If this meeting is anything like the first one, it promises to be a wild afternoon in Columbia Falls today.

The Wildcats (7-1 overall) host Hamilton (6-3) for a 2 p.m. kickoff in the opening round of the Class A football playoffs.

Both teams finished second in their respective divisions.

Columbia Falls (Northwestern) and the Broncs (Southwestern) tangled back on Sept. 5 in Hamilton with the Wildcats pulling out a 14-9 victory.

Columbia Falls went on top 14-9 with six minutes to play on a 46-yard touchdown strike from Dakota Bridwell.

The Wildcats defense saved the game by intercepting Hamilton quarterback Bret Huxtable in the end zone with 14 seconds left.

It was the fewest points Columbia Falls has scored this season.

“That was a game where we fumbled on the one, threw a pick in the end zone and had two touchdowns called back,” Columbia Falls coach Jaxon Schweikert said. “We pretty much selfdestructed.”

Columbia Falls has done a much better job of eliminating those mistakes after that.

“Since the bye week (Oct. 3), I feel like we were able to clean up a lot of the little things,” Schweikert said.

“We have played lights out. It’s been pretty awesome since then. We’ve averaged 50 points a game.”

Bridwell has completed 135 of 211 passes for 1,972 yards and 24 touchdowns. He threw four interceptions the first two weeks of the season, but none since.

Ty Morgan has been his favorite receiver. He has 53 receptions for 1,030 yards and nine scores.

Trevor Houston is next with 35 receptions for 395 yards and five touchdowns.

Alex Draper keys Hamilton’s ground game. He has rushed for 1,143 yards on 176 carries and scored seven touchdowns. He is averaging 6.49 yards per carry.

Huxtable has completed 83 of 166 passes for 1,377 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s been intercepted seven times.

Bridger Bauder has been his go-to receiver with 36 receptions for 814 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is averaging 22.61 yards per catch.

“We have to make sure we take care of the ball, make smart decisions and play fast,” Schweikert said.

“When we play fast, we do really good. When we’re not, we’re kind of lackadaisical ... we don’t look very good.”

The winner of this matchup plays at Billings Central (6-2) the following weekend.

Whitefish (7-2), the regular-season champion in Northwestern A, has a first-round bye.