WHITEFISH —Banyan Johnston threw three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to rally the Columbia Falls Wildcats to a 19-18 victory over the Whitefish Bulldogs in the annual Cat-Dog game Friday. 

Whitefish (4-2 overall, 2-1 in the Northwest A) entered the fourth quarter with a promising 18-0 lead, but Easton Brooks and Jory Hill each scored lengthy touchdowns to turn the game around for Columbia Falls (3-3, 3-0 in league). The duo combined for 172 receiving yards. 

“It just takes one play,” Wildcats coach Kelly Houle saod. “I was proud of the kids for finishing. I was proud that they didn’t panic. We held them to field goals instead of touchdowns. That was huge for us.” 

It was all Whitefish in the first half, with Cole Moses rushing for a 47-yard touchdown and Luke Dalen adding a 1-yard scoring run. Moses finished with 122 yards on 18 carries and Dalen added 165 total yards in the rivalry matchup. 

Before you knew it, Whitefish jumped out to an early 12-0 lead with 2:37 remaining in the first quarter.  

The Wildcats were unable to get anything moving forward on offense. Their first four drives all ended in punts and they didn’t pick up a first down until halfway through the second quarter.  

Tait Orme extended the Whitefish lead to 15-0 just before half with a 27-yard field goal. The Bulldogs kept the Wildcats from scoring on the final play before halftime from the 3-yard line. 

Dalen and Moses led the Bulldogs to an 8-minute, 14-play drive out of the break.  Orme made his second field goal of the game from 28 yards to increase the lead to 18. 

After forcing a punt to start the final period, the Wildcats found life with 10:50 remaining when Johnston found Brooks down the middle for a 44-yard touchdown to cut into the lead 18-7.  

On the following Columbia Falls drive, Jory Hill made the play of the night when he caught a pass and made multiple Bulldog defenders miss to score a 56-yard touchdown. 

Whitefish was again forced to punt, but this time a high snap over the punters’ head gave the Wildcats great field position. 

Johnston threw his final touchdown with 3:41 left in the game to Tripp Ross on a fourth-and-goal from the 5-yard line, taking the lead 19-18.

Brooks sealed the victory with an impressive diving interception on Whitefish’s final drive.

“As a senior, it’s just unbelievable that this is our last time playing on this field, I’m just truly grateful and blessed, it was an honor being able to play,” Brooks said. 

Columbia Falls hosts Polson next Friday at home, while Whitefish looks to bounce back on the road at Libby. 

Columbia Falls    0    0    0    19    -    19 

Whitefish        12    3    3    0    -    18 

W — Cole Moses 47 run (kick failed), 8:50-1Q 

W —Luke Dalen 1 run (2-point PAT failed), 2:37-1Q 

W —Tait Orme 27 FG, 0:45-2Q 

W —Orme 28 FG, 3:39-3Q 

CF —Easton Brooks 44 pass from Banyan Johnston (Billy Joe West kick) 10:50,4Q 

CF —Jory Hill 56 pass from Johnston (run failed) 8:46,4Q 

CF —Trip Ross 5 pass from Johnston (run failed) 3:48,4Q