Manhattan Tigers, Malta Mustangs battle in state title

The Southern No. 1 seeded Manhattan Tigers (12-0) head up north Saturday for a 1 p.m. date at the Northern No. 1 seeded Malta Mustangs (12-0). A matchup that is primed to feature two versatile offenses and stout defenses, as well as a healthy heaping of snowfall, could be one of the most competitive state title games across the slate this weekend.

“We’ve got to have an answer (for Manhattan) on Saturday, there is no drawing board on Monday to go back to,” Mustangs head coach Nick Oxarart said. “We’ve got to get after it.”

Malta has rolled through the latter half of its schedule — the team’s smallest margin of victory since week four is 22 — and continued its dominant run into the postseason. Earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Mustangs beat Thompson Falls in round one, 45-8, before knocking off Three Forks 59-36.

The real intriguing matchup came in the semifinals, when Malta welcomed the Southern No. 1 seed and three-time reigning state champions, Florence-Carlton, to Phillips County. The score sat at 0-0 after the first quarter, but a 30-point showing in the second sent shockwaves through the Class B world. The Mustangs’ 37-0 win was their third shutout of the year, and the explosive offensive showing certainly put the Tigers on notice.

“They’ve seemed to been able to do that to every team,” Manhattan head coach Wes Kragt said. “It’s close early, and then bam — they’re way ahead. With their explosiveness and big-play ability, we have to be able to find ways to slow them down.”

Malta uses a multi-pronged attack, throwing the ball and running it depending on the matchup. Senior quarterback Stockton Oxarart has thrown for over 2,600 yards in 12 games, and senior running back Blaine Downing has rushed for over 1,000.

While Oxarart said their versatility and unpredictability on offense has been a large factor in winning games this season, the impact of snow on the ground could change the gameplan. If the snow impacts players’ traction on the grass, the Mustangs will need a backup plan.

“It would be nice if it was nice weather,” Oxarart added. “But in late November you don’t always get that.”

The coach also said the home-field advantage will once again give his team an added edge, allowing the players to sleep in their own beds and go through their normal pre-game routines.

As the Mustangs seek their first state title since 2006 and play in their first chipper since 2012, the community support up north should play a factor, too.

“The town will probably shut down at 1 o’clock, and hopefully everybody’s at the game and supporting us,” Oxarart said.

Manhattan found itself in the same spot this time last year, one game away from a Class B state championship, its first since 2020. The only two differences were the location (the Tigers played at home) and the opponent (Florence-Carlton). The Falcons beat Manhattan 21-14 in overtime, ending its season just a few plays short.

While Kragt said his team would’ve loved a rematch against the Falcons, the head coach said his team’s experience in big moments should still help the squad this go round.

“They’ve been in big moments,” Kragt said. “We’ve seen that this year when we got down in a couple games, and just didn’t look at the scoreboard. We focused on the possession and came out on top.

“That experience is a great thing to have going into this game.”

The seasoned, battle-scar-ridden nature of the Tigers is something Malta is keenly aware of.

“We’ll have to stop the run, but they also have a great ability to pass,” Oxarart said. “They’re going to take what the defense gives ’em, it’s a challenge to stop them. Their experience is scary, too.

“I’m sure they’re the most physical team we’ll see all year, we’ll have to play our best game Saturday.”

Similarly to Malta, Manhattan can attack opposing teams in a variety of ways. Establishing the line of scrimmage, and with it the running game, is the goal, but third-year starting quarterback Michael Steward is more than capable of stretching the field, too.

The senior signal-caller has led an offense that’s scored more than 30 points in all but two games this season.

“Each game, we want to be multidimensional,” Kragt said.

After a first-round 47-8 win over Baker, the Tigers faced their toughest test in months against the Eureka Lions. The Tigers eked out a 16-11 win, though, setting up a road test against Red Lodge. Manhattan passed with flying colors, not just booking a trip to the state championship but notching a road-playoff victory under its belt before the big one.

“I think it could really go either way when it comes down to it,” Kragt said of the title game.