BIGFORK — Frenchtown’s quarterback Brody Hardy accounted for five touchdowns as the Broncs used a big second half to win on the road against the Bigfork Vikings 48-13 Friday night.

Both teams went into the highly anticipated matchup undefeated with four wins each under first-year head coaches.  

Hardy threw for four touchdowns, two of them in the first quarter to tight end Billy Corrette for huge plays of 58 and 60 yards. Hardy accounted for another touchdown on a 64-yard QB draw, putting the game out of reach late in the third quarter. 

The Vikings received the ball to start the game and had an impressive 6-minute drive, capping it off with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Tamret Savik from Cole Schmit to take a 7-0 lead. 

“They came out and punched us in the mouth early and got after us,” Frenchtown coach Seth Mason said. “We had to have a little bit of a wake-up call, but we got settled in and I am proud of how our kids responded.” 

Following the two big plays to Corrette, the Broncs added another touchdown in the second quarter on Cole Johnson’s 6-yard touchdown run. 

Down 20-7 before the half, the Vikings drove the ball down the field and a fourth down conversion put them inside the red zone with a chance to score, but Johnson made a leaping interception to end the threat. 

“I told the boys all week long we have to match their physicality and it’s not that we didn’t... The first half we hung with them and plays were there, but sometimes they don’t go your way,” Bigfork coach Hunter Johnson said.  

The Broncs scored on their first drive of the second half with another chunk play to take a 27-7 lead, but the Vikings responded. 

A wide receiver screen to Rye Rodriguez went for 49 yards and Savik caught his second touchdown pass of the day from nine yards out to cut the lead to 27-13. 

Frenchtown responded with 21 unanswered points and the defense shut down the Vikings the rest of the half, with another interception and a turnover on downs. 

After back-to-back impressive defensive showings, the Vikings defense allowed more points in this game than they have all season combined, though they were missing two key starters. 

“Our outside linebacker Sam Plummer got hurt last game and he is a stud,” Johnson said. 

“We trust the guys we have but it’s hard when you're on a roll, the defense is playing well and then you have to make changes within a week with a team like this coming up, it’s tough.” 

Bigfork (4-1) will look to rebound next Friday on the road at Whitefish (2-3) before welcoming Browning at home for their homecoming game Oct. 11. 

“We have to turn the page, look at film and understand what we did wrong and keep getting better. We will practice hard this week, and we will be ready for Whitefish,” Johnson said. 

Frenchtown     13    7    21    7    —     48 

Bigfork    7    0    6    0    —    13 

B — Tamret Savik 11 pass from Cole Schmit (Quinn Kerr kick)  

F — Billy Corette 58 pass from Brody Hardy (Colton Zenner kick) 

F — Corette 60 pass from Hardy (PAT blocked)  

F — Cole Johnson 6 run (Zenner kick) 

B — Savik 9 pass from Schmit (PAT no good)  

F — Jordan Warner 20 pass from Hardy (Zenner kick) 

F — Hardy 64 run (Zenner kick) 

F — Jordan Warner 46 pass from Hardy (Zenner kick)