Takeaways: Rankin, Klinker show impact for Great Falls High football

The Great Falls High football team rolled in the second half last Friday at Memorial Stadium, scoring 33 points to pull away for a 40-0 Eastern AA victory over Billings Skyview and clinch the No. 4 seed and a home playoff game.

The Bison face off with crosstown rival C.M. Russell High on Friday at 7 p.m. to close out the regular season for both teams. Here are some takeaways from Friday’s action.

Rankin breaks out

Running back Braedon Rankin had seen some carries in recent games, but he had his finest game to date against Skyview, rushing for 196 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. The junior broke away for a 60-yard score in the fourth quarter and also had a run of 42 yards.

Rankin’s emergence adds a third viable tailback for the Bison rushing attack in addition to Izayah Brown and Ryder English.

“Rankin is one of the hardest-working kids I’ve been around,” Great Falls High coach Coda Tchida said. “He is an absolute monster in the weight room. He’s just been waiting for his time. We’ve been playing him a little at tight end and running him a little here and there. I thought he deserved a few more carries and as you can see, the kid can run. He runs super hard and he’s willing to put in the effort. It’s great to have three running backs you can hand the ball off to. I think we’re one of the only teams in the state that have that can do damage like that.”

Klinker joins lineup

Scott Klinker played his first game of the season Friday, adding a new weapon for the Bison as they hit the biggest games of the season.

Also Legion baseball star for the Great Falls Chargers, Klinker was away for the first month of school playing fall baseball but asked Tchida upon return if he could join the team. Tchida said he ran the decision past the captains and seniors if they would agree, and all did.

“Came to me a month ago and said ‘Coach, I want to play,’ and I wasn’t going to say no, but he had to earn his way,” Tchida said. “Scottie Klinker is one of the best athletes I’ve been around in my entire life. The seniors love him to death. I ran that through the leadership committee and the seniors and they all said ‘We want Scottie Klinker.’ We saved him for tonight, and he’s a great athlete and great kid and will make us better as a football team. He’s a great addition.”

The senior had a few touches on offense, rushing three times for 10 yards and line up at both running back and receiver, while also returning kickoffs. He played a good amount at cornerback and skied high for an interception in the end zone in the fourth quarter to preserve the shutout.

Klinker is also a state champion in track and field, taking the triple jump in Butte last May with a leap of 46 feet, 10.5 inches. He was also All-State in two other events, taking fifth in the long jump (21 feet, 2 inches) and was sixth in the high jump.

Bison defense dominates

The Great Falls High defense was dominant on Friday, holding the Falcons to just four yards rushing and 147 yards overall.

Brevin Brockie returned an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter while Trace Hulett and Klinker added picks, and Colter DeVoss recovered a fumble.

Star defensive end Cooper Collins – who now sits No. 2 all-time in career sacks for the Bison, wreaked havoc up front all night as well.

“He’s No. 40 for a reason,” Tchida said of Collins. “He’s tough to block on the defensive side and they’re going to double-team him and if they don’t, he’s going to get there quick. We expect big things out of Cooper every day and he did great tonight.”

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Takeaways: Rankin, Klinker show impact for Great Falls High football