SUPERIOR – Unrelenting, unbeaten and now, undisputed champions.

The relentless Superior Bobcats put an exclamation point on a remarkable undefeated 9-0 regular season, defeating the Mineral County rival St. Regis Tigers 56-18 in Superior Friday to claim sole possession of the 2026 Western conference 8-Man football crown and the division’s No. 1 seed into the State playoffs, beginning this weekend across Montana.

To start those playoffs coach Jeff Schultz and his Bobcats will play host to the Choteau Bulldogs, a deceptive looking No. 4 seed from the Northern conference, at 1 p.m. Saturday in Superior.

For their part, after finishing third in the west, coach Jesse Allan and his Tigers will travel to Fort Benton, to face the Longhorns, the No. 2 seed out of the north, also at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Unapologetic about how good his team has played with the bright light of expectations shining on them all season long, Schultz and his merry band of Bobcats have had an incredible season so far, and last week’s win over the rival Tigers was only the latest chapter to that story.

“The goal of every Montana high school football team this fall was to be playing on Halloween and here we are,” Schultz said of Saturday’s coincidental playoff gameday. “It was a fun regular season. St. Regis gave us everything they had, I think both teams left it all out there on the field.”

Indeed, the Tigers, now an impressive 7-2 overall, started Friday’s game appearing intent on scoring the upset after Tucker Desoto took the opening kickoff back 70 yards for a touchdown to give St. Regis a 6-0 lead only 13 seconds into the game.

Tellingly though, the seasoned Bobcats did not show even a flicker of panic, quickly marching down the field in response to Desoto’s big opening play, scoring their first touchdown of the evening on a Gannon Quinlan run and following that up with a two-point run by quarterback Landon Richards for an 8-6 Superior lead, a lead they would never relinquish.

Like they have every other time out this season, the Bobcats quickly added to the lead Friday and eventually won going away.

On St. Regis’ next series, Turner Milender caused a fumble, Superior recovered it and Milender ended up scoring on a 12-yard run.

After Milender effectively ended St. Regis’ next drive deep in Superior territory by sacking Tiger quarterback Conner Lulis on a fourth down play, Richards completed Superior’s next scoring drive with a four-yard touchdown run, and Superior eventually went into the locker room with a 30-12 lead at halftime. The Bobcats kept the pressure on, outscoring St. Regis 26-6 in the second half to move to the win.

Milender scored three more touchdowns in the second half and Richards two more for Superior to complete Bobcat scoring.

Lulis threw a touchdown pass to Nathan Bohn and scored on a 13-yard run for the Tigers’ other scoring in the game.

St. Regis coach Jesse Allan gave Superior their props. “Congrats to Superior on wrapping up the regular season undefeated,” he said, “they definitely have what it takes to make a deep run this post season.

“I knew we would have to put up points to keep it close,” he added, “and four turnovers and three empty trips in the red zone can’t happen.”

Allan holds no ill will towards the Bobcats or the community of Superior. “I thought more than anything both teams battled the right way,” he said. “It was a heck of a night by all of these young men representing Mineral County.”

Schultz is understandably proud of his Bobcats. “It’s one thing to say you’re a physical team but another to got out and prove it,” he said. “These guys are able to back it up when we say it and, when you add in the talent and speed we have at the skill positions this year, it has made for a very fun season, one we hope doesn’t end soon.”

Richards, who also happens to be a high jumper of some note, rushed for 103 yards and three touchdowns against St. Regis besides passing for 53 more yards. Milender, who also happens to be a wrestler of some note, rushed for 148 yards and four touchdowns in addition to pulling down a team-high nine tackles. Quinlan, who also happens to be a basketball player of some note, rushed for another 94 yards and a touchdown.

Taking turns terrorizing the Tiger backfield from their defensive positions, Tyler Mellen and Jack Kemp each had seven tackles with two quarterback sacks apiece for the Bobcats.

Schultz expects a challenging game from Choteau. “They are a tough draw, they would not be a No. 4 seed if they had their quarterback all season, but he was injured earlier. They also have a couple of college recruits and are big, strong and fast. The north is a tough division, we will have to be ready.”

Allan also expects a rugged contest for his Tigers in Fort Benton. “We will clean some things up in practice this week and be ready for the trip to Fort Benton,” he said.

Superior has posted video game-like scoring this year and now has put up an amazing 574 points, an average of almost 64 points per outing.

    TIGER TAMER Turner Milender rushed for 148 yards and four touchdowns and had nine tackles on defense to lead Superior to a 56-18 win over St. Regis in Superior Friday. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)
  

    TIGER SOPHOMORE Tucker Desoto returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown to give St. Regis an early lead over Superior in Superior Friday. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)
  

    ST. REGIS SENIOR quarterback Conner Lulis passed for one touchdown and ran for another in Superior’s 56-18 win over the Tigers in Superior Friday. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)
  

    MAKING IT PAY – St. Regis sophomore Chet Hill caught the pass from Conner Lulis but was promptly tackled by Superior’s Landon Richards on this play during the Bobcats’ 56-18 win over the Tigers Friday. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)