Class A football playoffs: Wildcats rip Havre
COLUMBIA FALLS — Columbia Falls (9-0) rolled over Havre (6-5), displaying its offensive firepower in a 46-7 blowout of the second seed from the Central A in the Class A football quarterfinals on Saturday at Satterthwaite Field.
The Wildcats offense scored touchdowns on seven of nine possessions to start the game. Senior running back Zach Darling ran for 157 yards and four touchdowns and quarterback Jared Trinastich threw for 345 yards and three more scores in the rout.
“We missed some opportunities early, but we don’t let a lot of things faze us,” Columbia Falls coach Jackson Schweikert said.
“We keep doing what we do and know it will eventually go our way.”
Columbia Falls was nearly unstoppable, scoring on its first possession on a pass from Trinastich to a wide open Trevor Houston for a touchdown to set the tone.
The Wildcats were stopped just twice in the first half, once on a missed field goal and the other on an interception in the end zone just before half, driving inside the 10-yard line each time.
Much of the offense was put on the back of Darling, who picked up tough yards for the Wildcats and had six runs of 10 yards or longer. He put the game out of reach in the second half, ending any hope the Blue Ponies had of fighting back.
Havre, which scored a touchdown and got a turnover just before halftime, could have stolen momentum early in the third quarter.
Darling plowed his way methodically down the field, scoring on a sweep from 11 yards out to open the second half. After Havre drove to the Wildcats’ 16-yard line before stalling out on its first possession, it was Darling again to deliver the crushing blow.
Facing fourth-and-1 at its own 29, Columbia Falls handed the ball to Darling, who not only picked up the first down, but ran 20 yards to midfield. Trinastich connected with Ty Morgan on a deep ball on the next play to set up another 5-yard power run from Darling for a touchdown to put the Wildcats up 33-7 and put the game out of reach.
Darling scored again on a 13-yard run to cap the scoring before the Wildcats put in their backups.
“He’s one of the best running backs in the state and our offensive line is playing outstanding,” Schweikert said.
“When we run the ball and run it well, we’re really hard to beat.”
Morgan led the Wildcats in receiving with 103 yards and Alex Presnell had 82 yards and a touchdown. Mark Hader had two catches for 73 yards, including a fantastic 38-yard screen for a touchdown.
Columbia Falls’ defense held its own as well, sacking Havre quarterback Dane Warp seven times and holding the Blue Ponies to the fewest points they’ve scored in regulation this season.
The Wildcats hit the road next week, where they will play at Billings Central in the state semifinals. The Rams beat Hamilton 55-10 on Saturday.
“Our kids are playing well right now,” Schweikert said.
“We feel like if our run game is working well, we’re going to be a tough out.”
Dillon beat Laurel 54-27 and Belgrade beat Whitefish 27-20 in the other two Class A matchups. If Columbia Falls is able to win next week in Billings, it would host the championship game.
“There’s some good teams in the final four, it’s going to be tough but we’re going to work as hard as we can to get (to the championship),” Darling said.
Havre 0 7 0 0 — 7
Columbia Falls 7 13 13 13 — 46
CF — Trevor Houston 8 pass from Jared Trinastich (Presnell kick)
CF — Zach Darling 7 run (kick failed)
CF — Mark Hader 38 pass from Trinastich (Presnell kick)
H — Parker Filius 1 run (kick good)
CF — Darling 11 run (Presnell kick)
CF — Darling 5 run (kick failed)
CF — Presnell 16 pass from Trinastich (Presnell kick)
CF — Darling 13 run (kick failed)
————
Other Quarterfinal Games Saturday
Hamilton 7 0 3 0 — 10
Central 21 14 13 7 — 55
First Quarter
BC — Holden Ryan 46 run (Benton Braesicke kick), 10:14
BC — Ryan 64 pass from Bryce Hawbaker (Braesicke kick), 7:18
BC — Jesse Byorth 28 run (Braesicke kick), 3:07
H — Josh Bauder 1 run (Karill Apedaile kick), :32
Second Quarter
BC — Kyle Gunderson 47 run (Braesicke kick), 10:03
BC — Ryan 47 run (Braesicke kick), 7:27
Third Quarter
BC — Ryan 33 run (kick failed), 11:10
H — Apedaile 35 field goal, 3:49
BC — Sean Ward 20 run (Braesicke kick), 1:16
Fourth Quarter
BC — Jacob Hadley 23 interception return (Josh Kraft kick), 4:23
Laurel 0 12 8 7 — 27
Dillon 12 28 14 0 — 54
First quarter
D — JD Ferris 4-yard run (kick failed), 9:26
D — Troy Scott 13-yard pass from Ferris (pass failed), 1:31
Second Quarter
D — Mick Paffhausen 85-yard punt return (Ferris run), 8:33
L — Jonah Oberg 65-yard pass from Tyler Thompson (kick blocked), 8:19
D — Paffhausen 70-yard pass from Ferris (Payton Lafrentz kick), 8:00
D — Paffhausen 26-yard pass from Ferris (Kick blocked), 3:48
D — Paffhausen 16-yard pass from Ferris (Lafrentz kick), 1:17
L — Brandon Kubitz 11-yard pass from Thompson (pass failed), :01.7
Third Quarter
D — Paffhausen 17-yard pass from Ferris (Paffhausen kick), 9:49
D — Paffhausen 38-yard interception return (Lafrentz kick), 7:22
L — Muchael Buster 5-yard touchdown run (Thompson pass to Oberg), 3:23
Fourth Quarter
L — Cale Gulden 1-yard run (Connor Ludwig kick), 1:43