Bravettes chase elusive flag football title to Billings

The Flathead Bravettes flag football team enters the State AA tournament with high hopes as new champions. Coach Jess Hensley has already given a motivational speech to the 7-1 team, emphasizing their readiness for the upcoming two-day event in Billings. The Bravettes will face Bozeman High in their first game at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, with anticipation that this could be the year for a new champion to emerge.

Glacier claimed the AA title last year and had also secured the previous three all-class championships in the sport, which has now expanded to all 16 Class AA schools. However, Glacier lost in a play-in game to Missoula Big Sky, and Bozeman upset the third-place Billings Skyview team in a similar situation. Hensley, who led the Bravettes as the top-seeded team from the Western AA, has spent time analyzing the 4-5 teams from the East, including Billings West and Great Falls High.

The Bravettes, with the top-scoring team in the field at 160 points over eight games, boast a strong offense led by senior quarterback Gracie Mae Kilmer, who has thrown for 1,618 yards and 19 touchdowns, as well as rushing for 460 yards and three touchdowns. The team's top pass catchers are Lexi Herion and Violet Close, with Herion contributing significantly to the offense, including a touchdown via interception return.

The defense, under the guidance of defensive coordinator Carl Hennell, has shown resilience, allowing only two second-half touchdowns all season. The Bravettes' coach expressed confidence in their team's ability to adapt to the situation, stating that they will do their best and control what they can during the tournament.