Prep football polls largely unchanged
Columbia Falls and Bigfork were each third in the last prep football poll of the season for the four smaller classes in Montana. Very little changed in classes A and B, with each of the local schools holding their lofty spots among the elite in the state. For the third straight week, Glacier was No. 2 in Class AA.
Columbia Falls, one of two unbeatens in Class A, came three points shy of second as the league’s poll was unchanged from last week. Dillon and Billings Central held the top two spots, with Belgrade and Laurel holding fourth and fifth. Each of the top four teams have a bye week before hosting a playoff game. Laurel, which finished second to Billings Central in the East, will host Lewistown this weekend.
The Class B poll was also stagnant in the final week of the season, with Bigfork coming in third yet again. Missoula Loyola and Baker continued to hold the top two spots, splitting first-place votes. Following Bigfork was again Forsyth, Glasgow, Jefferson, Fairfield, Huntley Project, Townsend and Deer Lodge.
Bigfork opens its postseason run this weekend against No. 9 Townsend at home.
Glacier entered the final week of the Class AA regular season as the class’ second-ranked team, looking to hold on to the second seed in the playoffs with a win over crosstown-rival Flathead. Bozeman, the state’s last undefeated team at the top level, is in first and will host new-No. 5 Butte this week. Nos. 3 and 4, Helena High and Capital, will also face off in a crosstown battle for the third playoff seed.
Ennis and Geraldine-Highwood finished the Class C season as the top teams in 8-Man and 6-Man.
Montana Prep Football Poll
Class AA
Record Pts Prv
1. Bozeman (8) 9-0 80 1
2. Glacier 8-1 72 2
3. Helena 8-1 64 3
4. Helena Capital 7-2 54 4
5. Butte 6-3 24 NR
Others receiving votes: Great Falls Russell 20, Billings Skyview 6.
Class A
Record Pts Prv
1. Dillon (7) 8-0 70 1
2. Billings Central 7-1 61 2
3. Columbia Falls 8-0 58 3
4. Belgrade 7-2 45 4
5. Laurel 6-3 39 5
Others receiving votes: Whitefish 7.
Class B
Record Pts Prv
1. Missoula Loyola (5) 7-0 68 1
2. Baker (2) 8-0 65 2
3. Bigfork 8-0 54 3
4. Forsyth 7-1 45 4
5. Glasgow 7-1 42 5
6. Jefferson (Boulder) 8-1 33 6
7. Fairfield 6-1 27 7
8. Huntley Project 7-2 22 T8
9. Townsend 6-1 21 T8
10. Deer Lodge 7-2 7 10
Others receiving votes: Choteau 1.
Class C 8-Man
Record Pts Prv
1. Ennis (4) 8-0 58 1
2. Wibaux (2) 8-0 56 2
3. Belt 8-1 47 3
4. Simms 8-1 38 6
5. Superior 7-2 34 7
6. Charlo 7-2 29 9
7. Bainville-Culbertson 7-1 24 10
8. Chester-Joplin-Inverness 7-2 14 4
(tie) Drummond 6-2 14 5
10. Victor 6-2 10 8
Others receiving votes: White Sulphur Springs 5, Broadus 1.
Class C 6-Man
Record Pts Prv
1. Geraldine-Highwood (4) 8-0 58 1
2. Savage (2) 8-0 55 2
3. Hobson-Moore-Judith Gap 8-0 47 3
4. Hot Springs 5-1 43 4
5. Westby-Grenora 7-1 35 5
6. Stanford-Geyser-Denton 7-1 32 6
7. Winnett-Grass Range 6-2 20 8
8. Custer-Hysham 6-2 17 9
9. Alberton-St. Regis 5-2 12 7
10. North Star 6-2 10 T10
Others receiving votes: Jordan 1.