Football Preview: Bigfork still team to beat in 7B
There was much consternation in Libby over the school board’s decision to drop the Loggers from Class A to Class B for the 2015-16 academic year, but as the season gets underway it does mean a pair of Lincoln County rivalries will be reignited.
Libby and Eureka will play for the first time since 2006 this fall, and the Loggers and Troy will square off for the first time in more than a decade. As they renew acquaintances in District 7B, the league favorite remains Bigfork, which has won or shared the title each of the last six years.
Bigfork Vikings
Head coach: Todd Emslie (seventh season)
2014 record: 9-2 overall, 4-0 in conference (Lost 27-6 to Huntley Project in Class B semifinals)
Key losses: QB/S Josh Sandry; RB/LB Vinny Quirk; OL/DL Logan Mejak; WR/DB Isaac Martel.
Key returners: QB Jonathan Landon; RB Matthew Farrier; WR Adam Jordt.
The skinny on the Vikings: Sandry was one of the best players in the state last season and will play this fall at the University of Montana, leaving a gaping hole at the most important position on the field. Landon shifts under center after playing as a tight end and slot receiver a year ago, and while not the runner Sandry was, he might be an even better passer. Jordt was a first-team all-state selection last season and is a terrific target for Landon as he settles into the position. Despite losing 12 seniors off of last year’s team, the Vikings will remain the team to beat in 7B until someone dethrones them.
Coach Emslie’s take: “We had an outstanding team last year led by a great senior class but we still have a lot of experience coming back with 15 seniors this year. The expectation, No. 1, is to be competitive and the things tend to take care of themselves after that. “Jonathan (Landon) is a key player on the basketball team and has been on the field for us since his freshman year. Josh (Sandry) was more of a running back-style quarterback so we did some things to accentuate his game. Now with Jon we have more of a thrower of the football.”
First game: Home versus Florence, tonight at 7 p.m.
Eureka Lions
Head coach: Trevor Utter (fourth season)
2014 record: 3-7 overall, 2-2 in conference (Lost 54-7 to Glasgow/Hinsdale/Nashua in Class B first round)
Key losses: RB Garrett White; WR Brandon Conard.
Key returners: LB/TE James Dunn; QB Austyn Sherwood; FB/LB Mathew Anderson; OL/DL Gerald Branscome.
The skinny on the Lions: A very young Eureka team won just three times last season but comes into this year with a boatload of experience. The Lions started Sherwood at quarterback as a sophomore, so the junior has plenty of game action under his belt and is poised for a breakout year. Dunn earned first-team all-conference honors as a sophomore and captains a Eureka defense that should be stout. Eureka’s experience versus Bigfork’s tradition will be a fascinating storyline and their regular season-ending matchup on October 16 could be for the conference title.
Coach Utter’s take: “I think we’ll be disappointed if we aren’t playing for the conference championship. We’ve finished second to Bigfork every year I’ve been here and lost our first playoff game every year, but our hope is that with the experience we have we can overcome that.”
On the game with Libby: “There’s always been a rivalry because we’re in the same county and we’re the two biggest towns. To bring that back into conference play will be a lot of fun and it should be a great rivalry right off the bat.”
First game: Home versus St. Ignatius, tonight at 7 p.m.
Libby Loggers
Head coach: Neil Fuller (13th season)
2014 record: 2-7 overall, 0-4 in conference
Key losses: RB/LB Zach Crace; OL/DL Michael Curtis; DB Isaak Jones.
Key returners: WR/CB Dom Voorhies; OL/DL Justin Christiansen; WR/DB Logan Nelson; QB Brian Peck.
The skinny on the Loggers: The move to Class B is not the only change Libby’s hoping for this year, with a young team looking to reverse a recent trend of losing seasons. Libby has only six seniors and six juniors with 29 underclassmen filling out the roster. The Loggers boast talent on the outside in Voorhies and Nelson, but are very thin up front and will be looking for big improvement on both lines.
Coach Fuller’s take: “We just weren’t very good last year. Three years ago was the last time we were in the playoffs and since then our commitment level wasn’t what it had been in the past. It’s been a painful ride.
“The team we’re fielding this year is pretty green in some areas but they’ve got great attitudes. They’ve made a huge improvement.”
On the move to Class B: “From a numbers standpoint it was probably the best move and it’s going to be a much better situation for us. As far as the quality of sports, Class B is every bit as good as Class A.”
First game: At Missoula Loyola, tonight at 7 p.m.
Troy Trojans
Head coach: Brendan Miller (second year)
2014 record: 3-5 overall, 2-2 in conference
Key losses: DL Garrett Chapel; RB Pate Scott; WR Michael Miller.
Key returners: QB/LB Sean Opland; OL/DL Kolton Winebark; DB Cody Johnston.
The skinny on the Trojans: There’s little doubt Opland is the most gifted athlete in 7B and Troy will move the talented senior from running back to quarterback this year to maximize his touches. Opland gave a verbal commitment to Montana State earlier this month and is poised to put up monster numbers. Troy has been just one point away from the playoffs each of the last two years, and behind Opland and transfer Conner Quiring (from Lone Peak in Utah) there is some elite talent on the Trojans roster to help them over the hump.
Coach Miller’s take: “(Sean) makes me look really good. He’s so coachable and he works harder than anybody else. People see the finished product but they don’t see the time in the weight room and that he’s the hardest-working kid on the practice field. He does all of the little things that you want your players to do.
“To be so close (to the playoffs) two years in a row, our senior class is making a point to work extra-hard this year. They want to make the playoffs really bad.”
First game: At Conrad, September 4 at 7 p.m.