The playoffs are upon us and a couple Valley teams are putting in the miles: Columbia Falls had to go 475 to get to today’s State A playoff game against top-ranked Billings Central, for example.

Meanwhile, Bigfork went 356 miles to get to its first-round State B game against Malta – a homecoming of sorts for the Vikings’ Jim and Cormac Benn.

Eureka, the No. 2 seed out of the Western B, got to stay home. Glasgow had to make the 465-mile trip into Lincoln County.

All the games kick off today at 1 p.m.

Columbia Falls (5-3)

at Billings Central (5-0)

The host Rams – this game will be played at brand-new Lockwood High School, just east of Billings – have played just five games but won them in impressive fashion.

Central’s wing-T continues to create headaches for defenses. The Rams’ defense plays an odd front with multiple coverages.

“They’re good at every position,” Wildcats’ coach Jaxon Schweikert said. “There’s not a spot where you can say, OK, we can go at this guy. If you move to move the football against them, you need to be very focused.”

Schweikert feels his team is there: Mason Peters has thrown for 1,756 yards and 19 scores; Isaiah Roth (560 yards) and Peters (432) lead the run game, and Cade Morgan (38 catches, 655 yards, six TDs) leads a talented crew of receivers.

Central counters with a balanced running attack led by Brock Ping (472 yards, 4 TDs). Quarterback Marcus Wittman has thrown just 64 passes, but he’s completed 50 (78 percent) for 761 yards.

Up front Schweikert singled out the Rams’ 300-pound JaQuawhann Booth.

“A legitimately good player in the state of Montana,” he said. “He’s as good as we’ve seen since I’ve been in Montana.”

Schweikert hopes defensive end Finn Coleman and noseguard Raphe Salmon can get in the backfield and upset the Rams’ offensive timing; also crucial will be the linebacking crew of Cody Schweikert, Lucas Thacker, Morgan and Jordan Knapton.

“Morgan is playing at a really high level right now,” said Jaxon Schweikert, who added his team is at its healthiest in a while after fighting through some COVID-19 quarantines.

“If the backers and D-linemen hold up, we have a fighting chance,” Coach Schweikert said. “Offensively we’re going to have to be really efficient. Our guys have to do a good job finding space, finding grass.

“If we win it, we’ll earn it.”

Glasgow (7-2) at

Eureka (6-2)

The Scotties and Lions have similar offensive styles, and Eureka coach Trevor Utter expects a lot of power-running.

“The ground game is going to be key,” Utte said. “Who can stop it and who can do it.”

The Lions are coming off a game where they contained Bigfork’s Cormac Benn in a 28-0 win. Benn had a season-low 80 rushing yards.

“Last week we just had an incredible defensive effort,” Utter said. “We knew what Bigfork’s strengths were and throwing wasn’t one of them. We crowded the line of scrimmage and devoted ourselves to stopping the run. It was an 11-person job.”

Glasgow QB Loden Idler is a more capable thrower – he has 789 yards and 10 TDs passing – but the Lions still need to stop running back Jesse Lee (823 yards, 12 TDs).

The Scotties’ top receiver is Colton Fast, who has 17 catches – to go with six interceptions on defense.

Caleb Utter, the coach’s son, triggers Eureka’s offense and he has more touchdowns running (12) than throwing (three).

Gunnar Smith, with 121 carries for 974 yards and 10 touchdowns, leads the run game. He is also averaging 19.3 yards a reception and is the Lions’ top defender, playing a safety-linebacker hybrid.

“Definitely our leader,” Coach Utter said. “After that I”ve got a lot of tough, hard-nosed players that have gotten better as the year’s gone on.”

Bigfork (6-3) at Malta (5-1)

Two years ago Jim Benn was in his second year coaching the Malta Mustangs and his son Cormac Benn was a sophomore. Now they’re back, aiming to push the Vikings past a squad that uses a “Pistol” formation with Wing-T action thrown in.

Malta QB Kooper Oxarart has thrown just 71 times in six games; Bigfork’s Patrick Wallen has thrown 42 times in eight.

“It’s going to be a fast game because of the running,” said Coach Benn, whose son leads Class B and all of Montana in rushing with 1,775 yards (and 23 TDs). “It’s going to be who can have explosive plays. I think that was the difference for Fairfield when they beat them (14-6 last Friday) – two explosive plays.”

Levi Taylor adds another 692 rushing yards for Bigfork; Malta counters with the tandem of wingback Rex Williams (83 carries, 635 yards, 9 TDs) and fullback Cash Salsbery (408 rushing yards).

Of Salsbery, Benn said: “He is a solid human being – in character and hulkyness.” Eureka might have the counter in defensive end Isaac Bjorge, who has led the Vikings in tackles the last two weeks.

“It’s going to be fun,” Benn said. “I think Mac is looking forward to it, because he likes those kids a lot.”