Second-ranked Eureka has been living on the edge somewhat, escaping earlier this season with a tight win over Class A Whitefish and coming from behind to defeat Missoula Loyola last week.
The Lions didn’t have the magic this week. Florence raced out to a big lead and never relinquished it in handing Eureka its first Class B loss of the season.
No. 3 Malta and No. 4 Glasgow both had well-earned victories as they continue on the path to their North division clash in two weeks.
Key Week 7 matchup: Florence 34, No. 2 Eureka 6
Brady Duchien tossed three touchdown passes and Chase Wagner recovered a teammates’ fumble in the end zone as Florence scored the game’s first 27 points.
Eureka rallied from two double-digit deficits last week but couldn’t repeat the accomplishment this time. Rogan Lytle’s 16-yard touchdown run gave some lift to the Lions, but Florence’s Bridger Alexander answered with a touchdown run of his own to help send the Falcons seal the victory.
Florence, Class B champions in 2021, ’22 and ’23, won its third straight. Eureka dropped to 4-2.
Other Class B highlights:
No. 1 Manhattan 21, Townsend 15
After a 34-point win last week, the Tigers returned to their grind-it-out ways with another hard-fought win. Manhattan improved to 6-0, with some of the previous wins coming by scores of 15-6, 18-6 and 28-20.
No. 1 Manhattan gets hard-fought win at Townsend
No. 3 Malta 27, Fairfield 14
The Mustangs scored two touchdowns on fumble recoveries — including one off of Kenan LaBrie’s strip sack, and Malta bolted to a 21-0 early lead and held off the Eagles.
Getting ahead early allows Malta to remain unbeaten in win over Fairfield
No. 4 Glasgow 24, Missoula Loyola 7
Second-half touchdowns by Grady Nielsen and Khye Gamas helped the Scotties pull away from Missoula Loyola.
Glasgow shuts down Missoula Loyola to improve to 7-0
Red Lodge 49, Joliet 21
Red Lodge running back Kougar Kappel was nearly unstoppable. Kappel accounted for six touchdowns, including a 50-yard run for the first score of the game, and he rushed for 274 yards on 23 carries as the Rams improved to 5-1 and stopped Joliet’s six-game winning streak to start the season.
Red Lodge takes control of Eastern B with 49-21 win over Joliet.
Other scores:
No. 5 Three Forks 50, Columbus 7
Anaconda 66, Kellogg, Idaho, 26
Conrad 48, Shelby 8
Cut Bank 8, Wolf Point 6
Baker 50, Colstrip 20
Huntley Project 56, Roundup 6
Jefferson 42, Big Timber 6
Shepherd 30, Whitehall 7
Thompson Falls 30, Deer Lodge 6