FOOTBALL: Bigfork's reign in District 7B to be tested

The stars seem to be aligning for Eureka football.

Returning six all-conference starters and boasting a battle-tested group of 13 seniors, the Lions have what coach Trevor Utter called “the most talented team” he’s coached in his five seasons and seem poised to challenge seven-time defending District 7B champion Bigfork at the top of the conference.

Just don’t tell that to anyone on a team that’s coming off back-to-back three-win seasons.

“We haven’t done anything,” Utter said. “It’s real easy to keep people grounded because we haven’t accomplished what we want to. Our kids are taking on that motto that we’ve got a lot to prove.”

Bigfork has proven plenty in the seven years since Todd Emslie returned to the sidelines as head coach. The Vikings have done nothing but celebrate district championships since that time, winning 55 games along the way including a state championship in 2010.

The Vikings have had to retool in other years during their run, but this year’s challenge is as steep as any. A 14-member senior class that included three all-staters is gone and Bigfork faces a test from not only Eureka but Thompson Falls as well. The Blue Hawks beat Bigfork 21-14 last year to hand the Vikings their only conference loss, and they return University of Montana commit McKenzie Holt.

Libby and Troy round out the league lineup and both have work to do. The Loggers are trying to bounce back from a winless first season in Class B and Troy is breaking in a new coach — Kody Hoffman — and replacing do-it-all superstar Sean Opland, now at Montana State.

League play begins tonight with Troy hosting Bigfork at 7 p.m. Eureka and Libby also kick off this evening with non-conference contests.

Bigfork Vikings

Head coach: Todd Emslie (14th season total; eighth consecutive season)

2015 record: 6-4 overall, 3-1 in conference. Beat Roundup 37-36 in first round of Class B playoffs; lost to Missoula Loyola 26-16 in quarterfinals.

Key losses: QB/DB Jonathan Landon; WR/DB Adam Jordt; OL/DL Austin Pacheco; C/DL Russel Goeden; RB Gabe Broughton.

Key returners: RB/LB Matt Farrier, Sr.; TE/LB Logan Taylor, Jr.; OL/DL Logan Kaminsky, Jr.

The skinny: The Vikings graduated 14 seniors, including the all-state trio of Jonathan Landon, Russel Goeden and Austin Pacheco, but the cupboard is far from bare. Bigfork’s long been the dominant program in the district and even with a small senior class there’s a depth of experience and talent on the roster.

Senior Matt Farrier is one of five Vikings seniors and was a first-team all-conference performer at running back and linebacker a season ago. Bigfork’s other two all-conference returnees are both juniors in lineman Logan Kaminsky and tight end/linebacker Logan Taylor.

There’s another junior under center, where Augie Emslie is taking over for the now-graduated Landon. Emslie has been around plenty of football, both as the head coach’s son and by backing up a pair of all-state quarterbacks in Landon and Josh Sandry in his first two seasons. Look for Emslie to target Taylor frequently, along with sophomore wide receiver Anders Epperly.

Bigfork’s varsity roster is dominated by youth, with 27 of 44 listed players either freshmen or sophomores.

Coach Emslie’s take: “The kids have had a chance to look up to the older kids and learn how to practice, how to play, how to compete. That’s comforting with a young group. We have some kids that are young but they have a lot of experience playing already.

“Matt Farrier’s just a dynamite football player and has been for the last couple of years.”

First game: At Troy, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m.

Eureka Lions

Head coach: Trevor Utter (fifth season)

2015 record: 3-5 overall, 2-2 in conference.

Key losses: OL/DL Gerald Branscome; LB Nathan Gentry.

Key returners: TE/LB James Dunn, Sr.; OL/DL Miles Plemmons, Sr.; RB/LB Brenton Pluid, Jr.; QB/DB Garrett Graves, Jr.; OL/DL Owen Davis, Sr.; QB/DB Austyn Sherwood, Sr.

The skinny: The Lions have their best team on paper since the one that reached the state semifinals in 2008 and they’re hungry to turn that potential into results on the field. Eureka graduated only two players off of last year’s team and bring back a pair of talented quarterbacks, an all-conference running back and maybe the best linebacker in the conference.

