Kelley's nine touchdowns leads Centerville to Six-Man football title

MEDICINE LAKE – Quarterback Luke Kelley accounted for nine touchdowns as the Centerville football team downed Froid-Medicine Lake 63-48 for the Six-Man state championship win Saturday.

It was the third title overall in program history for the Miners, taking Eight-Man championships in 1999 and 2006.

The championship was the first for ninth-year head coach Brian Davison, who won three state Six-Man titles as the quarterback for Highwood in the 2000s.

“It’s extremely exciting,” Davison said in a phone call with the Tribune. “A lot of time and effort put into coaching and these boys put a lot of time effort into this. They’ve been working at this for years. Being able to see them come out with that title, it’s hard to describe the joy I have watching them celebrate and having their hard work pay off for them. And being able to bring a title back to the community and add to the tradition of great football we have out there.”

Centerville took a 28-12 lead at halftime, with Kelley rushing for three touchdowns and hitting Kale Annis for a 69-yard score in the first quarter.

The Miners held a 22-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter, with Kelley adding two more rushing scores and a 53-yard touchdown pass to Caden Olson.

Kelley tacked on two more runs to paydirt in the fourth as Centerville cemented the victory.

“I’m extremely happy and excited for these boys to be able to pull this off,” Davison said. “We were able to run the ball that allowed us to control the game and we got some stops that allowed us to maintain the rest of the way.”

Froid-Medicine Lake quarterback Mason Dethman, a Montana State University commit, accounted for four touchdowns including a 44-yard scoring toss to Daniel Forizs and a 43-yard rushing score.

“All eyes were on him,” Davison said of Dethman. “He’s a heck of an athlete. Big and strong, great runner. He still made plays because he’s a heck of an athlete, so it took everything we had to try and slow those guys down and him down. Fortunately for us, we were able to get a couple of stops to let us keep that lead.”

Centerville graduates just one senior in Cole Noble and will retain a strong class next season.

Centerville 63, FML 48

Centerville 6 22 20 15 – 63

FML 6 6 14 22 – 48

First quarter

CENTERVILLE – Kale Annis 69 pass from Luke Kelley (kick failed)

FML – Nate Stentoft 2 run (kick failed)

Second quarter

CENTERVILLE – Kelley 1 run (kick failed)

CENTERVILLE – Kelley 11 run (Kelley kick)

CENTERVILLE – Kelley 2 run (Kelley kick)

FML – Joseph Robertson 3 pass from Mason Dethman (pass failed)

Third quarter

CENTERVILLE – Caden Olson 53 pass from Kelley (kick failed)

FML – Daniel Forizs 65 kickoff return (Dethman kick)

CENTERVILLE – Kelley 10 run (kick failed)

FML – Stentoft 3 pass from Dethman (kick failed)

CENTERVILLE – Kelley 36 run (Kelley kick)

Fourth quarter

FML – Forizs 44 pass from Dethman (Dethman kick)

CENTERVILLE – Kelley 1 run (Kelley kick)

FML – Dethman 43 run (kick failed)

CENTERVILLE – Kelley 5 run (conversion good)

FML – Stentoft 1 run (conversion good)

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Kelley's nine touchdowns leads Centerville to Six-Man football title