Cats break Vikings' curse

Hungry Horse News

The Wildcat football team will take the momentum of a 53-25 win over Bigfork last Friday into the season finale this Friday against Whitefish, with its playoff hopes still very much alive.

The Cats had a fantastic night on offense behind Kyle Rosenbaum's 270 yard rushing and four touchdowns, while quarterback Craig Olson passed for 226 yards, going nine for 13 and giving up only one interception.

Rosenbaum scored two of his touchdowns in the first quarter, on 22 and 15 yard runs, but Bigfork stayed with the Cats, getting a touchdown and field goal.

The Cats broke it open in the second quarter, as Nik Caron ran in a touchdown from four yards out, and then Rosenbaum galloped 55 yards for his third of the night.

Olson then found Drew Perry in the end zone on a 38-yard pass to give the Cats a 34-11 lead going into halftime. Perry also had two interceptions on the night and a total of 81 receiving yards on two passes.

Tommy McNulty and Caron also had interceptions for the Cats.

"It was good game, it was a fun game. It was a nice way to end the streak against Bigfork, losing to them nine years in a row," said head coach John Thompson.

Olson connected with J.D. Fields on a 21-yard pass in the third before Rosenbaum ran 43 yards for another touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Olson kept the ball himself for the 1-yard run to cap off a great offensive night.

Bigfork managed to score twice in the fourth quarter on two passes, but the damage had already been done.

"I thought our defense did well, overall. It was just a well-played game on both offense and defense," Thompson said.

This Friday, the Cats will look to avenge last year's devastating 43-7 loss to the Bulldogs when running back Jolly Righetti set the state record for one game by rushing for 445 yards in front of a demoralized Columbia Falls crowd. The Bulldogs are without Righetti this time around, who had a season-ending injury early in the season, but at stake is a trip to the playoffs, as both teams are tied for third in the conference.

"That game has been on my mind since last year. We got beat on both sides of the football last year. We just didn't play very well. We are looking to do much better this year," Thompson said. "This is it— the winner goes to the playoffs."

Game time is 7:30 in Whitefish.

Columbia Falls 53, Bigfork 25

Bigfork 11 0 0 14 — 25

Columbia Falls 14 20 12 7 — 53

First Quarter

CFHS—Kyle Rosenbaum 22 run (Kevin Boyer kick), 9:25

BHS—Erik Torgerson 40 pass from Laine Averill (Aaron Vogel run), 8:29

CFHS—Rosenbaum 15 run (Boyer kick), 4:41

BHS—Torgerson 31 FG, :07

Second Quarter

CFHS—Nik Caron 4 run (Boyer kick), 10:23

CFHS—Rosenbaum 55 run (Boyer kick), 4:56

CFHS—Drew Perry 38 pass from Craig Olson (kick failed), 4:09

Third Quarter

CFHS—J.D. Fields 21 pass from Olson (kick failed), 4:41

CFHS—Rosenbaum 43 run (kick failed), 4:30

Fourth Quarter

BHS—Kellen Wasell 51 pass from Averill (Donny Houtonen pass from Averill), 7:25

CFHS—Olson 1 run (Boyer kick), 2:25

BHS—Cody King 30 pass from Averill (pass failed), 1:07