Looking at Polson's win over Frenchtown

I'll admit that I thought Polson wasn't going to win this game. Too many new faces. Frenchtown was basically the same team as last year. The Broncs beat the Pirates last year, 42-0.

Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but usually experience and talent trumps youth. It's a general rule of thumb. A rule somebody forgot to tell the Pirates as they knocked off the defending state champions 21-16.

One of the team's secrets to success? The defense was solid.

"After the first quarter, I was real pleased," Polson head coach Scott Wilson said. "We did a great job gang tackling."

Wilson said that after Frenchtown's first drive, the Pirates tightened the screws on defense and it showed. In the second half, the Broncs only score came from a kickoff return.

Now I can't forget to mention quarterback Vince DiGiallonardo and wide receiver Kyle Bagnell. The two connected for over 200 yards through the air and two touchdowns. This wasn't exactly dinks and dunks either, Bagnell hauled in touchdown passes from 60 and 30 yards out. In the words of that annoying Staples commercial... WOW! THAT'S A BIG PLAY!

Wilson said it was a positive win because with all the new kids starting, they needed a big confidence booster. This probably got the job done. Frenchtown returned basically the same team from last year. If you also factor in that Polson got crushed at home last year by the Broncs, a win in Frenchtown makes it all the more sweeter.

"To be able to go down there and beat them is good," Wilson said. "It's a good win."

Now that said, it's still just one game and there's plenty of the season to go. Wilson said the biggest thing is winning conference games, those are the ones that get you in the postseason.

"It's for sure a positive win but we're got to get better," he said. "It's still early and so many things can happen."

Week one games are always a bit different because teams are still trying to jigger their lineups and see who's going to start.

"You're trying to figure out a couple of things," Wilson said. "You're trying to find out what kids are ready to play."

With so many new faces, starting positions on the Pirates depth chart had to be earned. But if a win over Frenchtown is the result, then they've certainly got the job.