift toward balance started last season, when they rushed for 205 yards per game and passed for another 148 per contest. But this season – one that has seen the Cowboys post an 8-2 record and reach the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2011 – has witnessed a real evolution from the double-edged sword that cuts both ways to the 1000-bladed swordball that slashes the s**t out of everyone.
Prior to last season, when the Cowboys rushed for 205.4 ypg and passed for 148.1 ypg (a difference of 57.3 ypg), the closest CCDHS ever had to offensive equilibrium came in non-playoff seasons with mediocre records (1999 (4-4) – 48.3 ypg difference between rushing and passing, and 2012 (4-5) – 40.7 ypg difference between passing and rushing). The Cowboys rush for just 21 more yards per game than they average through the air, and it’s by design. It’s not as though Miles City can’t run, as was the case 2012, but that the Cowboys are equally adept at running and passing and have the wherewithal to utilize both facets of their offense symmetrically.
Yes, I know that made for some reading, so here’s a bit of more-relative perspective: there are six Class A teams that have averaged more passing yards than the Cowboys this season, but none of them have TWO players (Matt Blunt and Alec Haughian) who each have over 500 yards passing in 2014. Blunt and Haughian are the only teammates in the state who have each had over 150 yards passing in separate games or more than 100 in the same contest. They’re also the only teammates who both have double-digit totals in touchdown passes. Together, they’ve completed 105 of 183 passes (57.4%) for 1715 yards and 26 touchdowns against only seven interceptions. Not only are the Cowboys historically prolific, they’re also historically efficient.
In his first season as a starter, Blunt has topped 100 yards passing six times, one off Cowboys’ single-season record. He’s just the 10th CCHDS QB to top 1000 yards in a single season and his 16 touchdowns rank fourth all-time in a given year. He’s completed 65 of his 115 passes for 1098 yards. His 56.5% completion rate ranks fourth all-time among Cowboy quarterbacks for a single season and his passer rating of 103.2 is good for sixth.
Unlike some quarterback platoons that are utilized to cover shortcomings in their quarterbacks’ games, there is no drop off when Haughian takes the snaps. Haughian has completed 40 of his 67 passes for 617 yards, 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions this year. His 59.7% completion rate is the best in team history, as his 129.8 passer rating (and his 0.00 interception percentage). Only Butte Central’s Danny Peoples and Dillon’s J.D. Ferris have a better passer rating this season than Haughian.
Haughian is the team’s leading rusher (150-929-16) and its leading receiver (25-524-7). Only Billings Central’s Holden Ryan, Hamilton’s Alex Draper, Frenchtown’s Gus Butler, Libby’s Zach Crace, and Butte Central’s Kyle Harrington – all featured running backs – have gained more ground with their legs and only Hamilton’s Bridger Bauder, Butte Central’s Chad Peterson and Cole Harper, and Whitefish’s Jed Nagler have a higher yards per reception average.
Haughian finished the regular season with 1,776 yards of total offense and 28 combined touchdowns, totals that ranked sixth and tied for second, respectively. With another monster game in the playoffs against Havre (6-12-106-1-0 passing, 16-130-3 rushing, 1-35-1 receiving), he is presently averaging 204.7 yards of total offense per game and has scored more touchdowns this season (33) than any player in CCDHS history. He has, quite frankly, established himself as one of the very best players to have played Class A football for any team.
But the Cowboys aren’t just the Alec Haughian show.
Not only do the Cowboys have multiple gifted quarterbacks, they have myriad weapons at their disposal.
Miles City has four different players who have gone over the 100-yard threshold in receiving yards in a single game this year: Haughian (108 vs. Powell), Tyler Burk (111 vs. Glendive), Brett Keith (130 vs. Havre), and Wyatt Lesh (105 vs. Glendive). The only other Class A team with as many as three separate players with 100-yard receiving games is Havre. Three Cowboys have had 100-yard rushing games this year: Blunt (122 vs. Billings Central), (Haughian (five times), and Jared Bartlett (125 vs. Livingston). The only other team that can make the same claim is Sidney. And Miles City is the only team to have a player (Haughian) to have a player gain over 100 yards rushing and receiving (107/108 vs. Powell). In addition, Haughian is one of only five Class A players with over 100 yards passing and 100 rushing (106/130 vs. Havre). No other player has had separate games over the century mark in all three categories this year.
