Jefferson High’s volleyball squad continued its dominating early-season run, cruising past Manhattan in straight sets on Sept. 12 before outlasting longtime rival Broadwater in a four-set win on Saturday to remain undefeated.
In Saturday’s conference match-up, Broadwater jumped to a 4-1 first-set lead, but Ryian Eveland started a run that gave the Panthers a 7-4 lead. Cameron Toney put over a kill to build the lead to 17-9, and the Panthers took the set 25-15.
Avery Popp put over an ace to give the Panthers a 4-0 lead in the second, but Townsend made a charge to cut the deficit to 11-8. Then Toney made a couple of kills, and a block point by Grace Quigley started another run to put the Panthers up by 10, 22-12. From there, Jefferson took the set, 25-13.
The Panthers started the third with a 4-0 run, but the flow changed and Broadwater reeled off 11 straight points to go up 11-4. Kills by Erica Shields and Brooklyn Miller made it 7-15 but the Bulldogs held on for a 25-18 win.
It looked like the Bulldogs were going to add another win in the fourth when they knocked down the first couple of points, but then Madelyn Averill put over a kill, Toney made another, and Averill served an ace for a 6-2 lead. Shields’ ace put the Panthers up 9-7, another by Aubrey Rosenbaum made it 13-9, and the Panthers went on to win the set and the match, 25-18.
Toney led the team with 20 kills, 1 block and 15 digs. Shields had 1 ace, 1 kill, 27 assists and 8 digs, while Miller notched 9 kills, 2 blocks and 2 digs. Eveland made 4 kills, 3 blocks and 3 digs, and Averill contributed 4 aces, 1 kill and 22 digs. Popp had 1 ace, 2 assists and 19 digs, Quigley 1 kill, 1 block and 1 dig, Rosenbaum 1 ace and 2 digs, and Maia Walters 3 digs.
Jefferson, at 3-0, is tied for the conference lead with Ennis. Broadwater is 2-1, Manhattan and Whitehall 1-1, Lone Peak 0-3 and Three Forks 0-4. Toney leads the conference with 50 kills on the season, while Shields is tops in assists with 65.
The volleyball teams travel to Three Forks on Thursday and Whitehall on Saturday.
Football
The Panther football team, ranked second in Class B after two weeks, traveled Friday to Malta. The Mustangs enjoy a long tradition of strong football teams — and it looks like they have another one this year.
The Panthers showed some bright spots, leading 17-13 at the half. But the Mustangs came on strong in the second half, taking the win, 31-17.
Luke Oxarart led Jefferson with 211 yards rushing and two touchdowns, as well as 15 tackles on defense. Quarterback Tyzer Zody had 113 yards passing. And Brady Armstrong racked up 12 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
This week the football squad travels Friday to Thompson Falls. They’ll host Three Forks on Sept. 27.
Flag football
Flag football is new this year at Jefferson High School — and so far, and it’s been really fun to watch the girls play the sport. The Panthers hosted their first jamboree on Saturday, featuring four teams in short games. They lost to Butte High 14-0, beat Three Forks 8-6, then lost to a strong Glacier squad, 28-0.
Addie Holman had 8 flag pulls, 1 interception, and 1 batted ball on the day, while Kyli Barry notched 9 flag pulls and 1 batted ball. Maysa LaFromboise made 5 catches, and Meredith Rieder had 4 catches, 1 extra point and 1 interception.
This Saturday, the Panthers compete in the Divisional tournament in East Helena.
