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Photo by Sarah Finnegan
Chelsea running back Matt Gray (12) runs the ball in a game between Chelsea and Helena on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, at Mark Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Helena won the game 27-14. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
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Sarah Finnegan Sarah Miller
Chelsea players celebrate after a play during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Sarah Finnegan Sarah Miller
Linebacker Evan Durham (20) tackles and Helena player during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Linebacker Evan Durham (20) and denfensive line Emmanuel Waller (56) take down Helena during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Chelsea High School students cheer during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Wide receiver Evan Jones (10) signals to the sidelines during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Sarah Finnegan Sarah Miller
Defensive back Chris McNeill (7) attempts to block a pass to Helena during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Sarah Finnegan Sarah Miller
Running back Emerson Russell (1) gets tackled during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Defensive line Garyson Maddox (68) tackles Helena during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Defensive line Brady Clements (54) tackle Helena during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Sarah Finnegan Sarah Miller
Defensive line Emmanuel Waller (56) tackles Helena during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Wide receiver Evan Jones (10) carries the ball during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Wide receiver JyDarian McKinney (8) carries the ball during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Defensive back EJ Hudnall (11) attempts to tackle Helena during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Running back Matt Gray (12) tries to avoid a tackle during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Quarterback Hayden Garrison (2) punts away the ball during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Defensive back Jackson Bailey (18) and defenisve line Garyson Maddox (68) take down Helena during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Wide receiver JyDarian McKinney (8) carries the ball during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Quarterback Hayden Garrison (2) looks for a pass during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Running back Emerson Russell (1) carries the ball during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Quarterback Cooper Griffin (14) fakes a hand off to wide receiver Griffin Parrish (25) during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
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Wide receiver MJ Conrad (6) celebrates a touchdown during a game between Chelsea and Helena on Fri. Aug. 27, 2021 at Mark R. Hall Athletic Complex in Helena. Photo by Sarah Miller
HELENA -- Chelsea High School’s Evan Jones responded to Helena's 20-0 first-half lead by intercepting a Mac Turner pass for a 15-yard pick-six to open the second half. The play helped spark the Hornets, who pulled within six points in the fourth, but Helena held on for a 27-14 victory at Mark Hall Athletic Complex on Friday night.
"We cleaned some things up at halftime, liability wise. I thought our defense played inspired in the second half. We got the big pick-six coming out of halftime that energized the guys. I thought the guys handled themselves better in the second half this week as opposed to the second half last week. We definitely showed some improvement and some maturity and growth, but we still have a ways to go," said Chelsea head coach Dustin Goodwin.
Turner picked apart the Chelsea secondary on Helena's first two drives, completing 7-of-7 passes for 58 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Kaysn Bustamento and JC Sivley. The Hornets held Helena to field goals on the next two drives to make it 20-0. Aiden Naron kicked a 22-yard field goal, followed by Matthew Blocker's 38-yarder that was set up by JT Alvis' interception of Chelsea's Hayden Garrison with 1:12 left in the first half.
Following Jones' defensive score to open the third quarter, Chelsea stopped the Huskies deep in their own territory and took over on the Hornets' 44 after a punt. Matt Gray broke free on a 56-yard dash to the end zone to open the next series, but the play was called back for holding. It was the first of a potential 14 points taken off the board due to penalties.
After punting inside the Helena 10 and flipping the field to start its next series on the Huskies' 31, Chelsea put together an 11-play scoring drive to make it 20-14 on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Cooper Griffin to MJ Conrad. Eighth grader Luke Miller was 3-for-3 on point after kicks in the game.
Helena answered with a 10-yard Turner to Sivley touchdown pass, eating up nearly six minutes of clock time and stretching its lead, 27-14. Turner finished the night with 205 yards, three touchdowns and one interception on 19-of-29 passing. Sivley was the leading receiver with 132 yards on 11 receptions and two scores.
With 3:29 to play, Garrison hit Griffin for a 35-yard catch in the end zone, but the play was waved off for pass interference. Hunter Hale intercepted the next pass, giving the ball back to Helena. The Huskies punted to Chelsea with 55 seconds left but recovered a muffed return to run out the clock.
"We want to try to put our guys in a situation to make plays and when they seemingly do make plays and it gets taken off that's tough. That's the way it goes sometimes. We've got to let that stuff roll off, and we've got to get better," Goodwin said.
Garrison finished the night 3-of-14 passing for 37 yards, while Gray’s 52 yards rushing led the Hornets’ offense.Chelsea (0-2) will open Class 6A, Region 5 action next Friday at Briarwood.
