Class B football playoffs: Eureka travels to Loyola; Bigfork hosts Florence
Eureka gets a shot at redemption while Bigfork hopes that home field magic lives on as the Class B football playoffs get under way today.
Eureka (5-3 overall) travels to Missoula to tangle with Loyola Sacred Heart (6-2) for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff. Those two teams met on Sept. 9, the second weekend of the regular season in Missoula, with Loyola claiming a 21-13 victory.
Eureka was ranked No. 7 at the time and Loyola was No. 10. Both are currently unranked.
Defending state champion Bigfork (7-1), on the other hand, is home to face Florence (6-2). That kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
Bigfork, ranked No. 4, and Florence did not meet during the regular season.
Bigfork is 4-0 at home this fall, was 8-0 a year ago (which included four home playoff wins), and has won a total of 14-straight home games.
The last home loss was in 2009 to Fairfield, according to Bigfork head coach Todd Emslie.
Bigfork, the District 7B champ, also enters this matchup riding a seven-game winning streak. The Vikings lost their season opener to Ronan.
"It was good for us," Emslie said of that experience.
"We had a lot of kids back from the championship team. We thought we could just show up and we would win.
"We've gotten a little better every week," Emslie said.
"We've improved in one facet or another. We've had little letdowns here and there like last week when we had three turnovers and that's not good, but we've been building since that first loss."
In the first Loyola-Eureka matchup, the Rams led 21-0 after three quarters before Eureka stormed back.
"We didn't play our greatest game down there," Eureka coach Ed Newell said.
"We had some new kids in new positions. We were trying to play our way through."
What stood out in that contest was Loyola scoring on two big plays - a 98-yard pass and a 16-yard TD scamper. Both came on third and long plays.
Loyola's other score was on an 11-yard run.
"Play our assignments defensively," Newell said to keeping Loyola from scoring on big plays again.
"We were not where we wanted to be (defensively in that game). Now we are a little more comfortable in our positions."
Loyola was facing a third and 29 situation when it scored on the 98-yard pass.
Eureka used a big play in that contest to make for a wild finish. The Lions scored on a 65-yard return of a fumble by Chris Ibach and then on a 28-yard pass to Tanner Blankers from quarterback Ryan Holder.
"We got a little life when Ibach stripped the ball," Newell said.
"We just waited too long for that life (to happen)."
After the second TD with 2:21 to play, the Lions recovered the on-side kick. Time just ran out on the comeback attempt.
"We gave ourselves a chance a the end," Newell said.
"If we go play with confidence and believe in ourselves, we will be fine," he said.
Newell said the Lions must also "control the ball offensively."
This marks the fifth year in a row Eureka advances to the postseason. The Lions were in the semifinals three years ago and the quarterfinal round in 2005.
Bigfork is in the playoffs for the second straight fall. The Vikings, who moved from Class A to B in 2009, missed out that year on a tie-breaker.
Florence had its six-game winning streak snapped last Friday at Missoula Loyola, 27-7. Florence, Loyola and Ronan all posted 3-1 marks in District 6B play.
Florence whipped Ronan the week before, 31-14.
"Defensively, they are pretty stout," Emslie said of Florence.
"They have given up some points, but they're a team that if they get going (offensively) with their skilled kids, they are a force to be reckoned with. They beat Ronan handily."
Bigfork is just as dangerous offensively, led by running back Cody Dopps and quarterback Colter Mahlum.
Dopps tied the school record for touchdowns in a game on Oct. 21 with five in a 49-7 win over Eureka.
"At times we're explosive," Emslie said.
"I think our defense is better this year ... more physical. Some of these kids have played 2-3 years. They are better tacklers, they understand our plan, scheme."
Bigfork
Rushing
Att Yds Avg TD YPG
Cody Dopps 157 1,097 7.0 19 137.10
Austin Jordt 24 237 9.9 4 29.60
Ian Lorang 23 139 6.0 3 17.40
Alex Ruiz 31 123 4.0 0 15.40
Passing
Com Att Yds TD INT YPG
Colter Mahlum 58 112 923 9 2 115.40
Receiving
Rec Yds Avg TD
Cody Dopps 18 258 14.3 1
Connor Coleman 16 298 18.6 3
Ian Lorang 11 214 19.5 1
Chris Landon 10 184 18.4 4
Eureka
Rushing
Att Yds Avg TD
Chris Ibach 135 878 6.50 10
Curtis McDuffie 24 114 4.75 NA
Passing
Com Att Yds TD INT
Ryan Holder 75 156 1,275 13 6
Receiving
Rec Yds Avg
Bryce Barthmess 32 352 11.16
Tanner Blankers 16 232 14.50
Chris Ibach 7 136 19.43
Bryton Guckenberg 13 472 31.47