FOOTBALL: Polson, Eureka fall to reigning state champs

FRENCHTOWN — Eli Nahapation took the opening kickoff 90 yards for a score, and the defending State A champion Frenchtown Broncs beat Polson 56-19 in a first-round playoff game Friday.

The Broncs saw running back Jake Forthover score four touchdowns, including a 25-yard strike from his brother Cody Forthofer.  

A 40-yard scoring run from Cooper Hardy and a 9-yard TD burst from Cody Forthover had Frenchtown up 21-0 early in the second quarter. The Broncs’ QB threw for two touchdowns; the second was a 29-yard pass to Cooper Michaud. 

Polson (4-5) fought back behind quarterback Case Cox, who returned to the lineup after missing six games and threw for 241 yards and three TDs.  

Cox hit Ben Aldridge with scoring strikes of 25 and 19 yards and found Eli Emerson for 17 yards and another score. Aldridge had seven catches for 112 yards; Evenson caught five passes for 59 yards. Cox completed 15 of 35 passes. 

Kelby Dumont had 14 carries for 48 yards for the Pirates. 

Frenchtown (7-2) next heads to Sidney for a Class A quarterfinal game Friday. 

Polson    0    7    6    6    -    19 

Frenchtown    14    14    14    14    -    56 

F — Eli Nahapation 90 kickoff return (Brett Kleinsmith kick) 

F — Cooper Hardy 40 run (Kleinsmith kick) 

F — Cody Forthofer 9 run (Kleinsmith kick) 

P — Ben Aldridge 25 pass from Case Cox (Roman Sawyer kick) 

F — Jake Forthofer 25 pass from C.Forthofer (Kleinsmith kick) 

F — Cooper Michaud 29 pass from C.Forthofer (Kleinsmith kick) 

P — Aldridge 19 pass from Cox 19 (run failed) 

F — J.Forthofer 3 run (Kleinsmith kick) 

P — Eli Emerson 17 pass from Cox (pass failed)) 

F — J.Forthofer 5 run (Kleinsmith kick) 

F — J.Forthofer 1 run (Kleinsmith kick) 

Manhattan 55, Eureka 16 

MANHATTAN — Tyson Pavlik threw three touchdown passes and ran for two scores for the defending State B champion Manhattan Tigers Friday. 

Eureka (4-6) took an 8-7 lead in the first quarter on a 57-yard pass from Hunter Grieve to Michael Van Gilder, but it was almost all Tigers from there.  

Pavlik completed 13 of 23 passes for 164 yards and rushed for 79 yards on 17 carries for the Tigers, who also came up with four interceptions on defense. His second short scoring run put Manhattan ahead for good in the first quarter; a 52-yard bubble screen to Marshall Friese made it 27-8 halfway through the second. 

Grieve finished 7 of 17 passing for 102 yards. Van Gilder scored both Eureka TDs, including a 65-yard end around with 3:35 left in the game. 

Eureka gained 236 yards of offense, and Van Gilder accounted for 125. Grieve and Ayden Helgert each ran in a PAT. 

Manhattan (8-1) stays home to play Red Lodge in a quarterfinal game next Friday. 

PLAYOFFS

Class AA 

Thursday, Oct. 29

Bozeman 42, Butte 24 

Friday, Oct. 30

Great Falls 28, Helena Capital 20 

Gallatin 35, Helena 14 

Missoula Big Sky 35, Billings Skyview 14 

Quarterfinals 

Friday, Nov. 6 

Great Falls (4-6) at Billings West (9-0), 7 p.m. 

Gallatin (8-2) at Missoula Sentinel (6-3), 6 p.m. 

Bozeman (6-4) at Glacier (8-1), 6 p.m., Legends Stadium 

Missoula Big Sky (8-2) Great Falls CMR (7-2), 7 p.m. 

Class A 

First round 

Friday, Oct. 30

Billings Central 13, Laurel 7 

Frenchtown 56, Polson 19 

Hardin 22, Lewistown 14 

Whitefish 36, Dillon 12 

Quarterfinals 

Friday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m.

Whitefish (9-1) at East Helena (7-1)

Billings Central (8-2) at Hamilton (7-1)

Hardin (8-2) at Columbia Falls (7-1)

Frenchtown (7-2) at Sidney (9-0)

Class B 

First round 

Friday, Oct. 30

Boulder 34, Thompson Falls 21  

Fairfield 31, Shepherd 8 

Florence 45, Columbus 7 

Huntley Project 50, Cut Bank 0 

Malta 47, Baker 6 

Manhattan 55, Eureka 16 

Red Lodge 55, Glasgow 33 

Three Forks 48, Anaconda 14 

Quarterfinals 

Friday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m.

Red Lodge (6-3) at Manhattan (8-1)

Malta (7-2) at Florence (8-1) 

Boulder (7-2) at Huntley Project (10-0)

Three Forks (7-2) at Fairfield (9-1)

Class C 8-man 

First round 

Saturday, Oct. 31

Belt 56, Seeley-Swan 16 

Chinook 38, Darby 28  

Choteau 64, Superior 42 

Ennis 56, Circle 50 

Flint Creek 68, Forsyth 8 

Fort Benton 59, St. Regis 14 

Scobey 54, Sheridan 0 

Twin Bridges 49, Culbertson 27  

Quarterfinals 

Saturday, Nov. 7

Ennis at Belt 

Choteau at Twin Bridges  

Chinook at Scobey 

Fort Benton at Flint Creek 

Class C 6-man 

First round 

Saturday, Oct. 31

Bainville 57, Valier 0 

Big Sandy 50, Richey-Lambert 27  

DGSG 48, Absarokee 6 

Grass Range-Winnett 50, Chester-JI 30 

Highwood 38, Wibaux 13  

Jordan 82, Heart Butte 13 

West Yellowstone 52, Noxon 6 

Power-Dutton-Brady 68, W. Sulphur 7 

Quarterfinals 

Saturday, Nov. 7

Power-Dutton-Brady at Highwood 

DGSG at Jordan 

Big Sandy at West Yellowstone 

Grass Range-Winnett at Bainville