Columbia Falls racked up 28 points in the first quarter en route to a Northwestern A conference rout of longtime rival Whitefish, 56-7.

The Wildcats opened up the scoring with an 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Colten McPhee. McPhee then scampered in from eight yards out and then four yards out for two TDs to put the Cats up 21-0 in a matter of minutes.

Then Logan Kolodejchuk rumbled into the end zone, dragging a Whitefish defender with him for a 10 yard touchdown.

McPhee added another 80-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He rushed for 154 yards on eight carries. Kolodejchuk also rushed for 74 yards on 10 carries. Quarterback Austin Green had four carries for 54 yards and Parker Greene had two carries for 58 yards and a touchdown. On the receiving end, Ben Windauer led the squad with two catches for 22 yards and a touchdown.

The team racked up more than 400 yards total offense.

Defensively, it was another stellar effort by the Cats. Devron Harris and Tanner Grove both had interceptions and Austin Green also nearly had one in the first half — the ball just went off his fingertips.

Harris’s interception was an over-the-back grab on an overthrown pass.

The Cats held Whitefish to 95 yards offense — 45 rushing and 50 passing.

The Cats clinched the Northwestern A title with the win and a first-round bye in the state A playoffs. The Cats (5-1,4-0) wrap up the regular season at home Friday against Polson (2-5, 2-2) at 7 p.m. The Pirates are coming off a 30-19 loss to Browning.

Coach Jaxon Schweikert was pleased with the way the team played, both offensively and defensively.

“Offensively the kids were really crisp on their assignments,” he said.

Ditto for the defense.

“Coach (Bill) Coleman and (Jamie) Heinz had the defense ready for anything they could throw at us,” he said.

He said against Polson the focus is just on getting better as the postseason approaches. Many games have gone to a running clock because the Cats have had substantial leads.

“We haven’t played that much football this year,” Schweikert noted. “We’re still trying to get a lot better.”

Whitefish 0 7 0 0 — 7

Columbia Falls 28 7 7 14 — 56

CF — Colten McPhee 80 kickoff return (Auguste Emond kick)

CF —McPhee 8 run (Emond kick)

CF — McPhee 4 run (Emond kick)

CF — Logan Kolodejchuk 10 run (Emond kick)

CF — McPhee 80 run (Emond kick)

W — Mark Anderson 6 pass from Chad Queen (Carver Gilman kick)

CF — Ben Windauer 14 pass from Austin Green (Emond kick)

CF — Green 22 run (Emond kick)

CF — Parker Greene 41 run (Emond kick)