BIGFORK — The Wildcats only needed a short amount of time to shake off their bye week on Friday night.

Jaxson Cadwell recorded two interceptions and Banyan Johnston had a hand in three touchdowns in Columbia Falls' 45-7 victory over Bigfork in Northwest A football.  

The Wildcats (3-1 overall, 1-0 in Northwest A) scored 38 points in the middle quarters and forced four turnovers to keep Bigfork (0-4, 0-1) in check on their Homecoming night. 

"We haven't played in 14 days," Columbia Falls coach Kelly Houle said. "We were a little rusty coming out there, but we got it going." 

Trip Ross was the biggest thorn in Bigfork's side, as the senior rushed for 118 yards on 10 carries and made key plays on the defensive side of the ball, including a 60-yard interception return early in the third quarter. 

"He runs the ball with violence, that's what I like," said Houle. 

Quarterback Banyan Johnston completed 13 of 20 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns while adding 53 yards and a score on five carries. Jory Hill caught six passes for 73 yards, including both of Johnston's touchdowns. 

Rye Rodriguez led Bigfork with seven rushes for 43 yards and caught four passes for 47 yards. 

Columbia Falls got rolling late in the first quarter when Ross picked up 23 yards on a fake punt to keep the Wildcats’ second drive alive. Johnston took advantage two plays later, breaking free on an option for a 41-yard touchdown.  

Ross added a 23-yard field goal early in the second quarter before the Wildcats defense joined the scoring.  

Cadwell jumped up and snagged Alex Ochs pass and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead 16-0 with 6:40 remaining in the first half. 

The Vikings' best drive of the night followed as Ochs found Cavin Wiest on a post route for a 40-yard touchdown, and Quinn Kerr's extra point cut the deficit 16-7. 

Before the break, Cadwell intercepted his second pass of the night and Johnston found Hill open in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown with 15 seconds remaining. A defensive penalty on the extra-point attempt gave Columbia Falls another chance, and Ross ran in the two-point conversion to extend the lead 24-7. 

Just 41 seconds into the third quarter, Ross delivered his defensive score before adding a 47-yard touchdown run later in the period. Hill caught his second touchdown, a 31-yard pass from Johnston, for the final score of the game. 

For Houle, the conference-opening win was another step toward what the Wildcats hope to be a long season. 

"We're just taking it one win at a time, taking one week at a time," Houle said. We're right where we want to be." 

The Wildcats return home next week to face Ronan while Bigfork travels to Libby to seek their first win of the season. 

Columbia Falls  7  7  17  21 - 45

Bigfork 0 7 0 0 - 7 

CF — Banyan Johnston 41 run (Tripp Ross kick), 3:02 1Q 

CF — Trip Ross 23 field goal, 8:57 2Q 

CF — Jaxson Cadwell 49 interception return (Ross run failed), 6:40 2Q 

B — Cavin Wiest 40 pass from Alex Ochs (Quinn Kerr kick), 2:37 2Q 

CF — Jory Hill 10 pass from Johnston (Ross run), :15 2Q 

CF — Ross 60 interception return (Ross kick), 11:19 3Q 

CF — Ross 47 run (Ross kick failed), 5:40 3Q  

CF — Hill 31 pass from Johnston (Ross run), 2:38 3Q 

Individual Statistics 

RUSHING: Columbia Falls (21-235) — Trip Ross 10-118, Banyan Johnston 5-53, Magnus Magnuson 3-40, Hayden Strandberg 1-13, Connor Davis 2-11. Bigfork (33-148) — Quinn Kerr 7-43, Rye Rodriguez 7-43, Michael Farrier 7-35, Alex Ochs 4-19, Wyatt McKenly 7-6, Cooper Porrovecchio 1-2. 

PASSING: Columbia Falls — Johnston 13-20-0 for 185 yards. Bigfork — Ochs 9-24-3 for 107 yards. 

RECEIVING: Columbia Falls — Jory Hill 6-73, Hayden Strandberg 2-66, Kyler Voermans 1-19, Ross 1-15, Connor Davis 1-10, Kris Davis 1-2, Daniel Contreras 1-0. Bigfork — Rodriguez 4-47, Cavin Wiest 4-40, Porrovecchio 1-20. 

Reporter Luke Schmit can be reached at 406-758-4441 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.