Knights fall in finale to Missoula

It was neither the homecoming nor the season finale the Glacier Knights wanted.

Kalispell's semi-professional football team was upended 46-14 by the Missoula Phoenix at Legends Stadium in Kalispell Saturday afternoon.

The Knights finished the season 2-6 in the Rocky Mountain Football League's Northern Division, matching its record from 2010.

The Phoenix (5-3) will move on to the playoffs.

The disappointing loss came during an unprecedented opportunity for the Knights. The team played at Legends Stadium for the first time in its eight year history after gaining approval from the Kalispell Public Schools' board of trustees earlier this year.

The Knights normally practice in Evergreen and play their home games in Columbia Falls.

But Saturday's hometown showcase turned into a big-time blowout early in the second half.

The Phoenix jumped to an early 6-0 lead when quarterback Shane Jurasek connected with receiver Shane Byers in the back of the end zone with 2:41 left in the first quarter.

The Phoenix would tack on another touchdown with 6:05 left in the second quarter when Jurasek found Michael Breza to put Missoula ahead 12-0.

Glacier responded on its next possession.

After running back Michael Kuehne returned the ball out to the 50-yard-line, the Knights began a six-play drive that culminated in a score.

Quarterback Phil Heimerl threaded a perfect pass through two defenders to find Levi Walker in the back of the end zone with 3:45 to play in the half.

"Generally speaking, Phil did a good job," said center Jared Taylor, who was announced as the new owner of the Knights at the end of the game. "He did everything we asked him to do."

The Phoenix dispelled any possibility of a close game early in the second half. Jurasek launched a 48-yard pass to a wide open Breza only five minutes into the third quarter to put the Phoenix ahead 18-6.

The Knights fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving Missoula the ball on their own 34-yard line. The Phoenix scored five plays later on an 11-yard touchdown run by Nick Lumpkin to stretch their lead to 25-6.

Defensive back Max McCracken intercepted an attempted flea-flicker pass from Heimerl with 7:29 to play in the third quarter.

Jurasek hit Byers with a 49-yard touchdown pass less than a minute later to take a 32-6 lead.

Glacier's final score came with 4:10 left in the third when Walker pulled down an acrobatic catch in the end zone on a 9-yard pass from Heimerl to make it 32-14 after a successful two-point conversion.

Walker had two touchdowns and close to 100 yards receiving in the game.

"Not bad," Walker said after the game. ‘Would have been nicer with a win."

Missoula added to its lead four plays after the ensuing kickoff with another long pass from Jurasek, who this time connected with David Garza for a 45-yard touchdown pass to take a 39-14 lead.

The Phoenix made it 46-14 when Jurasek threw a 15-yard pass to Byers with 1:19 left in the game for the receiver's third touchdown.

"The biggest thing is we have a really short crew," said Taylor, one of 21 players to suit up compared to Missoula's roster of 36. "We just need to recruit a high level of players to do this (next year)."

Taylor has been handed ownership of the team by General Manager William Wheat, who has been credited with leading the Knights to a 6-2 record and the playoffs in 2009.

Taylor expects big changes in the off-season. He's hoping to find hidden talent in the Flathead Valley and beyond for the 2012 season.

"And I think we'll have a good core coming back too," he said.

Missoula 6 6 20 14 - 46

Glacier 0 6 8 0 - 14

First Quarter

Missoula - Byers 30-yard pass from Jurasek, 2:41 (kick failed)

Second Quarter

Missoula - Breza 13-yard pass from Jurasek, 6:05 (kick failed)

Glacier - Walker 20-yard pass from Heimerl, 3:45 (conversion failed)

Third Quarter

Missoula - Byers 48-yard pass from Jurasek, 9:58 (conversion failed)

Missoula - Lumpkin 11-yard run, 7:36 (Joshua Thompson kick)

Missoula - Byers 49-yard pass from Jurasek, 6:21 (Thompson kick)

Glacier - Walker 9-yard pass from Heimerl, 4:02 (Michael Koehne run)

Fourth Quarter

Missoula - Garza 45-yard pass from Jurasek, 2:07, (Thompson kick)

Missoula - Byers 15-yard pass from Jurasek, 1:19 (Thompson kick)