BIGFORK — It didn’t take long for the Bigfork Vikings (8-1) to flex their muscles.

After punting on their opening drive of Saturday’s Class B first round playoff football game, the Vikings scored 44 consecutive points and never looked back, downing the Deer Lodge Wardens 44-7 to advance to the second round.

“I thought we played well, but Deer Lodge was tough,” Bigfork head coach said Todd Emslie said.

“The gave us some fits here and there. They mixed some things up defensively early on, but we flipped it around a little bit and got our ground game going.”

Although Bigfork outgained Deer Lodge (7-3) 251 yards to 12 on the ground, the Vikings struck pay dirt first through the air when senior quarterback Josh Sandry hit Johnathan Landon for a 10 yard touchdown.

“We called quick slants,” Sandry said.

“The play was originally to the left, but the safety moved over and I saw Landon and I hit him.”

Sandry scored the next two Bigfork touchdowns. The first, a 1-yard touchdown run, was set up by Landon, who intercepted a tipped pass and returned it to the 3-yard line.

The Vikings’ defense came up big again to open the second quarter. Senior lineman Loan Mejak deflected a pass that landed in senior Vinny Quirk’s hands. Quirk rumbled 53 yards for a touchdown that gave Bigfork a 25-0 lead.

Sandry’s final touchdown of the game was on the Vikings’ next possession. Rolling out to his right, the senior decided to run for the first down and turned it into a 63-yard score. He tip-toed down the sideline between two Deer Lodge defenders and into the end zone.

“Coach called a pass play and told me to roll out and run,” Sandry said.

“I ran, I cut back and it just worked out. I got some good blocks and I was able to get in the end zone.”

Sandry finished the game 10 for 19, accumulating 129 yards through the air. He rushed nine times for 84 yards, while Quirk gutted his way to 98 tough yards on 24 carries.

The Vikings gained 361 yards of total offense while holding the Wardens to just 149.

“We played great,” Sandry said.

“It was tough running the ball early on so we had to go to our passing game. We found a way to win. It was a good team victory and we feel pretty confident going into next week.”

With a 20-17 victory over Roundup, Malta (6-3) will travel to Bigfork for the Vikings’ second-round contest.

Deer Lodge 0 0 0 7 — 7

Bigfork 19 19 6 0 — 44

1st quarter

B — Jonathan Landon 10 yard pass from Josh Sandry (Landon kick)

B — Sandry 1 yard run (kick failed)

B — Sandry 7 yard run (kick failed )

2nd quarter

B — Vinny Quirk 53 yard interception return (kick failed)

B — Sandry 63 yard run (kick failed)

B — Matthew Farrier 11 yard run (Landon kick)

3rd quarter

B — Quirk 6 yard run (kick failed)

4th quarter

D — Sawyer Johnson 20 yard pass from Quade McQueary (Koby Owens kick)

———

Deer Lodge Bigfork

Total offense 149 361

Passing yards 137 146

Rushing yards 12 215

First downs 11 19

Time of possession 13:58 34:02

Turnovers 2 1

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INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING — Deer Lodge, Tucker Quigley 4-18, John Bannon 1 (-2), Ethan Johnston 5 (-4). Bigfork — Vinny Quirk 24-98, Josh Sandry 9-84, Matthew Farrier 7-21, Johnathan Landon 3-9, Drew Jensen 4-3.

PASSING — Deer Lodge, Ethan Johnston 13-28-85-2-0, Quade McQuery 3-6-52-0-1. Bigfork, Josh Sandry 10-19-129-1-1, Johnathan Landon 1-1-17-0-0.

RECEIVING — Deer Lodge, Sawyer Johnson 4-36, Quade McQueary 5-33, Mitchell Odden 2-32, Jacob Simpson 3-25, Colter Scully 1-11, Tucker Quigley 1-0. Bigfork, Johnathan Landon 3-58, Isaac Martel 2-38, Adam Jordt 2-26, Tyler Piazzola 1-17, Matthew Farrier 3-7.

Glasgow 54, Eureka 7

GLASGOW — The undefeated Glasgow Scotties were too much for the Eureka Lions (3-7) to overcome.

Glasgow’s Jason Thibault accounted for five of the Scotties’ eight touchdowns as they raced to a victory in the opening round.

Glasgow (10-0) held a 41-0 advantage at halftime and scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter before the Lions got on the board. That’s when Eureka’s Austyn Sherwood launched a 53-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Conrad.

In the second round, Glasgow will play Conrad who defeated Loyola 14-10.

Eureka     0     0     7     0     —     7

Glasgow     21     20     13     0     —     54

GLA—Jason Thibault 21 run (Cache Younkin kick)

GLA—Chase Fossum 30 pass from Thibault (Keil Krumweide kick)

GLA—Benji Phillips 31 run (Younkin kick)

GLA—Krumweide 26 pass from Thibault (Krumweide kick)

GLA—Thibault 15 run (kick failed)

GLA—Fossum 23 pass from Thibault (Krumweide kick)

GLA—Parker Culczyk 85 kickoff return (Younkin kick)

GLA—Culczyk 65 run (kick failed)

EUR—Brandon Conard 53 pass from Austyn Sherwood (Sam Johnson kick)