Bigfork marches past Eureka
BIGFORK - Start fast and finish tough.
It's been Bigfork's M.O. (modus operandi) all fall.
The Vikings scored touchdowns on their first three possessions and held Eureka to one second-half score for an impressive 34-14 District 7B football victory Friday night.
Travis Knoll scooted for 177 yards on 24 carries and scored two touchdowns, while tight end Connor Coleman caught a pair of touchdown passes and recovered a fumble, which also led to a Bigfork trip to the end zone.
Knoll ran 5 yards for a score and hauled in a 32-yard TD pass from quarterback Christian Ker.
Ker, who completed 6 of 12 passes for 132 yards, hit Coleman on a quick 6-yard strike to give Bigfork the early lead, then lofted a pretty pass to a wide-open Coleman, who made a dandy over-the-shoulder catcher for a 35-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
"We've jumped out in every single game we've played (to an early lead)," Bigfork coach Todd Emslie said.
"The first quarter, we've pretty much owned so far."
Bigfork (3-1 overall and 2-0 league) took the opening kickoff and marched 56 yards in five plays for the touchdown.
Thanks to Ian Lorang's 23-yard punt return, Bigfork's second possession started on Eureka's 33- yard line. On the next play, Cody Dopps darted 33 yards for the touchdown, putting Bigfork on top 14-0 with 8:21 remaining in the opening quarter. Dopps finished with 73 yards on 14 carries.
Bigfork's third possession consisted of a 61-yard scoring drive in seven plays.
Bigfork outgained Eureka (2-2 and 1-1) in the opening quarter 151 yards to six.
"Our offensive line is tough," Emslie said.
"People have their hands full with us there."
With Knoll and Dopps picking their way through Eureka's defense, Bigfork's passing game enjoyed a banner night.
"It sets up the passing game so nicely when you can run," Emslie said.
"Ker, he's a stud, a good athlete. He showed a lot of poise. He's done that every game this year."
Emslie said Eureka played a 3-5 front, "which brings a lot of pressure. You have eight guys in the box. It leaves the seams open. When you have a guy like Travis Knoll running out there, you better have him accounted for."
All three touchdown passes by Ker were in the seams.
"Those guys are big up front," Eureka coach Ed Newell said of Bigfork's line.
"The backs just pick their holes, then they explode. When they explode, they go. They're so fast."
Knoll had a 57-yard TD run called back on a holding call in the first half, and Eureka missed out on a touchdown when Ryan Holder dropped a sure TD pass.
Eureka quarterback Colin Gillard gave the Lions some life just before the first half ended when he hooked up with a leaping Andrew Derby on a 55-yard TD strike.
Gillard hit Bryton Guckenberg on an 80-yard touchdown bomb with 3:24 left in play.
Gillard was 15 of 30 passing for 218 yards. He was intercepted in the end zone by Kenji Sagami and also by Colter Trent along the sideline.
"It's a good win for us," Emslie said.
"Playing Eureka, who is a perennial power in the conference, (tough) on both sides of the ball tonight was huge. Our defensive coaches Ed Buttrey and Fred Sternhan dialed up some pressure. It was nice."
Eureka was held without a first down until 7:17 was left in the first half.
The Lions did put together a couple of nice drives with Gillard scrambling for his life to complete passes, and hard running by Chris Ibach and Taylor Vaughn, 11 carries for 42 yards. However, the Lions failed to finish those.
"When we did carry out our assignments, we moved the ball," Newell.
"No excuses. Today, they (Vikings) played better. They are well coached and have some athletes."
Bigfork hosts Thompson Falls on Friday, while Eureka entertains Plains.
Eureka 0 7 0 7 - 14
Bigfork 20 6 8 0 - 34
B - Connor Coleman 6 pass from Christian Ker (Dillon Charlebois kick)
B - Cody Dopps 33 run (Charlebois kick)
B - Travis Knoll 5 run (kick failed)
B - Coleman 35 pass from Ker (kick failed)
E - Andrew Derby 55 pass from Colin Gillard (Ryan Holder kick)
B - Knoll 32 pass from Ker (Knoll run)
E - Bryton Guckenberg 80 pass from Gillard (Holder kick)
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Individual Statistics
RUSHING - Eureka, Taylor Vaughn 11-42; Bigfork, Travis Knoll 24-177, Cody Dopps 14-73.
PASSING - Eureka, Colin Gillard 15-30-218; Bigfork, Christian Ker 6-12-132.
RECEIVING - Eureka, Ryan Holder 6-41; Bryton Guckenberg 2-91; Bigfork, Knoll 3-84, Connor Coleman 2-41.