Sidney football team coming to Libby
Loggers looking to improve to 5-4 in playoffs under Fuller
In the late 1980s and early 90s, a playoff game against the Sidney High School football team meant certain death to an opponent's season.
Three seasons for the Libby Loggers in those years ended just that way to the winners of seven straight state titles.
But times have changed.
The Neil Fuller-led Loggers ended that playoff drought in Sidney with a 35-34 overtime victory in the 2004 playoffs.
Now, the Loggers and Eagles will renew that playoff rivalry Saturday in Libby with a quarterfinal playoff game, starting at 1 p.m.
Sporting a 7-2 record, including a 55-25 playoff victory over Belgrade last weekend, the Eagles earned the No. 2 seed out of the Eastern A. Their only losses were to Billings Central, 42-13, and Hardin, 33-31.
The Loggers have tasted defeat on the field just once in the last 20 games - and that was a one-point heartbreaker to two-time defending state champ Dillon in last year's semifinals. They've outscored opponents this year, 395-78.
They've got a junior quarterback (Joel Fuller) who has thrown for 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns, a senior running back (Jeremy Chumley) who has run for 1,000 yards and 21 touchdowns and a senior receiver (Zach Rowan) who has 800 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Their defense allows just 80 yards rushing and 84 yards passing per game and has intercepted 20 passes this season. Rowan has seven picks and classmate Loren Nelson has five.
They'll all be tested by the team that scored 55 points and forced seven turnovers, including six interceptions, last week.
The Eagles scored four touchdowns - all on offense - in the first quarter against Belgrade.
Senior running back Trent Thomas - who led the Richland County baseball team at the state tourney in Libby this summer - scored on two short runs and threw a halfback pass 35 yards for another TD in the opening quarter alone. The linebacker on defense finished with 169 yards rushing, including a 79-yard TD run in the fourth quarter, and three touchdowns on 14 carries. He also caught two passes for 14 yards and a 2-point conversion on top of the TD pass.
All told, the Sidney offense ran 45 times for 279 yards and completed seven of 10 passes for 146 yards.
Veteran coach Mike Gear returned eight starters from last year's Sidney squad. Matt Brenner is a three-year regular at tackle and also serves as the team's kicker. Brenner was a second-team all-conference pick at kicker, as was Beau Melby at fullback and Jordan Reidmann at inside linebacker. Lineman Josh Moore, Thomas at linebacker and tight end-linebacker Devin Bell also had starting experience prior to this year.