CMR football downs Skyview amid severe wind event

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In between the wind gusts, C.M. Russell High won a football game.

The Rustlers (2-2 conference, 3-3 overall) downed Billings Skyview 15-9 in an Eastern AA conference game Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

Great Falls High fell 51-10 in Bozeman to Gallatin High Friday as well at Van Winkle Stadium. Full stats were not immediately available late Friday.

Amid the calm weather of the first half in Great Falls, the Rustlers led 9-0 at halftime behind a Ben Cunningham receiving touchdown and a safety forced on the Falcons.

Then as the CMR band played its Homecoming halftime show on the turf at Memorial Stadium, a severe wind weather event hit the Great Falls area.

The National Weather Service reported wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour that hit the area just around 8 p.m., causing widespread power outages - including the lights at Memorial Stadium. Dust and light debris swirled above and through the stadium as the gusts pounded Great Falls.

The stadium lights on the west side of the field all came on after about 15 minutes, and Great Falls Public Schools officials gave the go-ahead to resume play after conferring with referees and CMR head coach A.J. Wilson and Skyview mentor John Simpson.

“That was one of the wildest things to ever happen in my playing or coaching days,” Wilson said. “But kudos to kids and kudos to Skyview’s staff to want to finish tonight and not wait for tomorrow. That was a wild second half. Whether it was the wind blowing or the lights, the kids battled on both sides of the ball for the last 24 minutes. Super fun to watch, glad to come out on top.”

With both teams relegated to mostly one-dimensional offenses after halftime with the winds still swirling, the third quarter started with three three-and-outs and a botched field goal attempt by CMR after starting a drive on the Skyview 22.

However, the Rustlers stopped the Falcons on fourth-and-short at their own 24 on the following possession, with quarterback Caleb Taylor cashing in on a 1-yard sneak two plays later. The score was set up by a 22-yard catch-and-run from Taylor to tight end Ben Halko.

Skyview (1-3, 1-5) made things interesting around the seven-minute mark, as wind affected a punt snap deep in CMR territory, with punter Cruz Riggin being forced to kick the ball out of the end zone for a safety.

Javyn Gallup returned the ensuing free kick all the way to the house for the Falcons, making it a one-possession game with 6:39 left.

However, neither side mustered any more offense aside from a CMR first down on the final drive, with Taylor grinding forward on fourth-and-inches to kill the clock and seal the win.

The Rustlers struck first by way of the defense, as Peyton Fenner and a swarm of Rustlers bottled up the Falcon ball-carrier in the end zone midway through the first for a safety. Junior linebacker J.D. Lofgren backed Skyview all the way down to its own 1 on a sack on the previous play.

CMR hit paydirt with less than three minutes to go in the half, as Cunningham skied for a Taylor pass and hauled in a 27-yard touchdown with 2:48 left before the break.

The Rustlers and Falcons each turned it over in the first half on fumbles, with Hunter Lee recovering one for CMR.

CMR hits the road next Friday for a conference contest against Bozeman High at Van Winkle Stadium at 7 p.m.

Skyview 0 0 0 9 – 9

CMR 2 7 6 0 – 15

First quarter

CMR – safety (5:16)

Second quarter

CMR – Ben Cunningham 27 pass from Caleb Taylor (Cruz Riggin kick) (2:48)

Third quarter

CMR – Taylor 1 run (pass failed) (1:37)

Fourth quarter

SKYVIEW – safety (6:55)

SKYVIEW – Javyn Gallup 51 free kick return (Quentin Hill kick) (6:39)

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: CMR football downs Skyview amid severe wind event