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Takeaways: Fuller, Etcheberry, defense lead way for Rustlers

grady higgins, great falls tribune
·2 min read
C.M. Russell High's Caleb Taylor looks to pass against Kalispell Flathead on Aug. 25 at Memorial Stadium.

The C.M. Russell High football team cruised Friday night, picking up an Eastern AA victory over Belgrade 50-9.

The Rustlers led 16-0 at the half and scored 34 second-half points to pull away for the win.

CMR (1-2 conference, 3-2 overall) will take on Billings Skyview in a conference game at 7 p.m. Friday at Daylis Stadium.

Here are some takeaways from the Rustlers’ triumph over Belgrade.

More: CMR cruises past Belgrade for conference victory

Fuller breaks out

Tailback Keegan Fuller had his best game to date, rushing for 157 yards and three touchdowns. The junior now has 462 yards through five games and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

“He’s starting to get hungry and he’s starting to trust his offensive line and hitting things hard,” CMR head coach Dennis Morris said. “He’s a great running back in that he sees space. Now that he’s comfortable to run right up on that double team and trust his offensive line to work, and that was working for him tonight.”

CMR defense holds strong

The Rustler defense put in a fine performance, holding Belgrade to just 160 yards and only 12 yards passing. The Panthers only averaged 3.3 yards per play on the rainy night and fumbled five times, with the Rustlers recovering four.

More: Great Falls High football runs past Billings Senior

Etcheberry leads receivers

Receiver Drew Etcheberry also had his best performance so far, hauling in seven catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. Despite the rain, the sophomore was sure-handed and is now averaging 13.2 yards per catch.

“Drew Etcheberry had a heck of a night. The rain didn’t bother him. I’m just proud of him as a sophomore coming out being a big player,” Morris said.

Passing game effective despite conditions

Quarterback Caleb Taylor was sharp Friday despite the downpour, passing for 233 yards and two touchdowns to one interception. The sophomore now has 1,034 yards through five games and nine touchdowns.

“What I have on my hands is a really talented sophomore quarterback,” Morris said. “He made some really good decisions tonight and he made some sophomore decisions tonight. He made some great decisions but it was hard to get a hand on (in the rainy conditions). Caleb is doing a great job. He’s just going to get better and better.”

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Takeaways: Fuller, Etcheberry, defense lead way for Rustlers