Pirates battle to the end but fall short against Vikings
BRANDON HANSEN For the Leader | Lake County Leader | UPDATED 2 months, 2 weeks AGO
Polson Pirate quarter back Case Cox scores, tying the score to 6-6 against the Bigfolk Vikings. (Bob Gunderson Photo)
A gritty Polson effort came up just short on Friday night as the Pirates fell 22-19 to Bigfork in a Northwest A football clash that featured momentum swings, big defensive plays, and a heartbreaking finish.
The Pirates (2-4, 0-3 conference) traded blows with the Vikings (4-2, 2-1) all evening, but missed opportunities and a late first-half breakdown ultimately proved costly.
The game opened with a defensive showcase. Polson’s Bradley Smith made a crucial interception in the end zone to halt an early Viking drive, only for Bigfork’s Tamret Savik to return the favor with an interception a few plays later.
Both offenses struggled to gain ground early, but Bigfork’s Treker Hickey finally broke through with a short touchdown run in the second quarter. Polson answered with a 5-yard keeper from quarterback Case Cox, but the extra point was blocked, keeping Bigfork ahead 8-6.
The first half ended in stunning fashion. After Polson’s kickoff went out of bounds, the Vikings took over at their own 35. Hickey rumbled 49 yards down to the 16, setting up a last-second heave that found Austin Savik in the end zone as time expired. The two-point conversion made it 14-6 at the break.
The Pirates refused to fold, capitalizing on several Viking miscues in the second half. Jarett Seifert recovered a fumbled snap deep in Bigfork territory, setting up a Cox touchdown run that pulled Polson within two at 14-12. Later, Holden Emerson capped another short field with a 2-yard score, trimming the deficit to 22-19 after the extra point.
But the Vikings’ punishing ground game took over late, with Hickey and Tayden West churning out first downs on a game-clinching drive that ended on the Polson 2-yard line. Rather than risk a turnover, Bigfork took a knee to run out the clock.
Hickey was nearly unstoppable, racking up 272 yards on 29 carries with two touchdowns. Bigfork finished with 268 rushing yards as a team compared to Polson’s 98.
For the Pirates, Cox went 11-for-17 for 64 yards and a touchdown while adding another score on the ground. Eli Evenson hauled in two catches for 26 yards and a touchdown, while Emerson led the rushing attack with 41 yards on 13 carries. Defensively, Smith and Brody Bulette each had key pass deflections, and Seifert recovered two fumbles.