SUPERIOR – It’s big game season in Superior, the Bobcats are on the hunt for more of those big games, and the hunting looks to be good, at least for the next month or so, until the playoffs arrive.

Improving to 5-0 for the season and ranked No. 5 in the most recent Class C power poll, the Bobcats shellacked the visiting Seeley-Swan Blackhawks 58-14 in Superior’s homecoming game Friday.

With the dangerous Blackhawks out of the way, coach Jeff Schultz and his Bobcats now turn their attention towards the next big game, with equally dangerous 5-0 Darby in Darby Friday. The implications of this game are clear, whoever wins will find themselves in the driver’s seat for eventual Western C honors, while the loser could find itself in a dogfight to make the playoffs.

Ranked No. 9 in the most recent power poll but certain to move up this week, Darby defeated No. 4 St. Regis 30-14 in St. Regis last week to scramble the conference race.

If only one word could be used to describe the Bobcats this season that word would be overwhelming, and the Bobcats did it again Friday against Seeley-Swan, overwhelming the unsuspecting Blackhawks with sheer Superior firepower, on offense and defense.

The Bobcats struck quickly against Seeley with Gannon Quinlan scoring a touchdown on a 24-yard run only two minutes into the game.

With the Bobcats getting the ball back quickly on a John Hughes interception, Superior’s Turner Milender, an athlete of the week for western Montana last week, then scored on a 46-yard run and the first quarter ended with Superior leading 16-8.

Quarterback Landon Richards then got in on the scoring action in the second quarter, first hitting Hughes with a 23-yard touchdown pass and then scoring on a 10-yard run of his own, sending the teams into the locker room at halftime with Superior leading 30-8.

Celebrating their 2026 homecoming in winning style, the Bobcats outscored the Blackhawks 28-6 in the second half to close out the victory.

Schultz said Milender and Richards both scored again in the second half and that Hughes finished the game with three TDs.

The excitement, the football buzz is building in Superior as the Bobcats continue their impressive 2026 season. Schultz does not want to overlook anyone or anything at this key juncture.

“We are going to have our hands full with Darby,” he said. “They are big up front, have some great athletes and will hit you. We will have to be ready Friday.”

The revenge factor could also be in play for the Tigers. Darby players no doubt remember a stirring comeback loss to these same Bobcats in Superior last year.

Schultz couldn’t help but be impressed by what he saw from his Bobcats in the win over Seeley-Swan. Superior dominated every phase of the game, like they have every time out so far this season.

“The kids played really well, executed really well,” he said. "We feel pretty fortunate this year, are kind of spoiled in the fact that we have some very effective players in different positions.”

The win over the Blackhawks also avenged costly losses to Seeley the past two seasons, including one in Seeley Lake that hurt Superior’s playoff seeding position last fall.

    THE BACK STOPS HERE – Superior freshman Cael Crabb tries to pry the ball away from Seeley-Swan quarterback Land Neudecker on a gang tackle by the Bobcats during first half action of Friday’s game in Superior. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)