Change is afoot in Class A football, where the far-flung, 13-team Western A of yesteryear has been split into two and we’re back to a six-team Northwest A conference.

The bad news is that three of those six teams will miss the 12-team A playoff bracket this fall.  

“This is a tough conference to compete in,” Polson coach Carson Oakland said. “I think you’re going to leave one team out of the playoffs that’s going to be pretty good.” 

We can include the Polson Pirates on that list; they’ll be chasing Columbia Falls, Bigfork and Whitefish — all playoff teams in 2024 — for a spot in the postseason. 

Columbia Falls is the favorite, with a ton of All-State and all-conference kids back from a 7-3 campaign. 

Quarterback Banyan Johnston, a junior, will trigger an offense that includes receivers Easton Brooks and Jory Hill and running backs Kris Davis and Trip Ross. 

“We’ll have a true, two-headed monster at running back,” second-year Columbia Falls head coach Kelly Houle said. 

The Wildcats will be tested right away: They start at Lewistown, a semifinal team in 2024, Friday; then they play at Frenchtown, East Helena at home and then at neighboring Whitefish. 

“We’ll know how we are the first four games of the season,” Houle said. 

Bigfork is 2-for-2 as a playoff team since coming back to Class A, and second-year coach  

Hunter Johnson has a lot of experienced Vikings. 

“We have our entire defensive backfield coming back — both corners and both safeties,” Johnson said. “And they’re going to be pretty good. 

“We have so many returning starters from last year, there has been a lot of anticipation going into this season. It’s an exciting time.” 

Cole Schmit is back at quarterback, and he has a workhorse to hand the ball to: Treker Hickey. 

“He’s pretty important in our offense,” Johnson said of Hickey, a senior who ran for 828 yards last fall. “The run game is huge for us, and he is the prototypical running back: He’s hardnosed, gets downhill and works his butt off all the time.” 

Bigfork saw its 2024 season end at 5-4 with a 24-21 loss at Whitefish, which is gunning for another playoff berth. 

Third-year Bulldogs’ coach Brett Bollweg is one of two league mentors that has to find a quarterback.  

“We have two kids that are duking it out,” he said. “Luke Dalen and Bear Barker, both juniors.” 

Whoever takes snaps will have Cooper Akey to throw to, and his cousin Sam Akey — a four-year starter — up front clearing room for running backs Cole Moses and Jordan Harmon. 

“Our hope to be on the ground more,” Bollweg said. “We have a couple good running backs, a young quarterback and a pretty experienced line. 

“Bigfork could be really tough,” he added. “I think we have a chance to be really tough. So we’ll see.” 

Polson will make a push, with quarterback Holden Emerson back and a stud two-way lineman in Brody Bulette, who has committed to Montana State. 

Libby has Tristan Anderson — not to be confused with Columbia Falls’ Tristan Anderson, a lineman — back to play quarterback as well. The Loggers are pretty stout up front and senior Bransen Holzer is a talented receiver. 

Ronan has a new coach in Mike Krahn, who began his teaching career in Ronan and came back as the Chiefs’ offensive and defensive line coach in 2023. In between Krahn coached Charlo’s 8-man program for 23 years, including a runner up finish in 2016. 

Krahn needs a new quarterback, after the Chiefs’ junior starter didn’t come out. Uriah Reed, a junior two-way lineman, will lead the way up front. 

Northwest A Prediction 

1, Columbia Falls 

2. Bigfork 

3. Whitefish 

4. Polson 

5. Libby 

6. Ronan 

Players to watch 

Cooper Akey, WR/S, sr., Whitefish; Sam Akey, OL/DL, sr., Whitefish; Aaron Anderson, TE/LB, sr., Whitefish;  Tristan Anderson, QB/S, sr., Libby; Tristan Anderson, OL/DL, jr., Columbia Falls; Urijah Bache, OL/DL, sr., Libby; Easton Brooks, WR/CB, sr., Columbia Falls; Brody Bulette, OL/DL, sr., Polson; Ollie Buzzel, CB, sr., Bigfork; Dane Carlson, RB/LB, sr., Bigfork; Daniel Contreras, TE/LB, jr., Columbia Falls; Kris Davis, RB/LB, jr., Columbia Falls; Holden Emerson, QB/WR/SS, sr., Polson; Payton Freeman, OL/DL, sr., Libby; Cody Haggard, TE/LB, sr., Polson; Jordan Harmon, RB/LB, sr., Whitefish; Treker Hickey, RB/LB, sr., Bigfork; Jory Hill, WR/CB, jr., Columbia Falls; Drew Holmlund, OL/DL, sr., Ronan; Bransen Holzer, WR/S, sr., Libby; Banyan Johnston, QB/S, jr., Columbia Falls; Kaden Kaber, C/DL, sr., Columbia Falls; Isaac Lamere, WR/DB, sr., Libby; Lincoln Leadingham, OL/DE, jr., Bigfork; Cole Moses, RB/LB, sr., Whitefish; Alex Oches, S, Bigfork; Uriah Read, OL/DL, jr., Ronan; Trip Ross, RB/LB, jr., Columbia Falls; Austin Savik, TE/LB, sr., Bigfork; Tamret Savik, WR/S, sr., Bigfork; Cole Schmit, QB, sr., Bigfork; Ian Thom, RB/LB, sr., Libby; Billie Joe West, TE/DL, sr., Columbia Falls; Tayden West, CB, sr., Bigfork; Brodee Woll, OL/LB, sr., Ronan.