Class B football playoffs: Bigfork hosts Deer Lodge; Eureka at Glasgow

The Bigfork Vikings and Eureka Lions begin their respective postseason runs today as the Class B state football playoffs get under way across the Treasure State.

While Eureka (3-6) will have a long trip to take on Glasgow (9-0), Bigfork (7-1) will host Deer Lodge (7-2). Both games are at 1 p.m.

The fifth-ranked Vikings are heading into the playoffs with a full head of steam. Bigfork (7-1) lost to Choteau 28-21 in week one and has since rattled off seven straight victories. In fact, the Vikings haven’t given up a point in their last 12 quarters of football, shutting out Plains, Eureka and Thompson Falls in the final three weeks of the regular season.

“We’ve just gotten a little better everyday,” Bigfork head coach Todd Emslie said.

“That’s been our drive in practice, to get a little better everyday and every game. We’ve been starting fast in these last few games and defensively we’ve been tough. We’re just playing well, we’ve got a stout line and some tough kids.”

Deer Lodge (7-2) proves to be formidable first round matchup. The Wardens, like Bigfork, lost in week one and won their next seven games. They did, however, lose on the final week of the season 13-7 to Loyola.

“Deer Lodge has a really nice young line. They’ve got a quarterback that can get the ball down the field and a couple of receivers we have to keep an eye on,” Emslie said.

“They’re a 7-2 football team so they’re obviously pretty darn good. Their offense is kind of similar to ours. They’ll throw it down the field and they’ve got a good little running game. Defensively, we’ve seen some 4 fronts, some 5 fronts. They mix in cover 3 and 4. They’re pretty solid all around.”

To be successful against the Vikings, Deer Lodge will have the challenge of trying to corral Bigfork running back Vinny Quirk and quarterback Josh Sandry.

Quirk has scored six touchdowns in the Vikings three consecutive shutouts, racking up back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances to end the regular season. Quirk ran for 148 yards and two scores against Eureka before scampering for 110 yards and two scores in the season finale against the Bluehawks.

“He’s our workhorse,” Emslie said.

“He’s a kid that doesn’t go down unless you’ve got a few guys tackling him. He’s a special football player.”

Sandry has been just as impressive.

In a 49-0 week seven blowout of Plains, Sandry ran for a score, passed for another and returned a punt for a touchdown, all in the first quarter. He added 138 yards on the ground with three rushing touchdowns against Eureka and capped off the year by throwing and running for touchdowns last week.

“Josh Sandry is phenomenal. One of the best I’ve ever coached,” Emslie said.

“He’s a great team leader. As good of a football player he is, he’s an even better leader.”

The defense is red-hot, the offense is clicking and the only blemish on Bigfork’s record is well behind it, growing the Vikings’ confidence heading into their playoff opener.

“Our goal right now is to come out and start fast. We want to get some points on the board and play some tough defense and get a win,” Emslie said.

“Being in the postseason is awesome and it’s even more special when your at home. We’ve got a great a fan base here. We’re pretty excited.”

The Lions have their hands full with an undefeated and third-ranked Glasgow team. The Scotties are coming off a 34-12 victory over Conrad and enter the contest with four shutouts.

“They do a lot of things well,” Eureka head coach Trevor Utter said.

“They have a power run game which is pretty much I-formation power-iso. Their quarterback is very athletic and throws the ball well. They’re pretty well balanced. They’re more of a run first team, but they throw the ball effectively because they run the ball so well.”

Eureka will rely on the arms and legs of quarterback Austyn Sherwood. Sherwood managed the Lions offense to a 54-20 victory over Plains in the final week of the regular season to clinch a playoff berth. He has rushed for 213 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns. Sherwood has also tossed seven touchdown passes while throwing for 1,121 yards.

Unfortunately the Lions will be their without leading rusher and leading tackler. Garret White and James Dunn will miss the playoffs with injuries. White has totaled a team-high 583 yards rushing for five touchdowns and Dunn leads the Lions defense.

“We’re looking good, we’re a little beat up, but I think that’s just the end of the season for a lot of teams. Everybody starts getting some injuries,” Utter said.

“We’ve have gotten better every game. Our young guys are getting these experiences that you can only get through playing games. They’re learning how to finish games and never relax in situations. The experiences that our kids have now will definitely help us in this playoff game.

“Offensively, we have to hit some big plays. Their linebackers are good. They make plays and fill holes. We have to be able to convert on some big plays, finish big plays, no dropped passes and no missing a block. It’s the little things that are the difference in so many games. We need all 11 guys doing there jobs.”