Senior James Dunn is listed at 160 pounds but the prolific tackler earned all-state honors at linebacker last season and was voted a team captain. He’s joined on defense by first-team all-conference lineman Owen Davis and senior linebacker Cannan Smith, a transfer who enrolled in January after moving from Kansas.

On offense, the Lions will split reps at quarterback in week one between senior Austyn Sherwood and junior Garrett Graves. Sherwood was throwing the ball to Graves, an all-conference wide receiver, a year ago after Graves missed the first five games of the season with an injury. Utter is looking to both players’ early season performance to help determine a full-time starter. Whoever is under center, they’ll have plenty of help from the running back duo of Smith and junior Brenton Pluid.

Coach Utter’s take: “We have created goals for our team and the number one goal is you take one game at a time. You don’t start looking at ‘oh man, when we see Bigfork’ or ‘oh man, when we make the playoffs.’ Our whole motto is to prove it. We have a ton to prove and we have to prove it every single week.

“James (Dunn) is too slow, too skinny and too small. He’s everything he shouldn’t be but he’s one of those kids that just absolutely is in the right place at the right time always. He just gets to the spot and he’s a great tackler. He’s obviously well-respected and he was voted by his teammates a captain, but he’s a shut your mouth, do your work and lead by example kid.”

First game: At St. Ignatius, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m.

Libby Loggers

Head coach: Neil Fuller (14th season)

2015 record: 0-8 overall, 0-4 in conference.

Key losses: None.

Key returners: Logan Nelson, Sr.; Dylan Parrish, Sr.; Braydan Thom, Sr.; FB/LB Clancy Gout, Jr.

The skinny: Libby’s drop from Class A in 2015 didn’t yield any wins on the field but the Loggers did have a chance to break in a bevy of young players who they hope can pave the way to an improved record this fall.

Last year’s Loggers featured a number of freshmen and sophomores in starting roles, giving Libby one of the most experienced rosters in the district this year, and still one that’s made up primarily of sophomores and juniors. Libby has only five seniors, led by the trio of Logan Nelson, Dylan Parrish and Braydan Thom. The Loggers’ large junior class includes Frenchtown transfer Clancy Gout, who figures to see time at fullback and linebacker.

Fuller will also have some new additions on the sidelines, with Jeff Gruber and Justin Graham joining the coaching staff. Graham is a 2009 Libby grad who went on to play at Montana Western.

Coach Fuller’s take: “We’re talking as a coaching staff and this is the best start we’ve had in several years. The attitudes have been great and they’re doing a good job of helping each other out. There’s a real good sense of team and we’re excited.

“Anytime you get that experience is good. Unfortunately, last year to be able to field a team we had to play (young players). Some of those guys were ready, some weren’t but they got in there and played hard.

“Defensively, we have a chance to be really salty. We’re not big but we’ve got athletes.”

First game: At Missoula Loyola-Sacred Heart, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m.

Troy Trojans

Head coach: Kody Hoffman (first season)

2015 record: 2-6 overall, 2-2 in conference.

Key losses: QB/RB/LB Sean Opland; OL/DL Kolton Winebark; LB Conner Quiring; DB Cody Johnston.

Key returners: RB/DE Tucker Winn, Sr.

The skinny: The Trojans need to replace 71 percent of their passing yards, 66 percent of their rushing yards, 106 tackles, 17 of their 25 touchdowns, plus their punter and their kickoff specialist.

And that’s just one player.

Sean Opland’s galactic talents have moved on to Montana State, leaving Troy with huge holes to fill all over the football field. Opland played quarterback for the first time in his career last year, although his primary weapon remained his legs, running for 1,419 yards.

Gone, too, are an all-conference lineman (Kolton Winebark), linebacker (Conner Quiring) and defensive back (Cody Johnston) making the Trojans the biggest unknown in the district.

Senior Tucker Winn spent time at quarterback last season when Opland was busy elsewhere and is the lone all-conference returnee on the roster. He ran for 187 yards and threw for 175 last season.

First game: Versus Bigfork, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m.

Western News editor Seaborn Larson contributed to this story.