Class B football: Choteau at Bigfork in playoff opener, Eureka travels to No. 1 Manhattan

Bigfork and Choteau get the jump on Class B football playoff action when the two foes square off tonight in Bigfork at 7 in a first-round contest.

The other seven first-round games are slated for Saturday, which includes District 7B runner-up Eureka (3-5) at top-ranked Manhattan/Manhattan Christian (8-0). That kickoff will take place at noon.

The seventh-ranked Vikings enter with a 7-1 mark while Choteau is unranked and 5-3 on the season.

“Those losses are against three very good football teams,” Bigfork coach Todd Emslie said of Conrad’s setbacks.

 The Bulldogs lost to Manhattan/Manhattan Christian 27-6 in the season opener, to No. 5 Fairfield in late September 35-27, and to No. 2 Malta earlier this month 28-6.

Bigfork faced just one ranked team, falling at No. 3 Missoula Loyola 49-0.

“It was a great night for Loyola, a bad night for Bigfork,” Emslie said of the battle in Missoula.

“We didn’t play very well at all. They did. They’re a good football team.”

Emslie said that loss is far behind the team thanks to a 41-6 victory over Eureka last week. That gave the Vikings the District 7B title and a first-round playoff game at home.

“It took us awhile to get going against Eureka, get back to what we do,” Emslie said.

“I don’t know if that was the result of the Loyola game.

“It’s gone (loss to Loyola). We’re looking at it as a positive.”

Bigfork and Choteau have one common foe — Conrad. The Vikings won that matchup 42-0. Choteau won 41-12 last week.

 “They are really big up front,” Emslie said of Choteau.

“They will come at you with an I, will run a power game. They have a couple quarterbacks they work in there. Both are good runners and can throw the ball.”

Emslie said the Bulldogs are an experienced, senior-heavy team.

Choteau will have to contend with an explosive Bigfork attack that has scored at least 40 points in four games and 32 and 35 points in two other outings.

Quarterback Colter Trent has enjoyed an outstanding season, passing for 1,500 yards. He has 21 TD passes and has thrown just seven interceptions.

Austin Jordt and Chris Landon have been his two favorite targets.

Boyd Rieke powers the ground game with 800 yards in seven games.

“Offensively we still need to do a better job holding onto the football,” Emslie said.

Snow and damp conditions could be a factor.

“We have put the ball on the ground a couples times, but we have recovered those. The field will be sloppy and turnovers will be a key. Footing will be an issue,” he said.

Bigfork went 1-1 in home playoff action last year. The year before, the Vikings were 4-0 en route to a state championship.

Eureka has perhaps the toughest assignment in the opening round versus Manhattan/Manhattan Christian. A road game makes it even more challenging.

“That’s what happens when you take second (in the district) instead of first,” Eureka coach Trevor Utter said.

“You will have a tough draw.”

Eureka put back-to-back wins together for the second time this season before falling at Bigfork last week. The Lions were missing their starting quarterback — junior Austin Perez — for that contest.

“He missed that game with a shoulder injury,” Utter said.

“We’re hoping he’s able to throw and do everything. The question we’ll find out Saturday is how he will take a hit.”

The Lions’ Chris Ibach leads the team in rushing with 918 yards and 11 touchdowns,.

Dalton Smith is the leading receiver with 312 yards and three TD receptions.

If Perez can’t finish Saturday, the Lions will look to backup Brandon Conard again. He threw for 150 yards and two touchdowns taking over for Perez against Thompson Falls.

Eureka’s Cole Jankovsky, linebacker/running back, and Ashton Dierman, outside linebacker/tight end, are also nursing sore ankles.

“If those guys are healthy and good to go, that will make a big difference,” Utter said.

“If we can hang with them up front,” Utter said of his biggest worry with Manhattan/Manhattan Christian.

“Their defensive and offensive linemen are great players. Our skill position guys can hang with theirs.

“They do everything well,” he added.

“Throw the ball, run the ball. Their quarterback is a great athlete.”

Eureka will leave for Saturday’s game this morning. The team has scheduled a one-hour workout at the University of Montana’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium at noon.

Utter was a wide receiver at UM (1994-98).

“That will be neat for the kids,” Utter said.

“There was an open window for us to get on (the field). We don’t want to pass an opportunity like that.”