Class A football: Bigfork uses big second half to power past Eureka
BIGFORK — Following a wild first half, Bigfork leaned on its defense and running game to pull away from Eureka in a 32-14 District 7B conference victory Friday night.
The Vikings (4-3 overall, 2-1 7B) trailed 14-7 at half and didn’t control the game until the third quarter. On its first possession out of halftime, Bigfork pulled out a reverse pass to score its first offensive touchdown: Matthew Farrier handing off to Jonathan Landon on a sweep to his left, Landon then sweeping back right and finding Logan Taylor wide open down the field for a 48-yard score and a 15-14 lead following a two-point conversion.
Bigfork took control for good later in the quarter, taking advantage of a short field to drive 46 yards in seven plays, capped by an 11-yard touchdown from Landon on a fourth-and-1 quarterback sneak.
The Vikings held Eureka (3-5, 2-2) to three three-and-outs to close the third quarter, and Bigfork widened its lead early in the fourth, when two plays after a Hugo Schyberg field goal gave the Vikings a 25-14 lead, Landon intercepted a tipped ball in the flat and ran it back 32 yards for a touchdown to cap the scoring for the night.
“It was not a very clean game,” Bigfork coach Todd Emslie said.
“We did have a better second half. Still a little sloppy, but it’s a great win. Eureka has a good football team.
“We made some adjustments at half. We played pretty darn good defense. We got off the ball a little better on offense too.”
Eureka dominated play in the first half, forcing Bigfork into two turnovers while building a 14-7 lead.
Garrett Graves punched in a touchdown from a yard out on fourth-and-goal to give the Lions a lead early in the second quarter. The Lions then intercepted Bigfork on the ensuing possession, though Eureka’s scoring opportunity stalled on the Vikings’ 11-yard line.
Bigfork scored its only touchdown of the first half on its next drive, albeit by a stroke of luck. Punting away deep into the Eureka half, the ball bounced as Lions punt returner Brenton Pluid went to collect it, bouncing through his legs and into the end zone. Bigfork fell on the live ball for a touchdown as officials ruled the ball glanced off Pluid, giving the Vikings a 7-6 lead.
Eureka quickly drove eight plays to retake the lead, converting an option pass on the extra point to pull ahead 14-7 just before half.
Bigfork outgained Eureka 337-214. Farrier finished with 122 yards rushing on 30 carries and Landon was 15 of 28 for 155 yards passing.
Pluid had 72 yards rushing on 19 carries to lead Eureka, who also saw Austyn Sherwood throw for 113 yards.
The loss eliminates the Lions from playoff consideration with one week left in the regular season. Eureka doesn’t play next week and can’t catch Bigfork or Thompson Falls in the 7B standings. At 3-5, the Lions are also out of the wildcard discussion.
“We got outworked in the second half, that’s all there is to it,” Eureka coach Trevor Utter said. “Very frustrating to end like this.”
Bigfork is still in contention for first place in 7B, though may need some help. After Thompson Falls (4-4, 2-1) lost to Troy (2-5, 2-1) on Friday 35-32, the three teams fell into a tie for first place in the conference. However, with its loss at Thompson Falls earlier this season, Bigfork would need the Blue Hawks to lose to winless Libby (0-7, 0-3) to claim first place.
The Vikings host Troy next week and would claim at least second place and a trip to the playoffs with a win. Troy would claim first place with a win.
“We need to clean up our game this week,” Emslie said. “(Troy is) led by a pretty good football player (in Montana State commit Sean Opland). We have to be up and ready to play.”
Eureka 0 14 0 0 — 14
Bigfork 0 7 15 10 — 32
E—Garrett Graves 1 run (kick fail)
BF—Matthew Farrier recovered blocked punt (Hugo Schyberg kick)
E—James Dunn 23 pass from Austyn Sherwood (Dunn pass from Brenton Pluid)
BF—Logan Taylor 48 pass from Jonathan Landon (Adam Jordt run)
BF—Landon 11 run (Schyberg kick)
BF—Schyberg 31 field goal
BF—Landon interception return (Schyberg kick)