Haughian (25-524-7), Keith (23-418-9), Burk (18-294-4), and Lesh (18-266-4) give the Cowboys their first-ever foursome of 200-yard receivers. And with three players – Haughian (150-929-16), Burk (60-324-2), Bartlett (47-303-1) having rushed for over 300 yards – and two more solid rushing threats (Blunt and Evan Haughian) with the ability to gain yardage in chunks, there is no single player on which defenses can key in which to completely neutralize the Cowboys’ offense.
And no matter how talented a team’s cadre of backs and receivers may be, an offense can’t go anywhere without an outstanding offensive line. The contributions of senior left tackle Joey Kurkowski (6’5”, 245), junior left guard Cord Murray (5’11”, 250), senior center Morgan Bishop (6’2” 260), junior right guard Ryan Haughian (6’1”, 240), and junior right tackle Jaden Senger (6’5”, 210) cannot be understated. With an average height over 6’2” and a mean weight of 241 pounds, the Cowboys boast one of the largest starting lines in the state. Bishop and Murray are returning all-conference selections and it’s a fair bet that they will repeat that honor this season and be joined by at least a couple of their linemates.
I will be posting some info regarding Whitefish as the day progresses, as well as some memories I have regarding another game against the Bulldogs from a few years back, but I hope this tides people over for now.
Of all of the great teams the Cowboys have ever had, this may be the most balanced team CCDHS has ever fielded. They average 171.5 yards per game through the air – easily the most in team history – and 192.5 on the ground. Those aren’t just random numbers that mean little. It’s common knowledge that CCDHS has had a long tradition of dominant rushing offenses and, over the last few seasons, has placed more of an emphasis on the pass than the team had seen before. But the 2014 season marks the first time the Cowboys have been equally dangerous on the ground or through the air.
First, a little history: From 1992 - the first season since the Gary Lucas-led offenses of the early 1980s that the Cowboys passed more than a handful of times per game - to 2013, Miles City averaged 318 ypg of total offense. Of that 220 ypg, or 69.2% of the total offensive output, has been via the rush, meaning that the Cowboys could generally expect to gain more than twice as many yards on the ground as through the air (98 ypg, 30.8%). Only once during that span (2012) did the Cowboys generate more offense via the pass than the rush.
The Cowboys’ shift toward balance started last season, when they rushed for 205 yards per game and passed for another 148 per contest. But this season – one that has seen the Cowboys post an 8-2 record and reach the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2011 – has witnessed a real evolution from the double-edged sword that cuts both ways to the 1000-bladed swordball that slashes the s**t out of everyone.
Prior to last season, when the Cowboys rushed for 205.4 ypg and passed for 148.1 ypg (a difference of 57.3 ypg), the closest CCDHS ever had to offensive equilibrium came in non-playoff seasons with mediocre records (1999 (4-4) – 48.3 ypg difference between rushing and passing, and 2012 (4-5) – 40.7 ypg difference between passing and rushing). The Cowboys rush for just 21 more yards per game than they average through the air, and it’s by design. It’s not as though Miles City can’t run, as was the case 2012, but that the Cowboys are equally adept at running and passing and have the wherewithal to utilize both facets of their offense symmetrically.
Yes, I know that made for some reading, so here’s a bit of more-relative perspective: there are six Class A teams that have averaged more passing yards than the Cowboys this season, but none of them have TWO players (Matt Blunt and Alec Haughian) who each have over 500 yards passing in 2014. Blunt and Haughian are the only teammates in the state who have each had over 150 yards passing in separate games or more than 100 in the same contest. They’re also the only teammates who both have double-digit totals in touchdown passes. Together, they’ve completed 105 of 183 passes (57.4%) for 1715 yards and 26 touchdowns against only seven interceptions. Not only are the Cowboys historically prolific, they’re also historically efficient.
