It’s that time of year, as the beginning of the Montana High School Association state playoffs in volleyball and football, get under way this weekend at sites throughout Big Sky Country.

For athletes from Sanders and Mineral counties, it means taking competition to the next level for those whose teams have qualified.

Football playoffs involve four teams from the two counties, including Thompson Falls (Class B 11 player), Hot Springs (six-player), Superior (B-8 player), and St. Regis, which qualified for the Idaho state playoffs along with co-op partner Mullan, Idaho.

St. Regis-Mullan, which is entering its fifth straight year of Idaho playoff action, has a bye this weekend, then will likely face Hagerman, Idaho in Mullan the first weekend in November.

Thompson Falls, which moved to 11-player footbal two years ago after winning the State Class B 8-player championship in 2021, kicks off first round action when they journey to Red Lodge for a Saturday 1 pm meeting with the unbeaten Rams.

Hot Springs, winners of the Western 6-player conference with a 7-0 record, is the only local team to host a football playoff event as they entertain Valier this Saturday at 1 p.m. in Hot Springs.

Superior blasted Mission this past week to qualify as the fourth seed from the West region, and will travel to Forsyth to take on the Doggies, whom they eliminated from the 8-player race last year.

All games get underway at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Local volleyball players, including Western 7B teams including Plains and Thompson Falls, will gather at Plains High this Friday and Saturday for District playoff action.

And players from the area’s Class C teams, including Noxon, Hot Springs, and Alberton will converge on Hot Springs this Friday and Saturday for the Western 14C District tournament.

All will be looking to advance to Divisional and State final action next month.