At Season Midway Point, Local Football Teams Rank Near the Top

At the midway point of the football season, Columbia Falls, Glacier and Bigfork are holding their own in their respective divisions as some of the state’s best teams.

The third-ranked Wildcats improved to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in Northwestern A last Friday. Josiah Osborne scored two touchdowns and the Columbia Falls defense held Whitefish scoreless in a 21-0 victory. Ty Morgan caught a 10-yard TD pass from Jared Trinastich in the first quarter and Osborne added to Columbia Falls’ homecoming celebration.

Columbia Falls is on a bye week before traveling to Frenchtown (1-3, 0-1) on Oct. 11. Whitefish (3-2, 0-1) hosts Polson (3-1, 1-0) in its homecoming game at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Polson took advantage of three fumble recoveries and held off Frenchtown 32-22 in Northwestern A action. Andrew Weltz scored two touchdowns and passed for another to lead the Pirates (3-1). Weltz combined for 229 yards on the ground and in the air.

Libby picked up its first win of the season after Jared Winslow combined for five touchdowns to lead the Loggers past Browning, 40-19. Winslow threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Dylon Lane for two TDs and Isaak Jones for another. Winslow also rushed for 73 yards and two 1-yard scores.

Libby (1-4) travels to Frenchtown (1-3) on Friday.

In Class AA, Glacier moved up to fourth place in both the rankings and standings after an exciting victory over Butte. Noah James rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns, the Glacier defense returned three interceptions to the endzone and the Wolfpack stunned the defending state champions 58-41.

Glacier led 24-14 at halftime and outscored fourth-ranked Butte 34-27 in the second half. The Wolfpack defense intercepted five passes. Both Evan Epperly and Todd Ogden returned 50-yard picks to the endzone and Cain Boschee scored off a 69-yard interception.

James scored both TDs in the fourth quarter and achieved a school-record rushing total with his 201 yards. Brady McChesney passed for 287 yards and three touchdowns. Logan Jones had 133 yards receiving and two TDs. Sam McCamley caught a 17-yard TD and Brandon Purdy kicked a 29-yard field goal.

The Wolfpack improved to 4-1 for the second time in program history. Glacier hosts Missoula Big Sky (0-5) on Friday at 7 p.m.

Great Falls C.M. Russell made quick work of Flathead and picked up its first win of the season, 52-0.
The Rustlers (1-4) led 42-0 at halftime. The defense held the Braves to 192 total yards while the offense piled up 527.

Flathead (2-3) travels to Helena to play the third-ranked Bengals (5-0) on Friday.

In Class B, Bigfork is ranked third and undefeated. Josh Sandry threw for three touchdowns and Boyd Rieke rushed for another three as fourth-ranked Bigfork cruised past Shelby, 46-14, last week.

Rieke finished with 142 yards and Vinny Quirk had 108 yards and two TDs on the ground. Cameron Nissen caught three passes for 90 yards and two scores. Sandry passed for 222 yards. Isaac Martel had two receptions for 103 yards.

Bigfork (4-0) hosts Troy (3-2) this Friday at 7 p.m. for the Vikings homecoming game.

Cole Jankowsky rushed for 83 yards and one TD in Eureka’s District 7-B win over Thompson Falls. Austin Perez completed 6 of 23 passes for 98 yards and one touchdown and ran for another for Eureka (3-1).

Eureka hosts top-ranked Missoula Loyola (3-0) on Friday.

Standings
Class AA
Bozeman 5-0
Helena 5-0
Helena Capital 5-0
Glacier 4-1
Billings Senior 3-2
Billings Skyview 3-2
Butte 3-2
Missoula Sentinel 3-2
Flathead 2-3
Great Falls 1-4
Great Falls CMR 1-4
Billings West 0-5
Missoula Big Sky 0-5
Missoula Hellgate 0-5

Northwestern A
Columbia Falls 1-0, 5-0
Polson 1-0, 3-1
Libby 0-0, 1-4
Whitefish 0-1, 3-2
Frenchtown 0-1, 1-3

District 7B
Eureka 1-0, 4-1
Troy 1-0, 3-2
Bigfork 0-0, 4-0
Thompson Falls 0-1, 1-4
Plains 0-1, 0-5

The Associated Press Top 10 Montana high school football poll:
Class AA
1. Bozeman (9) 5-0
2. Helena Capital (1) 5-0
3. Helena 5-0
4. Glacier 4-1
5. Butte 3-2
Others receiving votes: Billings Senior 6, Billings Skyview 6.

Class A
1. Dillon (10) 4-0
2. Billings Central 3-1
3. Columbia Falls 5-0
4. Laurel 3-2
5. Miles City 3-1
Others receiving votes: Anaconda 18, Polson 6.

Class B
1. Missoula Loyola (7) 3-0
2. Baker (3) 4-0
3. Bigfork 4-0
4. Townsend 3-0
5. Huntley Project 4-1
6. Glasgow Hinsdale Nashua 3-1
7. Forsyth 4-0
8. Fairfield 2-1
9. Jefferson (Boulder) 4-1
(tie) Whitehall Harrison 4-0
Others receiving votes: Eureka 4, Deer Lodge 2, Choteau 2, Malta 2, Plentywood 1, Conrad 1.

Class C 8-Man
1. Ennis (5) 4-0
2. Wibaux (2) 5-0
3. Charlo 4-0
4. Drummond 4-0
5. Chester-Joplin-Inverness 4-1
6. Chinook 4-1
7. Belt 4-1
8. Superior 3-2
9. Broadus 4-1
10. Great Falls Central 4-1
Others receiving votes: Victor 7, Broadview-Lavina 6, Simms 5, Bainville-Culbertson 4, Twin Bridges 1.

Class C 6-Man
1. Geraldine Highwood (6) 4-0
2. Savage (1) 4-0
3. Hobson-Moore-Judith Gap 4-0
4. Alberton-St. Regis 3-0
5. Hot Springs 2-1
6. Westby-Grenora 3-1
7. Stanford Geyser Denton 3-1
8. North Star 4-0
9. Winnett-Grass Range 3-1
10. Jordan 3-1
Others receiving votes: Terry 5.