Class B football semis: Valiant Vikings fall to Mustangs
MALTA — Reid Robinson rushed for 222 yards on 37 attempts and scored a late insurance touchdown on a 2-yard run to keep second-ranked Malta undefeated on the season with a 23-13 Class B semifinal football playoff victory over Bigfork on Saturday.
Malta (11-0) will host Missoula Loyola on Saturday for the Class B state championship game.
Seventh-ranked Bigfork (9-2) held a 6-0 lead on a 98-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Colter Trent to Chris Landon in the second quarter.
The extra point kick was block.
That marked the first time this season Malta trailed in a game.
The Mustangs responded with a 37-yard field goal by Dalton Brookie and a 29-yard touchdown pass from Kendall Denham to Spencer VanWichen to lead 10-6 at the half.
Malta returned an interception 35 yards for a score in the third period to put Malta on top 16-6.
Bigfork closed to within three, 16-13, in the fourth period on a 5-yard run by Josh Sandry.
Robinson then iced the game with his touchdown run.
Game conditions were brutal with game-time temperatures in the teens, a brisk wind and snow.
“It was bad,” Bigfork coach Todd Emslie said.
Although Malta received 14 inches of snow on Friday, Emslie said “the people had the football field in great shape.”
Malta rolled up 307 yards rushing to go with 99 passing.
Trent had a big day passing, hitting 17 of 39 for 247 yards.
Landon finished with six receptions for 138 yards. Austin Jordt had nine catches totaling 70 yards.
“These kids played so hard,” Emslie said. “I can’t say it enough about how proud I am of these guys, their gutty efforts. They did it again today. They just came up short.”
Emslie said Bigfork had the momentum after Sandry’s short TD run to get Bigfork within three.
“A good game for us,” Emslie said. “Just happy (with the performance). We had a great season.”
Malta knocked Bigfork out of the playoffs a year ago 42-0 in the quarterfinal round in Bigfork.
Bigfork won the Class B state championship in 2010.
Bigfork 0 6 0 7 — 13
Malta 0 10 6 7 — 23
Bigfork — Chris Landon 98 pass from Colter Trent (kick blocked)
Malta — 37 field goal by Dalton Brookie
Malta — Spencer VanWichen 29 pass from Kendall Denham (Brookie kick)
Malta —Tucker Schye 35 interception return (kick blocked)
Bigfork — Josh Sandry 5 run (Austin Jordt kick)
Malta — Reid Robinson 2 run (Brookie kick)
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B M
First downs 8 22
Rushes-yard 11-30 64-307
Passing yards 247 99
Passing 17-38-1 7-16-1
Fumbles-lost 1-0 6-1
Penalties 5-30 7-55
Individual Statistics
Rushing — Bigfork, no leaders; Malta, Reid Robinson 37-222.
Passing — Bigfork, Colter Trent 17-39-1-247; Malta, Kendall Denham 7-16-1-99.
Receiving — Bigfork, Austin Jordt 9-70, Chris Landon 6-138; Malta, Spencer VanWichen 2-46.
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At Missoula
Baker 2 8 7 0 – 17
Loyola 13 21 12 8 – 54
First quarter
L – Forestt Cooper 51 pass from Bo Hughes (Eric Williams kick), 7:01
L – Patrick Kosena 6 pass from Hughes (kick missed), 6:05
B – Safety (Hughes intentional grounding in end zone), 0:42
Second quarter
B – Jordan Walker 1 run (Sheldon Ridenhower pass from Walker), 8:34
L – Hughes 80 kick return (Williams kick), 8:21
L – Cooper 25 pass from Hughes (kick missed), 5:22
L – Josh Janssen 12 pass from Hughes (Janssen pass from Hughes), 2:44
Third quarter
L – Marty Pigeon 52 pass from Hughes (kick blocked), 11:29
L – Hughes 1 run (pass failed), 4:57
B – Mason Melby 4 run (Jordan Gray kick), 0:04
Fourth quarter
L – Tony Madsen 34 run (Cooper pass from Hughes), 11:31
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Baker (53-222): Mason Melby 15-97, Jordan Walker 17-52, Ethan Taylor 12-29, Jonathan Wiseman 4-22, Zach Cole 5-22. Loyola (17-86): Tony Madsen 1-34, Marty Pigeon 2-31, Bo Hughes 6-17, Austin Dahlen 4-2, Aidan Collins 2-2, Stephen Sellman 2-0.
PASSING – Baker: Walker 2-14-4–11. Loyola: Hughes 10-21-0–217, Sellman 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING – Baker: Shelby Shipman 1-6, Cole Junso 1-5. Loyola: Forestt Cooper 3-93, Josh Janssen 3-50, Pigeon 1-31, Max Haller 1-12, Patrick Kosena 1-6, Matt McHugh 1-4.