Lions on 464-mile hunt for playoff win

The Eureka Lions’ reward for dropping a pair of Western B football conference games — a rare occurrence around this corner of Montana — is a quick trip to Glasgow.
The Lions will cover the 464 miles Friday, with a practice at MSU-Northern along the way. Saturday at 1 p.m. they’ll kick off a Class B playoff game against a Glasgow Scotties team that matches Eureka record for record (they’re both 7-2) and offense for offense. 

Both teams boast mobile, dual-threat quarterbacks and some serious skill kids besides. For Glasgow there is quarterback Khye Gamas, a state champion wrestler who has thrown for 1,010 yards and 14 touchdowns and run for 632 yards and another 14 TDs. 

Eureka counters with Rogan Lytle: He’s 89 of 156 passing for 1,149 yards and six TDs and is the team’s top rusher with 843 yards and 12 scores. 

The Lions also have workhorse tailback Haiden Johnson (570 yards, 9 TDs) in a potent backfield that includes Josh Lambertsen and fullback Jesse Day. 

“Josh is our gadget back,” Eureka coach Trevor Utter said of Lambertsen, who lines up in the slot, backfield or wide and will run a fly sweep or catch a tunnel screen. “And we’re kind of old school in that we use a fullback, Jesse Day. He kind of makes all that work.” 

Complementing Gamas for Glasgow are 6-foot-4 receiver Wyatt Babb, running back Wyatt Sugg (team-high 755 rushing yards) and a trio of sturdy linemen. 

“(Babb) is their leading receiver and he is a big kid,” Utter said. “But I honestly think that Khye Gamas is the catalyst that makes things go. He does a lot of things. We have to contain him as well as Wyatt Suggs and Wyatt Babb. 

“It’ll be a test for us but I think we’re ready to roll.” 

One difference might be Eureka’s defense. The Lions allowed 17 points in both Western B losses, to Missoula Loyola and Florence; only Class A Whitefish scored more (in a 39-32 Lions win).  

Emmet McKim, Day and Johnson are the top tacklers; McKim has 14 tackles for loss, Johnson 11 and Day nine. Meanwhile Wes Banks has 10 TFLs and three sacks. 

“Wes Banks is a beast of a defensive end,” Utter said. 

The winner will play either Manhattan, a top seed, or Baker in the next round.  West teams have been a tough out the last several postseasons: Three Western B teams made the semifinals in 2021 and 2022; Bigfork won three road games in 2021 to make the title game against Florence, which has won the last three State B championships. 

Eureka earned three State B titles in 2016-17 and 2019.