Bigfork still running strong

BIGFORK - Believe it Bigfork! You're playing for a state championship in football.

The 10th-ranked Vikings, who struggled through several winless seasons in Class A earlier this decade, earned a spot in the Class B title game by knocking off No. 3 Cut Bank 28-14 in a semifinal matchup on a damp and dreary Saturday afternoon.

Bigfork, which has already hosted three straight playoff games, will now entertain No. 7 Fairfield in the finale on Saturday at 1 p.m. Both teams are 9-2.

Fairfield advanced with a 44-12 semifinal victory on Saturday over No. 2 Manhattan/Manhattan Christian.

This will be Fairfield's fourth straight trip to the finals. The Eagles have finished second all four years.

Fairfield and Bigfork met earlier this season in Fairfield with the Eagles winning 26-7 on Oct. 8.

Christian Ker, Cody Dopps and Travis Knoll were once again the key figures in Bigfork's touchdowns while Dillon Charlebois was perfect on all four extra-point kicks.

Ker's 5-yard touchdown run with 3:11 left in the opening half tied the game at 7-all.

Dopps then ripped off a 15-yard touchdown, sneaking into the end zone with just one second left on the clock, pushing Bigfork in front of Cut Bank 14-7 at the half.

Knoll, 150 yards on 29 carries, had touchdown runs of 18 and 5 yards in the second half. His 29-yard pass reception set up his final score.

"It's the highest it's ever been," Dopps said of the euphoria surrounding the team right now.

"It kinda started last year when we won our first game. Then this year to be going to a state championship game, it's unbelievable.

"When we started the season, we knew this could be something special," he added.

"Heading to the state championship, I don't know if any of us saw that."

Dopps had one of his best outings of the season, rushing for 121 yards on 19 carries.

On his scoring run, Dopps said he was thinking of only one thing - touchdown.

"We have to get it," he said.

"We have to get up by another seven points to get it going.

"I saw the hole, just kicked it into second gear, saw the end zone and went for it," he said.

"You have to give (credit) to the line. They open the holes for Travis and me."

It turned out to be a great call. With less than 10 seconds left in the half, everyone was expecting a pass.

"It was a play I felt like I had to try it," Bigfork coach Todd Emslie said.

"Cut Bank was expecting a pass, we went with a run there. He bounced it to the outside and made one heck of a run."

Ker rushed for nearly as many yards, 51, as he passed, 86. But he kept several drives alive with key fourth-down runs and third-down pass completions.

"He had the best game of his career," Emslie said.

"It really doesn't show in the stats, but the things he showed on the field and moving the sticks. He was inspired today, not doubt about it. He had absolute control of the game."

Bigfork produced another big offensive show on the ground with 322 yards, while the Viking defense held Cut Bank to 203 yards total offense.

"We played a really good football team today," Emslie said.

"Our defense really stepped up again. Cut Bank has a dynamite offense. Everybody is making plays and contributing."

Cut Bank 7 0 0 7 - 14

Bigfork 0 14 7 7 - 28

Cut Bank - Dylan Smith 2 run (Nathan Voeller kick), 8:50

Bigfork - Christian Ker 5 run (Dillon Charlebois kick), 3:11

Bigfork - Cody Dopps 15 run (Charlebois kick), 1.0

Bigfork - Knoll 18 run (Charlebois kick), 3:04

Cut Bank - Kyle Berkram 9 pass from Smith (Voeller kick), 8:55

Bigfork - Knoll 5 run (Charlebois kick), 7:21

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CB B

First downs 12 21

Rushing yards 121 322

Passing yards 82 86

Passing (att-com-int) 12-29-1 7-16-0

Penalties 8-90 7-55

Fumbles 0-0 0-0

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Cut Bank, NA; Bigfork, Travis Knoll 29-150, Cody Dopps 19-121, Christian 11-51.

PASSING - Cut Bank, Dylan Smith 12-29-82-1-1; Bigfork, Christian Ker 7-16-0-0.

RECEIVING - Cut Bank, NA; Bigfork Conner Coleman 4-48, Knoll 1-29.