Class B football: Bigfork, Malta familiar foes in postseason play
For the third time in four years Bigfork (8-1) will play Malta (6-3) in the Class B football playoffs. The Vikings are hoping the result falls in their favor this time around.
Malta has been a thorn in the side of Bigfork since 2011, ending the Vikings’ season twice in the last three years, once at home and on the road. As such, Bigfork knows it’s preparing for a tough home game at 1 p.m. today.
“We’ve got a good football team coming over,” Bigfork coach Todd Emslie said.
“They’ve got a good running back. They have a quarterback that can throw it around pretty well. They do like to run, that’s the Malta mold. Plus they have the tradition over there. They know how to win. They’ve got a winning program there. I’m sure it will be a good test for us.”
The Mustangs beat Roundup 20-17 last week in the first round, getting a pair of short touchdowns from all-conference running back Quintan Boos. Jace Galt leads the passing attack for the second seed out of the 2B, with favorite target Tyson Carney leading the team in receiving.
Malta is averaging just short of 27 points per game this season, but beat just one team that finished the season with a record of .500 or better. In games against fellow quarterfinalists Huntley Project (10-0) and Glasgow (10-0), the Mustangs lost by an average of 27-4. The Mustangs lost their only other contest to Shepherd (5-4), who missed the playoffs out of the highly competitive 3B.
Bigfork comes in riding high, rallying from an opening week loss at playoff-team Choteau (6-2) to win eight straight by an average score of 46-4.
Last week, in a 44-7 victory over Deer Lodge, quarterback Josh Sandry ran for three touchdowns and threw for another and running back Vinny Quirk added on two more. Bigfork receiver Jonathan Landon has been the main outlet for Sandry as the Vikings have made their statement entering the playoffs.
“I love the way these guys are playing right now,” Emslie said.
“The defense is flying around. They’re getting to the football. Offensively, we’ve got some big boys up front on our line. Josh, being the quarterback he is, he’s a threat to run and he’s also a threat to throw. We’ve got some talented receivers. We’ve got a talented running back in Vinny Quirk.”
Emslie also praised an offensive line that has used its size and mobility to impose its will this season.
A win would put the Vikings in the state semifinals for the first time since 2012. Bigfork would host that game for the first time since 2011. The winner of today’s game will play the winner of the contest between top-ranked Fairfield (9-0) and Huntley Project.