There isn’t any red carpet being laid out for the incoming Frenchtown Broncs, but the newest football team in Northwestern A is still being welcomed by the defending division champs in Columbia Falls.
A bona fide challenger with a winning tradition, Frenchtown is relocating from Southwestern A this season, replacing Ronan, which moved to District 6B.
The Broncs bring with them a strong resume that includes a recent state championship and a string of playoff appearances. They won the Class A title in 2009 and have played in the final game three times since jumping from Class B in the 2003 season. Last year the team went 5-5 and lost to Polson in the opening round of the playoffs.
“I really welcome that type of competition,” Columbia Falls head coach Bill Coleman said. “It’s definitely a boost for our conference. It gives us another quality team, a playoff-caliber team.”
Polson head coach Scott Wilson has become familiar with the Broncs throughout the years and he echoes Coleman’s words of respect.
“Their kids expect to be successful when they enter as freshmen,” Wilson said. “Having that year in and year out, along with the success they’ve had, that’s a tradition the kids want to uphold.”
“Those top three spots are a little tougher to put a grasp on now,” he added.
In other words, the bar in Northwestern A is being raised.
“How we all rise to that new competition with Frenchtown will be seen,” Coleman said. “I think in the long run it definitely helps us instead of hurts us. Having them in our conference will make us a better team.”
If anything has the Wildcats’ full attention right now, it’s reloading a team that’s made the playoffs four years in a row and last year claimed its first conference title since the 1970s. Coleman’s group graduated four all-state seniors, including the offensive and defensive MVPs of the division – running back Nate Thompson and safety Kaleb Johnson.
“Obviously we have some big shoes to fill,” Coleman said. “But we have a really good group of skilled kids that are stepping up (in practice). It’s just a matter of getting our kids the reps to be game-ready. They look good but they’re inexperienced.”
Columbia Falls has two returning all-state leaders to lean on when needed. Senior offensive guard Jacob Babcock heads a good group of linemen that Coleman says is one of the team’s strengths this season.
Then there’s Montana State University quarterback recruit Austin Barth. In his first season as starting QB last year Barth was second-team all-conference and also earned top honors as outside linebacker. The 6-foot-5 senior threw for over 1,000 yards and 15 TDs. In May, Barth verbally committed to play college football in Bozeman in 2012.
“He’s a rare talent,” Coleman said.
Columbia Falls opens the season hosting Corvallis at 7 p.m. on Sept. 2.
Libby (5-5, 3-1 last season) returns the most experienced group in the conference, led by all-state seniors Sawyer Zimmerman and Josiah Coker. The Loggers lost to Stevensville in the first round of the playoffs last season. They open this year at home on Saturday against Timberlake (Spirit Lake, Idaho).
In Whitefish, the Bulldogs (1-7, 0-4) are hoping their rebuilding efforts pay off. They open action at Havre on Saturday.
All-state senior defensive back Vince DiGiallonardo, who also handles quarterbacking duties, returns for Polson (7-3, 2-2), which has made the playoffs nine of the last 10 years. The Pirates start the season on the road in Belgrade on Sept. 2.