Football gets big win on the road against Vigilantes

Behind four touchdowns from Trip Ross and a last second-field goal from Ross as well, the Columbia Falls football team got a huge win on the road against East Helena on Friday.

Ross rushed for four touchdowns and kicked the game-winning 36-yard field goal as time expired to beat East Helena 38-35.

The two teams traded scores early in the first quarter. Ross scored twice on the ground, but East Helena answered with three touchdowns to take a 21-13 lead.

In the second, the Vigilantes added a couple more touchdowns while the Wildcats had a touchdown of their own.

The score at the half was 35-19.

But the Cats defense stiffened in the second half and the Vigilantes were held scoreless.

Ross scored his fourth rushing touchdown in the third quarter and later connected on a 40-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 35-28.

Quarterback Banyan Johnston tied the game with a 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth. That set up Ross’s game-winning kick as time expired.

This was the first game that Ross was kicker. He’s also the team’s leader in tackles on the defensive side of the ball.

Ross scored 31 of the Wildcats 37 points and finished with 197 yards on 27 carries. Johnston threw for 201 yards and rushed for 75, while wide receiver Jory Hill caught eight passes for 133 yards.

Columbia Falls finished with 482 yards of offense.

Coach Kelly Houle said he pleased with the effort.

“The thing that stands out to me is how hard they’re playing for each other,” Houle said. He noted they made some defensive adjustments at half as the Vigilantes had 180 yards rushing in the first half and just 36 the second.

The team has a bye this week and then heads into conference play.

The win over East Helena avenges a loss in the playoffs last season, when the Cats had a fourth and goal to potentially tie or win the game against the Vigilantes, but came up just short, losing 27-20.