In his first season as a starter, Blunt has topped 100 yards passing six times, one off Cowboys’ single-season record. He’s just the 10th CCHDS QB to top 1000 yards in a single season and his 16 touchdowns rank fourth all-time in a given year. He’s completed 65 of his 115 passes for 1098 yards. His 56.5% completion rate ranks fourth all-time among Cowboy quarterbacks for a single season and his passer rating of 103.2 is good for sixth.
Unlike some quarterback platoons that are utilized to cover shortcomings in their quarterbacks’ games, there is no drop off when Haughian takes the snaps. Haughian has completed 40 of his 67 passes for 617 yards, 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions this year. His 59.7% completion rate is the best in team history, as his 129.8 passer rating (and his 0.00 interception percentage). Only Butte Central’s Danny Peoples and Dillon’s J.D. Ferris have a better passer rating this season than Haughian.
Haughian is the team’s leading rusher (150-929-16) and its leading receiver (25-524-7). Only Billings Central’s Holden Ryan, Hamilton’s Alex Draper, Frenchtown’s Gus Butler, Libby’s Zach Crace, and Butte Central’s Kyle Harrington – all featured running backs – have gained more ground with their legs and only Hamilton’s Bridger Bauder, Butte Central’s Chad Peterson and Cole Harper, and Whitefish’s Jed Nagler have a higher yards per reception average.
Haughian finished the regular season with 1,776 yards of total offense and 28 combined touchdowns, totals that ranked sixth and tied for second, respectively. With another monster game in the playoffs against Havre (6-12-106-1-0 passing, 16-130-3 rushing, 1-35-1 receiving), he is presently averaging 204.7 yards of total offense per game and has scored more touchdowns this season (33) than any player in CCDHS history. He has, quite frankly, established himself as one of the very best players to have played Class A football for any team.
But the Cowboys aren’t just the Alec Haughian show.
Not only do the Cowboys have multiple gifted quarterbacks, they have myriad weapons at their disposal.
Miles City has four different players who have gone over the 100-yard threshold in receiving yards in a single game this year: Haughian (108 vs. Powell), Tyler Burk (111 vs. Glendive), Brett Keith (130 vs. Havre), and Wyatt Lesh (105 vs. Glendive). The only other Class A team with as many as three separate players with 100-yard receiving games is Havre. Three Cowboys have had 100-yard rushing games this year: Blunt (122 vs. Billings Central), (Haughian (five times), and Jared Bartlett (125 vs. Livingston). The only other team that can make the same claim is Sidney. And Miles City is the only team to have a player (Haughian) to have a player gain over 100 yards rushing and receiving (107/108 vs. Powell). In addition, Haughian is one of only five Class A players with over 100 yards passing and 100 rushing (106/130 vs. Havre). No other player has had separate games over the century mark in all three categories this year.
Haughian (25-524-7), Keith (23-418-9), Burk (18-294-4), and Lesh (18-266-4) give the Cowboys their first-ever foursome of 200-yard receivers. And with three players – Haughian (150-929-16), Burk (60-324-2), Bartlett (47-303-1) having rushed for over 300 yards – and two more solid rushing threats (Blunt and Evan Haughian) with the ability to gain yardage in chunks, there is no single player on which defenses can key in which to completely neutralize the Cowboys’ offense.
And no matter how talented a team’s cadre of backs and receivers may be, an offense can’t go anywhere without an outstanding offensive line. The contributions of senior left tackle Joey Kurkowski (6’5”, 245), junior left guard Cord Murray (5’11”, 250), senior center Morgan Bishop (6’2” 260), junior right guard Ryan Haughian (6’1”, 240), and junior right tackle Jaden Senger (6’5”, 210) cannot be understated. With an average height over 6’2” and a mean weight of 241 pounds, the Cowboys boast one of the largest starting lines in the state. Bishop and Murray are returning all-conference selections and it’s a fair bet that they will repeat that honor this season and be joined by at least a couple of their linemates.
I will be posting some info regarding Whitefish as the day progresses, as well as some memories I have regarding another game against the Bulldogs from a few years back, but I hope this tides people over for now.