Columbia Falls, Eureka Advance to Championship Football Games
Wildcats to play in first championship game since 1970; Lions appearing in first title contest since 1990
By Dillon Tabish
Northwest Montana has five teams playing on the final weekend of the high school football season.
Columbia Falls will be playing in its first state championship game since 1970 after defeating Belgrade 38-7 on the road on Saturday in the Class A semifinal round. Columbia Falls (10-1) will host Dillon (9-1) next Saturday in the title game. The Wildcats are chasing their first title. The Beavers are playing in their sixth consecutive championship game and seeking to win their first since 2014.
Quarterback Dakota Bridwell was 13-for-38 for 360 yards and five touchdowns for the Wildcats. The senior standout now has 47 TD passes, most in Montana history in one season, according to the Montana High School Association. Sean Miller had two catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns and Braxton Reiten had five catches for 106 yards and two TDs. Bryce Fagerland had a 76-yard TD and Brandon Karberg kicked a 20-yard field goal. Trey Gates had three catches for 98 yards.
Eureka (10-1) is appearing in its first Class B state title contest since 1990 after overcoming Whitehall 36-7 at home on Saturday. The Lions will travel to Missoula to play the Loyola Rams (10-0) next Saturday in the championship. Eureka is seeking its first state title while the Rams, which defeated Fairfield 24-21 on Saturday, are playing in their third title contest in five years. Loyola won back-to-back championships from 2012-13.
Cannan Smith had five touchdowns for Eureka, which trailed 7-6 at halftime against Whitehall.
In the Class C six-man ranks, Hot Springs defeated Valier 58-8 and advanced to the championship. Hot Springs will travel to Plentywood to play Mon-Dak in the title contest next Saturday. The Savage Heat are seeking their second title and first since 2012.
Trevor Paro had four touchdowns, Sean Shea had two scores and Kane Lawson added two more TDs for the Heat.
In Class AA, Glacier is traveling to Billings to play the Senior Broncs next Friday for the title.
In Class C eight-man, Charlo will play Ennis in the title game. Charlo defeated Belt 50-35 in the semifinal round and Ennis defeated Wibaux 46-6.