DiGiallonardo, Pirates whip Wildcats
COLUMBIA FALLS - Last year Columbia Falls spoiled Polson's homecoming.
Friday night, Polson ruined Columbia Falls'.
The fifth-ranked Pirates (4-0 overall and 1-0 league) gave up an early score, but rattled off five touchdowns after that for a convincing 36-7 Northwestern A football victory.
Connor Williams returned an interception 32 yards to stake the Wildcats to an early 7-0 lead before Polson senior quarterback Vince DiGiallonardo took over.
He scored on runs of 32, 29 and 3 yards and Chris Cote and Paul McClurg also found the end zone on short runs.
DiGiallonardo rushed 15 times for 75 yards.
"We had three starters out and we struggled on offense," Columbia Falls coach Bill Coleman said.
"They are an explosive football team."
Polson came into the contest having not given up any points this season. The Pirate defense is still unscored upon.
The 36 points by the offense was also a season low for Polson, which was averaging just over 41.
Columbia Falls (2-2 and 0-1) steps out of league play next Friday at Livingston, while Polson travels to Whitefish for another homecoming contest.
Polson 7 14 8 7 - 36
Columbia Falls 7 0 0 0 - 7
Columbia Falls - Connor Williams 32 interception return (Austin Barth kick)
Polson - Vince DiGiallonardo 32 (Justin Hoel kick)
Polson - DiGiallonardo 29 run (kick failed)
Polson - Chris Cote 1 run (Ian Laimbeer pass from DiGiallonardo)
Polson - DiGiallonardo 3 run (Laimbeer run)
Polson - Paul McClurg 3 run (Hoel kick)
Bigfork 56, Plains 6
BIGFORK - Cody Dopps scored on touchdown runs of 16 and 17 yards and returned an interception 17 yards for another score and Ian Lorang hauled in a 39-yard TD pass and returned a kickoff 83 yards for another as Bigfork crushed Plains in the District 7B opener for both teams.
Bigfork's Ron Lowdermilk also returned a fumble 16 yards for a touchdown.
Bigfork (3-1 and 1-0) led 49-6 at the half.
"We played an all-around great football game, in all phases," said Bigfork coach Todd Emslie.
"I couldn't be happier with the effort. It's good to get the first win in the district."
Bigfork continues with league play, hosting Troy on Friday for homecoming.
Plains 6 0 0 0 - 6
Bigork 21 28 7 0 - 56
Bigfork - Ian Lorang 39 pass from Colter Mahlum (Dillon Charlebois kick)
Bigfork - Cody Dopps 16 run (Charlebois kick)
Plains - No. 13 91 interception return (kick failed)
Bigfork - Lorang 83 kickoff return (Charlebois kick)
Bigfork - Austin Jordt 46 run (Charlebois kick)
Bigfork - Dopps 17 interception return (Charlebois kick)
Bigfork - Dopps 17 run (Charlebois kick)
Bigfork - Ron Lowdermilk 14 fumble recovery (Charlebois kick)
Bigfork - Boyd Rieke 6 run (Charlebois kick)
Libby 28,
Whitefish 25
LIBBY - Chase Hoyer scored three touchdowns on runs of 6, 6 and 69 yards to help Libby hold on for a Northwestern A victory over Whitefish.
Whitefish (2-2 and 0-1) closed to within three, 28-25, on a 30-yard pass from Connor Donahue to Chris Forrest and a two-point conversion pass from Donahue to Gage Vasquez.
Libby (3-2 and 1-0) trailed 10-9 at the half and 17-15 heading into the fourth quarter.
Libby rolled up 259 yards on the ground to Whitefish's 49, but the Bulldogs controlled the air waves 360-38.
Hoyer had 120 yards rushing on 15 attempts.
Donahue was 10 of 13 passing for 191 yards and two TDs and Forrest was 12 of 27 for 169 yards.
Logan Harwood had seven receptions for 103 yards and one score and Forrest had four catches for 102 yards.
Whitefish hosts No. 5 Polson next Friday for homecoming, while Libby plays a league game at Frenchtown.
Whitefish 10 0 7 8 - 25
Libby 9 0 6 13 - 28
Libby - Patrick Valentine 26 field goal
Libby - Chase Hoyer 6 run (kick failed)
Whitefish - Logan Harwood 22 pass from Connor Donahue (Chris Forrest kick)
Whitefish - Koler Kanistanaux 20 field goal
Whitefish - Chris Forrest 21 run (Kanistanaux kick)
Libby - Hoyer 6 run (kick failed)
Libby - Hoyer 69 run (kick failed)
Libby - Micah Germany 10 run (Valentine kick
Whitefish - Forrest 30 pass from Donahue (Gage Vasquez pass from Donahue)
Eureka 12, Troy 6
TROY - Eureka did all of its scoring in the first half in downing Troy in District 7B play.
Ryan Holder and Tanner Blankers hooked up on a 60-yard TD pass in the first quarter and Chris Ibach scored on a 10-yard run in the second quarter.
Eureka (3-1 and 1-0) hosts Florence next Friday in a homecoming contest. Troy (0-4 and 0-1) plays at Bigfork.
Eureka 6 6 0 0 - 12
Troy 0 0 0 6 - 6
E - Tanner Blankers 60 pass from Ryan Holder (pass failed)
E - Chris Ibach 10 run (pass failed)
T - Cody Orr 20 pass from Gabe Hickman (run failed)