Eureka at Loyola for Class B state football championship

The last time Eureka played for a state title in football was 1990.

The Lions and Cut Bank were the Class B finalists and Trevor Utter was a freshman wide receiver on the Eureka sidelines for that one.

Cut Bank emerged with a 28-8 victory.

Fast forward to 2016 and Utter is back on the sidelines for a high school state championship football game with Eureka again, this time as the school’s head coach. His Lions face Missoula Loyola today at 1 p.m. at Rollins Field in Missoula.

“I guess I haven’t put a whole lot of thought into that,” Utter said of having played and will now coach the same school for a state title. “I’ve put a lot of thought into beating Loyola.”

Eureka, winners of eight straight, and undefeated Loyola roll in to the championship contest. The Lions (10-1) whipped Whitehall (10-2) 36-7 last Saturday in semifinal play while Loyola (11-0) knocked off defending state champion Fairfield 24-21. Fairfield came into that contest 10-0 and sported a 22-game winning streak.

The last time Eureka played Loyola, according to Utter, was in 2014.

“They thumped us pretty good,” he said.

“I can’t remember the score, but it wasn’t close. We didn’t play very well.”

The two schools met in the first round of the 2011 playoffs in Missoula with Loyola winning 48-8.

“I think it will be a close game, in the 20s (score wise),” Utter said.

“Something similar to the Fairfield game. We’ve been preaching all week we have to make plays, not almost make plays.”

Both teams have been impressive on both sides of the ball. Eureka has scored 507 points and allowed 106. The numbers for Loyola are 503 and 80.

Eureka running back Cannan Smith used a big game last week to crash the 1,000-yard rushing mark. He ripped off 207 and scored five touchdowns. That gives him 1,109 yards for the season. He’s averaging 7.5-yards per carry, or 100.8 per game.

Eureka Quarterback Garrett Graves has passed for 1,226 yards. He’s completed 71 of 142 passes with 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

“Our strength all year has been our offensive and defensive lines,” Utter said. “It won’t be any different for this game. We need to control the front. They are a very good as well (in the trenches) so that will be a determining factor and who will have the edge for this game.”