Wilson, Wildcats pillage Vikings

By GREG SCHINDLER

The Daily Inter Lake

COLUMBIA FALLS - Sophomore running back Josh Wilson carried the load once again and Columbia Falls scored on two special teams plays as the Wildcats beat Bigfork 33-12 in a Northwestern A game on Friday.

Wilson carried the ball early and often, leading the Wildcats with 235 yards on 37 attempts. He ran 21 times for 140 yards and a touchdown in the second half.

But it was sophomore punter Mackey Nolan who gave Columbia Falls its first lead when he retrieved a botched snap midway through the second quarter and improvised for a 56-yard touchdown run. Steve Brennan added the extra point and the Wildcats led 7-0 with five minutes, 51 seconds to play in the first half.

That score stood at halftime, but Columbia Falls fumbled its kickoff return to start the second half and Bigfork recovered the ball on the Wildcats' 33-yard line.

The Vikings embarked on a five-play drive and senior running back Aaron Vogel scored from 4 yards out to draw Bigfork within one point with 10:44 to play in the third quarter. The Vikings tried to take the lead with a two-point conversion, but Vogel was tackled for a loss on a toss play and the Wildcats led 7-6.

Columbia Falls responded by marching 73 yards on six running plays. Wilson's 1-yard touchdown plunge and Brennan's extra point made it 14-6 with 7:28 left in the third quarter.

Bigfork (0-4, 0-2) drove into Columbia Falls' territory on its next possession, but Steve McNulty intercepted a pass from standout quarterback Dustin Haines, who was hit as he delivered the ball.

Haines passed for 283 yards in Bigfork's loss to Corvallis last week, but Columbia Falls kept Bigfork's potent passing attack in check and Haines completed 11 of 28 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Haines' touchdown came late in

the third quarter when he hit Justin Goode in the front right corner of the end zone from 6 yards out.

The teams played to a stalemate for the next two possessions, but Columbia Falls backed Bigfork to its own 8-yard line and blocked the Vikings' fourth-down punt attempt. The ball popped into the air and landed in the arms of Aaron Horine, who stepped into the end zone. Brennan's third extra point made it 21-12.

Bigfork didn't allow any sacks, but Haines was routinely hammered by Columbia Falls' defense, including senior lineman Keith Catt.

Catt also led a Columbia Falls offensive line which paved the way for 356 rushing yards.

"I'm very proud of the line, I think our line stepped up really nice," Catt said.

Wilson was quick to deflect credit for another personal big game.

"Our offensive line - they blocked like studs," Wilson said.

At only 5-foot-6 and 165 pounds, Wilson ran stronger with each carry.

"When I start getting tired, I pray to my God and ask Him for strength," Wilson said. "Then I relax and realize it's not me, but the abilities He's given me."

Brennan added 56 yards on eight carries and scored two touchdowns in the game's final minutes. His final score came from 4 yards out as time expired.

Bigfork committed 12 penalties, including several personal fouls in the final quarter.

Columbia Falls coach John Thompson said the Wildcats continued to move the ball in the game's final moments rather than take a knee because Bigfork hit Wildcats quarterback Michael Hader when he was already on the ground earlier in the quarter.

Bigfork coach Aaron Stiegeler wasn't happy with the Wildcats' final touchdown.

"I felt that what happened at the end of the game was classless and should not be a part of high school football," Stiegeler said. "Their coaches were telling them to hurry up to run that play and there is no need for that whatsoever."

The Wildcats improved to 3-2, including 2-1 in conference play, but they have a tough road ahead, including games at Whitefish and Libby.

"In order to win any of the next three games, we have to play four quarters of football and we didn't do that tonight," Thompson said.

Thompson was generally pleased with the Wildcats' defensive effort against Bigfork's tremendous passing attack.

"The goal coming in was to try and create some havoc in the backfield and at times we did and at times we didn't," Thompson said.

Stiegeler said his team is improving every week and battled well for three quarters, but Bigfork's offense is still struggling to finish drives.

"We have not been able to sustain our drives this year offensively and so our kids have to learn to focus and get it done when it counts," Stiegeler said. "That's been the problem, we have not focused.

"In the second half we didn't take care of the opportunities we had. Every time you have the ball you have an opportunity to score."

WILDCATS 33, VIKINGS 12

Bigfork 0 0 12 0 - 12

Columbia Falls 0 7 7 19 - 33

Second Quarter

Columbia Falls - Mackey Nolan 56 run (Steve Brennan kick), 5:51

Third Quarter

Bigfork - Aaron Vogel 4 run (conversion failed), 10:44

Columbia Falls - Josh Wilson 1 run (Brennan kick), 7:28

Bigfork - Justin Goode 5 pass from Dustin Haines (conversion failed), :24

Fourth Quarter

Columbia Falls - Aaron Horine returns blocked punt 4 yards (Brennan kick), 7:34

Columbia Falls - Brennan 5 run (kick failed), 2:01

Columbia Falls - Brennan 4 run (no point try), :00

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B CF

First downs 9 16

Rushes-yards 24-58 50-356

Passing yards 110 10

Passing 11-28-1-110 2-10-0-10

Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-2

Penalties 12 6

Individual Statistics

Rushing - Bigfork, Vogel 19-53, Brad Bell 2-5, John White 3-0; Columbia Falls, Wilson 37-235, Brennan 8-56, Nolan 1-56, Michael Hader 4-9

Passing - Bigfork, Haines 11-28-1-110; Columbia Falls, Hader 2-9-0-10, Nolan 0-1-0-0

Receiving - Bigfork, Andrew Whittaker 3-54, Vogel 2-2, Goode 3-33, Bell 2-22; Columbia Falls, Jared Jimmerson 1-5, Nolan 1-5