Big play pushes Libby past C-Falls
Libby's Philip England (32) goes airborne to intercept the ball from Columbia Falls receiver Kevin Boyer during the first half of Friday night's homecoming game at Columbia Falls High School. The Loggers defeated the Wildcats 15-6. Craig Moore/Daily Inter Lake
COLUMBIA FALLS - Wet, cold, miserable.
The conditions Friday night at the Columbia Falls football field were less than desirable.
But the bus ride home for the Libby Loggers was filled with sunshine and warmth as the Loggers (3-3 overall, 1-1 Northwest A Conference) celebrated a 15-6 football victory over the Wildcats (2-3, 1-1).
"That's a good football team and we played them tough," said Columbia Falls coach John Thompson.
"I don't know … we made some mental mistakes that really cost us."
That's been Libby's story in recent weeks, too.
"We've been shooting ourselves in the foot," Libby coach Neil Fuller said.
According to Fuller, turnovers cost the Loggers three touchdowns in last week's loss at Polson.
"The kids played well enough to win, and that can be real disheartening," he said.
That made Friday's contest a big deal for both teams.
"I told the kids, this is the biggest game they'll
play in," Fuller said.
"Columbia Falls is a good team, well-coached," he
said.
A steady rain that began about three hours before
kickoff and grew only stronger as the game wore on
made it a good night to run the football - the only
completed passes by either team were interceptions.
The teams were mired in a scoreless tie at half .
The deepest foray by either was a first-and-goal in
the first quarter for the Wildcats at the Libby 10
after a Kevin Boyer interception.
But the drive bogged down quickly and the Wildcats
turned the ball over on downs at the 17.
By the half, the Loggers had managed to generate 27
total yards and the Wildcats 63.
Somebody clearly was due for a big play.
It was the Loggers - a 79-yarder by senior tailback
Rusty Niccarato on the second play from scrimmage in
the third quarter.
Option right was the call and Niccarato managed to
turn the corner.
All he saw was "the end zone and a big win," Niccarato
grinned afterward. "This puts us back on track to win
a state championship."
"He has great speed," Fuller said of the senior.
"We've been trying to get the ball to him on the
outside. Our quarterback (Kyle Baker) did a great job
getting him the ball."
In an instant, the Loggers were on track - in both
Friday's game and in the conference.
But the Wildcats weren't about to just take it,
either.
Senior linebacker Michael Piper stepped in front of a
Logger handoff minutes later and returned the ball 44
yards for a Wildcat touchdown. But the two-point
conversion failed.
The Wildcat offense never really moved the ball after
that. One drive went four plays and resulted in a
punt, another went four plays and resulted in a safety
for Libby.
"Our defense can't play the whole second half and
expect to beat a team like that," Thompson said.
"The defense did a nice job, stuck to their
responsibilities," he said.
The Loggers play host next Friday to Whitefish, while
the Wildcats have Polson at home.
"This puts us in a situation where we need to win two
out of the next three," Thompson said.
"Polson is good and Whitefish is good."
LOGGERS 15, WILDCATS 6
Libby 0 0 7 8 - 15
Columbia Falls 0 0 6 0 - 6
Third Quarter
L - Rusty Niccarato 79 run (Shilling kick), 11:30.
C - Michael Piper 44 fumble return (pass failed),
6:07.
Fourth Quarter
L - Safety, 6:21.
L - Jake Graham 5 run (kick failed), 1:23.