The Wildcats’ Stephen Baumgartner show continued during Columbia Falls 42-6 win over Ronan Friday night. The Cats’ senior running back/linebacker contributed four touchdowns, a blocked punt and a return of the blocked punt.
An excellent offensive and defensive performance kept Ronan at bay the entire game until a late score against the Cats’ reserves.
Speaking of those reserves, perhaps the best thing other than a strong win was the chance to get a nice long look at the future of the Columbia Falls squad. The 28-0 halftime score allowed Coach Thompson and his staff to give lots of field time to younger players, to the delight of the crowd.
The Wildcats travel to Libby next weekend to face the Loggers, who fell to Polson this week 48-41.
Senior Stephen Baumgartner (20) couldn’t seem to get enough of the Chiefs’ special teams Friday night. After scooping up the punt (above) he blocked seconds earlier, he scampered down the sidelines inside the Chiefs’ 20, setting up the Cats for their next score.
Baumgartner scored four touchdowns against Ronan, giving him a total of eight touchdowns in home games this year.
Chief Cameron Neiss (18) tries to keep the Wildcats’ Chris King (22) out of the end zone despite being knocked down by King just a step earlier.
Sophomore Chris King (5) completes a second half scoring drive with a great second effort to escape from the Chiefs’ Cameron Neiss (18) and an unidentified Chief hanging onto King’s shoulder pads.
Mitchell Wassam (13) snuffs the Chiefs’ QB Mike Fisher (7). Mike Macijunas (64) was also in on the play after Wassam corralled Fisher.