Page 66 - Flathead Beacon // 8.26.15

SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
WILDCATS READY TO UNLEASH HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE
WITH DYNAMIC ATHLETES, COLUMBIA FALLS SEEKING RETURN TO PLAYOFFS FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR
champions from the Northwest, Southwest, Central and Eastern conferences. The No. 2 teams from each conference will also be guar- anteed a berth, but the other four seeds will be determined through a power ranking. Two wild cards from the Western Division and two from the East will qualify, regardless of con- ference, based on power rankings.
Activities directors in Class A made the changes thinking it would ensure the most competitive teams would advance to the state playoffs.
For Columbia Falls, playing in the North- western A will be competitive enough. White- fish returns a solid core of talented players who have their eyes on another postseason run, and Polson is sure to be a tough team to get past.
Schweikert is focusing on finding new players to fill in the defensive holes, of which there are many. Last year’s defense allowed only 9.78 points per game on average. But three all-state players graduated, including linebacker Ike Schweikert.
“Physically, we have some pretty gifted kids. But the experience is lacking,” Jaxon Schweikert said.
“Defensively, we’re just very young. But we feel like in the end they could be a cham- pionship defense. There’s going to be growing pains. But it’s OK as long as we keep getting better every week and play our best football at the end of the season.” ■
j u s t aI
Dynamic junior quarterback Dakota
n only three seasons, head coach Jaxon Schweikert has built an offensive powerhouse in Columbia Falls.
His fourth season should be s spectacular.
Bridwell and senior running back Stephen Lindsey are part of a talented offensive crew returning for the Wildcats this fall.
Although a few key playmakers have grad- uated, including all-state wide receiver Ty Morgan and a large chunk of the defense, Sch- weikert feels confident that this latest team could resemble the Wildcats from a year ago, when they averaged 41.33 points per game.
“I think we have the ability this year to line up and run the ball every down and be really good. We also have the ability to line up and throw it every down and be really good,” Schweikert said.
Columbia Falls kicks off the season Aug. 28 at Corvallis.
A year ago, the Wildcats were one of the top-ranked teams in Class A for most of the fall and finished second in Northwestern A after losing to Whitefish. After qualifying for the postseason for the third year in a row, Columbia Falls dropped a first-round playoff game at home to Hamilton, 27-21.
Bridwell shined in his first year as starter, throwing for 2,269 yards and 25 touchdowns. He completed nearly 64 percent of his passes and threw only six interceptions.
Lindsey will be one of the team’s power- ful weapons in the backfield. A year ago he rushed for 500 yards and two touchdowns while sharing carries. He will likely share with another talented back, Trevor Hoerner, who scored fourth touchdowns a season ago.
Class A has undergone a few changes since last year. There are still four conferences, but the Northwestern A and Southwestern A are part of the Western Division, and the Central and East conferences are part of the East- ern Division. Twelve teams will still qual- ify for the playoffs, including the conference
LF
Columbia Falls quarterback Dakota Bridwell looks for an open receiver.
GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
2015 SCHEDULE
COLUMBIA FALLS
AUG. 28 SEPT.4 SEPT. 11 SEPT. 18 OCT. 2 OCT. 9 OCT. 16 OCT. 23
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HEAD COACH
Jaxon Schweikert (4th season, 20-8)
2014 SEASON
7-2 overall (Advanced to Class A playoffs, lost in first round to Hamilton 27-21)
RETURNING STANDOUTS
Stephen Lindsey, Sr., RB/LB; Dakota Bridwell, Jr., QB; Blake Arneson, Sr., C/NG; Sean Hoerner, Sr., WR/S; Trevor Hoerner, Jr., WR/LB; Zach Baker, Jr., T/DE