For the better part of the first half against Western Montana football power Columbia Falls, the Libby Loggers held their own.

The Loggers have been on the short end of some lopsided games in the 2026 season, but against the Wildcats, Libby held them scoreless in the first quarter and for nearly the first six minutes of the second quarter.

The excitement was palpable. The coaches and players seemed to perform with a sense of triumph while the fans loved it.

The Wildcats have won six straight games since a 28-13 loss Sept. 4 against Frenchtown (6-2), the defending Montana Class A champion.

The West is loaded this year with Whitefish (8-1), Hamilton (7-1) and the two previously mentioned schools taking turns beating each other.

The Loggers played three of them, but their final outing of the season showed how much they’d matured and grown as a team.

While the very young Loggers squad, 11 of the 24 players were either freshman or sophomores, withered in the second half and lost 42-0, it was still a positive way to end a difficult season.

It was also Senior Night for Libby where, prior to kickoff, Tristan DeShazer, James Woody, Dayton Hardy, Quinton Caulboy and Hunter Witmer were honored. Also team manager Adriana Ruhter and Brayson Orr, who filmed the Loggers, were honored for the contributions to the program.

In Friday’s season finale, freshman Hudson Hannah intercepted Columbia Falls senior quarterback Banyan Johnston on the Wildcat’s first possession. Johnston has thrown 17 TD passes and just three interceptions.

Hannah had a good first season, running for 149 yards and one TD while throwing for 101 yards. He led the team in receiving with 295 yards on 21 catches and two TDs.

DeShazer led the team in rushing with 324 yards while scoring twice. Junior Quinten Cossins, who missed two games, ran for 300 yards and three TDs.

Defensively, sophomore Jackson Riddel averaged 6.5 tackles in four games. Hannah led with 43 tackles, including 24 solo. Freshman Noah Scofield averaged 5.1 tackles and had six stops for losses. Witmer led the team in tackles for loss with eight. Caulboy averaged 4.9 tackles with four for lost yards. 

Junior Porter Hollingsworth and Hannah each had two interceptions.

    Libby senior quarterback James Woody runs the ball Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 against Columbia Falls. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)