Bigfork favored again in Dist. 7B; Eureka aiming for postseason play

For the last few years, Class B football in the Northwest has run through Bigfork. This season is no different.

The Vikings, undefeated through the regular season last year, bring back most of their roster to a team looking to win its first state championship since 2010.

Even with the looming shadow of the defending conference champions, District 7B looks to be very competitive this season. Eureka looks to return to the playoffs after graduating a large senior class and Troy and Thompson Falls will be right there to close the gap.

Bigfork Vikings

Head coach: Todd Emslie (sixth season)

2013 record: 9-1 (Lost 34-28 to Baker in Class B quarterfinals)

Key Losses: RB/LB Boyd Rieke; TE/DE Cameron Nissen; RB/LB Noe Gomez.

Key Returners: QB/S Josh Sandry; WR/DB Isaac Martel; RB/LB Vinny Quirk.

The skinny on the Vikings: Bigfork graduated just seven seniors from a team that went undefeated into the playoffs last season, losing a close game in the quarterfinals. Among the legion of starters returning to the Vikings include all-state quarterback Josh Sandry and all-conference players at wide receiver, tight end and four of five spots on the offensive line.

The defense is also expected to be stout for a team with championship aspirations.

Coach Emslie’s take: “We’d like to come out strong. We’ve gotten a little better in every practice. It’s good to see that effort with these kids. They want to be good, they want to better. That’s awesome as a coach to see that.

“We don’t talk about [state championships]. We talk about Choteau right now. We want to play well every week and compete. I think these kids will give that.”

First Game: Versus Choteau, Sept. 5.

Eureka Lions

Head coach: Trevor Utter (third season)

2013 record: 6-4 (Lost 30-6 to Choteau in first round)

Key Losses: RB/LB Trent Vaughn; QB/LB Austin Perez; WR/DB Dalton Smith.

Key Returners: OL/DL Gerald Branscome; WR/LB James Dunn; RB/DB Garret White.

The skinny on the Lions: Eureka is beginning the year with a clean slate after graduating 14 seniors from a team that has made the playoffs each of the last two years. However, the Lions still bring back some talented pieces and hope a large group of underclassmen can fill in the holes quickly.

Sophomore Austin Sherwood will take over at signal caller and has a few returning options at the skill positions to help him along in senior running back Garrett White and sophomore all-conference wide receiver James Dunn.

Dunn will also head up the defense as the top returning tackler along with all-conference lineman Gerald Branscome.

The Lions open the season today with a “zero-week” game against Mission at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on the campus of the University of Montana in Missoula. The season gets started in earnest at home on Sept. 5 against Ronan.

Coach Utter’s take: “We have lot of young guys that are going to have to step up and fill some pretty big holes. They need to step up. They have high expectations. They’re not thinking anything less than playoffs, but they’re going to have to get better every week to achieve that.”

First Game: Versus Ronan, Sept. 5

Troy Trojans

Head coach: Brendan Miller (first season)

2013 record: 4-4

Key Losses: QB Gabe Hickman; WR Luke Haggerty.

Key Returners: RB/LB Sean Opland; WR Michael Miller; OG Jordan Herrick

The skinny on the Trojans: The Trojans just missed the playoffs last season, finishing 4-4, and look to make up that gap in 2014.

They are led by all-state junior Sean Opland, one of the top athletes in the state. The Trojans, under new coach Miller, will run out of the pistol this season, looking to take advantage of their exceptional team speed. In the spring, many of the players on the team helped Troy finish second at the state Class B track meet.

With Opland and a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball, the Trojans believe, when healthy, they can compete with any team in the Northwest.

Coach Miller’s take: “We have so much team speed. It’s fantastic. We can do a lot. If we get a guy in the open, they’re going to be gone. No one is going to catch them.”

First Game: At Conrad, Sept. 5