This Powell High School freshman football team finished their season 5-2, making their overall record since seventh grade 17-6.

Powell lost their final game on Oct. 20, being edged by Cody, 14-9.

“I was really proud of them when it was all said and done,” said Steve Lensegrav, freshman offensive coach. “They overcame a lot of adversity in that game. They just kept digging, just kept working.”

Two minutes into the game, Dacen Phister broke his arm after completing a 10- to 15-yard run for a first down; Colby Bennett was later knocked out with a concussion.

That left Powell with only five guys on the line. Cody took advantage by calling audibles, Lensegrav said.

“(We) just kept moving them around, and the kids that were there were like, ‘Oh, I can try that’ or ‘I can play there,’” the coach said. “They just kept working and dang near beat a really good Cody squad ... just by sheer determination.”

Other adversities included having only 16 of the 26 players on the roster suited up because of other injuries or circumstances outside of football.

“They could have folded their tent and this group just battled — and it took some character on their part,” Lensegrav said.

The only other team to beat Powell this year was Billings Skyview, in the first game of the season.

Last year, when these freshmen were eighth graders, only Cody and Laurel, Montana, beat the group.

“If we could have played Cody and Laurel toward the end of the season, we could have definitely been undefeated,” said Bryan Bonander, the eighth grade football coach. “What a great bunch of fellas to coach . . . Great work ethic and ‘not afraid to smash you in the mouth’ attitude.”

The highlight of last year’s eighth grade season was a 20-14 overtime win against Sheridan — one of only two teams that beat this class when they were seventh graders two years ago. (In that 2014 game, Powell’s then-seventh graders trailed Sheridan 24-0 at halftime, then rallied to score 20 unanswered points in the second half.)

“They worked hard and had a ton of heart,” said Zack Coombs, seventh grade football coach. “The best words to describe the freshman class are ‘heart’ and ‘never give up.’”

Four coaches — Lensegrav, Bonander, Coombs and freshman defensive coach Nevin Jacobs — all used those same words when describing the current freshman football team. “They work hard,” was also a phrase repeated consistently.

“It’s a good group of kids. It’s been a lot of fun. You always have trials and tribulations no matter what age group you’re coaching,” said Jacobs. “They’ll do well and not just in football. I think they’ll do well in anything else they decide to do, whether basketball or wrestlers or ... These kids are just going to be tremendously successful, I think. And if they stick together, that success is going to be just that much more. They are just a good group of boys.”

As freshmen this year, Powell beat a Lovell team that consisted of mainly sophomores, some freshmen and a couple juniors. Worland was also a “froshmore” team. PHS’ other victories came against Billings Senior, Riverton and Jackson.

“Powell’s got a bright future, we really do,” said Jacobs.

Billings Skyview 14, Powell 7

Powell 15, Billings Senior 6

Powell 31, Riverton 0

Powell 29, Lovell 0

Powell 20, Worland 14

Powell 34, Jackson 12

Cody 14, Powell 9