Eureka drubs Big Timber

EUREKA — Quarterback Caleb Utter ran for 124 yards and four touchdowns, and Eureka built a 35-0 lead on the way to a 47-12 win over Big Timber in the State B quarterfinal game.

Utter also completed 5 of 8 passes for 107 yards, including a 25-yard scoring strike to Spencer Sartori, as Eureka improved to 9-2.

The win along with Bigfork’s 20-15 victory at Townsend keeps Eureka at home for the semifinals against the Vikings Saturday at 1 p.m.

Eureka’s defense intercepted Big Timber quarterback Connor Giesecke once and held him to 19 yards rushing, to go with 193 passing yards. A 13-0 halftime deficit quickly ballooned on the Herders.

“We kind of expected that it was possible to do this, if we got rolling,” Eureka coach Trevor Utter said. “Our defense played really, really well. Giesecke. … We really were able to keep tabs on him. He had a few passing yards, but overall our defense shut him down. And he’s a heck of an athlete, so I am very pleased with that.”

Remington Little ran 13 times for 58 yards and another score for Eureka; teammate Caden Pecora picked up 58 yards on just three carries. The Lions also had a rushing TD from Jonus Holm and piled up 295 rushing yards on the way to 402 yards of offense.

Giesecke completed 16 of 37 passes, and had a 16-yard TD pass to Kyler Mehus. The QB also scored on the last play of the game, from 4 yards out.

Sage Nation rushed for 67 yards on 12 carries for Big Timber (4-7).

Eureka beat Bigfork 14-13 in a Western B matchup on Oct. 15.

“We get to stay home,” Utter. “We kind of figured that was going to be a great game in Townsend, and it was a great game. With that, we get to host Bigfork, which is awesome. We know them well, they obviously know us well, it should be a fun game.”

Big Timber 0 0 0 12 - 12

Eureka 6 7 14 20 - 47

E — Remington Little 2 run (kick blocked)

E — Caleb Utter 1 run (Danny Dunn kick)

E — Utter 4 run (pass failed)

E — Utter 15 run (Tyson Brouilette pass from Joey Kindel)

E — Utter 1 run (Dunn run)

BT — Kyler Mehus 16 pass from Connor Giesecke (pass failed)

E — Jonus Holm 1 run (Dunn kick)

E — Sullivan Sartori 25 pass from Utter (Jacope Ceccarelli kick)

BT — Giesecke 4 run (no PAT)