Football Preview: Plenty of contenders in Northwestern A
Often maligned the last few years, Northwestern A football may be the toughest division in the state in 2015.
Slimmed down to four teams, the division could have quite a few contenders for a state title this fall.
This is also the first year for the new Class A playoff system, which will only guarantee two teams from each division a spot in the playoffs. There will be two wildcard entries shared between the Northwest and Southwest divisions for the final two Western bids in the playoffs.
An experienced favorite in Whitefish, the lightning-fast Wildcats in Columbia Falls and a rejuvenated powerhouse in Polson should be all to turn a fire-shortened preseason into a blaze of glory.
Columbia Falls Wildcats
Head coach: Jaxon Schweikert (fourth season)
2014 record: 7-2 overall, 3-1 conference. Lost in first round of the state playoffs to Hamilton 27-21
Key Losses: WR/CB Ty Morgan, T/NG Spencer Ross, LB Ike Schweikert, WR/S Trevor Houston
Key Returners: QB Dakota Bridwell, WR Sean Hoerner, LB Trevor Hoerner, DB Sean Miller
The skinny on the Wildcats: Columbia Falls lost just once in the regular season in 2014, before a frustrating loss at home to Hamilton in the first round of the playoffs.
Even despite losing four all-state players to graduation, including wide receiver Ty Morgan, who put up back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons, Columbia Falls will likely again have one of the best offenses in Class A.
Junior quarterback Dakota Bridwell, who threw for more than 2,200 yards and 25 touchdowns last season while completing 64 percent of his passes, will lead the fast-paced Wildcats offense. He’ll be joined by starting tailback Stephen Lindsay and outside receivers Tyler Murphy and Sean Hoerner.
Attrition cost the Wildcats the most on defense, where they’ll be replacing nearly their entire defensive front. Trevor Hoerner and Sean Miller return to defense that held opponents to six points a game last season.
Coach Schweikert’s take: “I feel like offensively we’re playing a little faster than we have in the past. We’re starting to get that to go.
“Right out of the gate we’re playing at a quick tempo and getting plays off. Offensively, we look like we’re getting ready to come out of the gates pretty hot.
“We’re really athletic defensively, we’re just inexperienced.”
Polson Pirates
Head coach: Scott Wilson (15th season)
2014 record: 3-6 overall, 1-3 conference.
Key losses: FB/LB Joe Gallatin, WR/DB Andrew Curley
Key returners: QB Tanner Wilson, WR Jacob Harrod, TE/LB Matt Rensvold, WR/DB Hudson Smith
The skinny on the Pirates: Polson, typically the class of the Northwest, lost a pair of starters for the season during the first game of the year in 2014, sending their season spiraling from the start.
This year, the Pirates bring back both of those players, junior quarterback Tanner Wilson and senior wide receiver and defensive back Hudson Smith, to add to the depth they built over the season a year ago.
Wyatt Ducharme, last season’s quarterback, moves to the rebuilt receiving corps with all-conference teamers Jacob Harrod and Matt Rensvold.
Coach Wilson’s take: “Last year we didn’t make the playoffs for the first time since 2007. They would love to make it back again, be back in the hunt.
“We’ve got quite a few starters returning, which has been a plus for us, especially with fighting our practice situation with all the smoke.
“It’s tough to gauge where we’re at because we haven’t had a true two-a-days. We do have several kids coming back that played last year and started last year. We’re hoping to use that to build on.”
Whitefish Bulldogs
Head coach: Chad Ross (sixth season)
2014 record: 8-3 overall, 4-0 conference. Lost to Butte Central 37-13 in the state semifinals.
Key losses: WR Jack Streibich, OL/DL Matt Gulbrandson, S Luke Cardon
Key returners: QB Luke May, WR Jed Nagler, DE Chaffin Ross, DB Brian FauntLeRoy
The skinny on the Bulldogs: Whitefish enters the season as one of the favorites to contend for a state championship after sweeping through the conference last season on its way to a berth in the state semifinals.
Nearly every starter returns from that team, with 16 starters and 24 lettermen in total coming back for another shot at a title, including six all-state players and the conference offensive and defensive MVPs.
The only thing slowing down the Bulldogs in the preseason has been the smoky air. Like many of the schools in western Montana they’ve had to move practices inside. However, with the WHS gym being remodeled, they’ve had to be creative with where exactly to practice.
With a motto of “No Excuses,” that shouldn’t stop them this season even as they face fellow title contenders Havre and Dillon to start the season.
Coach Ross’ take: “I think we’re excited to play somebody else. You’re always excited about what you can do. They’ve got a great focus. They have high expectations with a humble attitude.
“We’re as far as we’ve ever been, but we haven’t beaten anybody. We know that we look really good in shorts.”