Don’t poke the Bobcat. 

After a season-opening 35-20 loss to Valley Christian last week in Missoula, the Superior Bobcats were ready to play as they hosted Troy in Superior.

The Western 13C Conference, 8-player game showed the Cats were good to go as they swamped the Trojans 65-14 Friday night. 

They unleased a 32-point first quarter offensive barrage on the visitors, who discovered it is not just bears you are not supposed to poke. 

Just 36 seconds into the game, Superior’s Trizten Avilla broke free on a 58-yard scoring run, putting the home team up 6-0.  Sophomore Gannon Quinlan scored on the point after touchdown (PAT) try, boosting the lead to 8-0. 

Quinlan would literally run wild the rest of the first quarter.  The speedy sophomore scored from 36 yards out with 9:48 left in the game, then again a short time later on a 23-yard run.  He wrapped up his first quarter assault with a short, four-yard blast for six.  The Bobcats scored on all three PAT attempts, giving them a 32-0 lead as the opening stanza came to an end. 

In the second quarter, it was another sophomore running back, Turner Milender who became a frequent visitor to the Troy end zone.  Milender scored on a 38-yard pass from Phin Cataldo with 10:18 left in the opening half.  He also scored on a 10-yard run with just under four minutes to play in the second quarter.  The Bobcats went 1-for-3 on PATs in the second quarter, which ended with the Cats ahead 46-6. 

Sandwiched in between the Milender TDs was a two-yard run by the Trojans. 

With reserves getting in some valuable playing time, the tone of the game changed to one of defense in the second half.  The 40-point halftime lead remained unchanged until 2:49 left in the third quarter when George Hanson broke free on a 38-yard run for six points.  The PAT kick was no good, leaving the home team with a 52-6 lead. 

Troy took the kickoff after the Hanson score and got on the scoreboard on a 61-yard pass play.  The PAT run was good, and as the third quarter ended, Superior held an insurmountable 52-14 lead. 

Superior opened the final quarter with a 22-yard scoring TD run by Brydon Drey.  The PAT try failed, leaving the Bobcats lead at 58-14. 

Before the game ended, Cataldo picked off a Trojan pass and raced 55 yards for a TD.  He then kicked the extra point as the Bobcats wrapped up their first win of the young season, evening their record at 1-1. 

Troy fell to 0-2 with the loss. 

Cataldo, who was filling in for sophomore started Landon Richards at quarterback, was 1-1 for 38 yards and one TD passing.  Richards was injured in the Bobcats’ opener, but with next week’s bye, is expected back for their next game versus I-90 rival St. Regis in Superior, Friday, September 20. 

Quinlan led the Bobcats in rushing with 63 yards to go with his three running TDs, which Avilla added 58 yards and one touchdown for Superior.  Cataldo had 41 yards rushing. 

Milender had 60-yard receiving and one touchdown, while Hansen collected 38 yards on one reception. 

Jack Kemp had a good night on defense for the Bobcats, logging nine tackles.  Cataldo rounded out a solid game with seven tackles and Avilla pitched in five takedowns to go with two interceptions.