The Libby Loggers football team is 2-0 after a convincing 42-14 win over Stevensville last Friday at Logger Stadium.

The Loggers led 22-0 after the first quarter and 42-7 at halftime. The 35-point lead entering the third quarter meant the Mercy Rule was in effect and the second half moved quickly.

Loggers head coach Kyle Hannah was able to play a lot of younger players in the second half while the Yellowjackets (0-2) tacked on a TD in the fourth quarter to set the final score.

A trio of seniors scored all of Libby’s touchdows. Bransen Holzer led with three scores, two receiving and one rushing. Quarterback Tristan Andersen passed for two scores and had two rushing TDs and Ian Thom hit paydirt with one score on the ground.

Andersen was 8 of 11 passing for 135 yards. He also had three carries for 35 yards, with scoring runs of 17 and 18 yards. Holzer ran four times for 28 yards and had three receptions for 74 yards. 

Ian Thom added 90 rushing yards on seven carries for Libby, including a 4-yard scoring run. Libby rolled up 407 yards of offense.

Stevensville won the coin toss and deferred the choice until the second half so Libby started the game with the ball.

Five plays and 73 yards later, the Loggers were on top after Andersen’s 17-yard TD barely two minutes into the game. Isaac Lamere hit the first of four extra point attempts and it was 7-0.

The Loggers, who dominated up front, forced a punt. It only took a few more minutes before Holzer found the end zone on a 7-yard run. 

That dominance up front led to Libby’s next points as a high snap and pressure by Tristan DeShazer led to a safety with 4:14 left and a 15-0 lead.

The Loggers took possession at their 35 following the defensive points and needed just three plays to score again.

Senior Boe Miles caught a 12-yard pass from Andersen, Holzer had a 30-yard run and Andersen capped the drive with an 18-yard run to make it 22-0 after Lamere’s PAT kick.

The Yellowjackets got on the board when Josh Pfister caught a 27-yard TD pass from freshman QB Luca Schmidt.

But their momentum was fleeting.

Lamere’s 32-yard kickoff return set the Loggers up in good field position at their 41. On the fourth play of the drive, Holzer broke free for a 23-yard TD run to make it 29-7.

After forcing another Stevi punt, Holzer opened the ensuing drive with a 31-yard catch. An 8-yard catch by Gabe Kosters put the Loggers at the 4, but a few penalties and two missed passes put the Loggers back at their 29.

But on the fourth down play, Andersen found Holzer for a 29-yard TD pass to make it 36-7.

Libby held Stevi on downs and got the ball at the opponent 35. Four runs by Thom, including the finishing 3-yard score, made it 42-7.

Libby has outscored its opponents 96-22.

The Loggers play their first road game of the 2025 campaign Friday at Hamilton. The Broncs are 2-0 following a 27-23 win over Whitefish. They opened their season with a 51-0 win at Ronan.

Libby has an off week following that game before hosting Polson Sept. 26 for Homecoming.

    Libby's Bransen Holzer (20) breaks free from a Stevensville tackler for a big gain in Friday's game at Logger Stadium. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby's Tristan Andersen (5) scores one of his two rushing touchdowns against Stevensville in Friday's game at Logger Stadium. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)