Cats drop Bigfork for key conference win
Hungry Horse News | Hungry Horse News | UPDATED 10 months, 2 weeks AGO
Banyan Johnston looks to throw on the run against Bigfork. (Chris Peterson photo)
The Columbia Falls football team got its first win of the season and it was a big one that, as they beat conference foe Bigfork 27-13.
The game was knotted up at 13 apiece late in the third quarter.
But after a Columbia Falls drive stalled early in the fourth on the Bigfork side of the field the special teams play stepped up. Columbia Falls punted and the ball was downed inside the Bigfork two yard line.
The Wildcats defense then held the Vikings to a three and out, which proved huge.
Bigfork punted and with 7:08 in the fourth, quarterback Banyan Johnston connected with receiver Jory Hill on a short pass that Hill turned into a 46-yard touchdown run as he ran across the field and then down the south sideline, taking advantage of his blocks as he lept into the end zone, arms outstretched for the score.
The touchdown not only put the Cats up, it changed the momentum of the game as the Cats stifled another Bigfork possession, got the ball back and put on another drive against the Vikings to cap the win off with a short touchdown run by Trip Ross at the 1:19 mark.
“Banyan had his breakout game,” coach Kelly Houle said.
Johnston was 20 for 34 with three touchdown passes for 288 yards. He also had six yard rushing. Johnston hit seven different receivers.
He opened the game by hitting Easton Brooks for a touchdown about 8:15 into the first quarter. Bigfork tied it up about 6 minutes later and then added a long field goal to go ahead 10-7 in the second quarter.
Daniel Contreras then caught a Johnston pass and the Cats were up 13-10 at the break after Billy Joe West’s point after attempt was just wide. West kicked well other than that, hitting all his PAT’s and punting the ball well for the Cats.
While the offense came alive, it was the defense that shined. They made some adjustments at the half and were able to shut down Bigfork’s running game, which was huge. They held Bigfork to about 30 yards rushing in the second half, including moving Contreras to defense end.
The Cats are now 1-3 and head to Ronan Friday night, looking for another conference win.
The game to circle is Oct. 10, when the Cats travel to Whitefish.