EDITORIAL: Eureka! Local teams are golden

Local football fans had plenty to cheer for this season. Northwest Montana high schools were represented in every state championship game played last weekend, with two bringing home the top trophy.

Hollywood couldn’t have produced a more thrilling finish for the Eureka Lions. Senior quarterback Garrett Graves connected with senior receiver Austyn Sherwood on a last-second Hail Mary touchdown pass to give the Lions their first-ever state football title. “Unbelievable” was the only word Eureka coach Trevor Utter could conjure in describing the heart-stopping moment that sent Lions fans into a frenzy.

Over in Hot Springs, the Savage Heat are celebrating their second state football championship after blasting MonDak 54-20 in Class C six-player action. Hot Springs was unstoppable this fall, finishing undefeated and winning its first dozen games by at least 49 points.

While Glacier High School, Columbia Falls and Charlo fell short in their championship bouts, all of the schools have good reason to reflect on their seasons with pride. Glacier continues to flex its strength as a Class AA power after making it to its third championship game in four seasons, while the Wildcats went 10-2 in an impressive run to the school’s first title game in 45 years. Charlo lost the Class C eight-player championship in an overtime heart-breaker, but finished the season with an excellent 11-2 record overall.

Congrats to all the local teams for their successes on the grid iron and for positively representing this corner of the state.