Wildcats lose OT thriller to Broncs

Hungry Horse News

With each new game, the young Columbia Falls Wildcat football team learns valuable new lessons.

After last week's win, it was one of hope, but last Friday night against Hamilton, it was one of heartbreak.

The Cats (1-1) battled through sloppy play and even sloppier weather to force a 7-7 tie at the end of regulation, only to have the game slip away on the game's final snap.

In the overtime frame, the Cats got the ball at the Hamilton 10 yard-line and failed to score any points, mustering three yards on two plays before Hamilton's Tyler Gillespie intercepted a Chase Fairbank pass in the end zone on third and goal from the seven.

After the change of possession, it only took Hamilton three plays to score the decisive touchdown, cementing the 13-7 final score.

Head coach John Thompson said the team played well at times, but made too many mental mistakes and had too many turnovers.

"It comes down to consistency," he said. "And we're struggling to find that."

The game started on a high note for the Cats, as Scott Palmer took the opening kickoff back to the Hamilton 36, but the team turned the ball over on downs after failing to muster 2 yards on third and fourth downs from inside the Hamilton 15.

After exchanging possessions, Hamilton broke out a quick bubble screen that took the Cats defense by surprise. The Broncs ran it three times in a row, gaining 29, 20 and finally 23 yards, before the drive stalled and they missed a field goal, in what appeared to be their final possession of the half.

But with 1:09 left in the second, Fairbank fumbled at the Wildcat 44, and the Broncs marched down the field with a precision passing game, scoring on a first-and-goal pass with 19 seconds remaining.

Thompson made adjustments in the second half to limit the Broncs passing game, but said the unit struggled to contain the bubble screen before the adjustments were made.

"We played hard," he said. "They did some things we didn't respond to well. We just weren't covering it."

The Cats also had problems trying to stop Hamilton's Daniel Eccles, who tore through the defense for 123 yards on the ground.

However, Columbia Falls did not give up, as the offense scored the team's only points on its first possession of the second half, a 9-yard Fairbank pass to Josh Peterson with 6:50 remaining in the quarter.

Fairbank finished 5 of 11 passing for 38 yards and two interceptions. Scott Palmer was the leading rusher, netting 50 yards on 11 carries, with Josh Wilson contributing 30 yards on seven rushes.

Next week, the Wildcats will travel to Stevensville.

The junior varsity Wildcats (0-1) lost to Whitefish 28-6, as Scott Palmer scored the only touchdown.

BRONCS 13, WILDCATS 7, OT

Hamilton 0 7 0 0 6 — 13

Columbia Falls 0 0 7 0 0 — 7

Second Quarter

Ham — Mike Huus 2 pass from Justin Bourne (Justin Mildenberger kick), :19.

Third Quarter

CF — Josh Peterson 9 pass from Chase Fairbank (Kevin Boyer kick), 6:50.

Overtime

Ham—Huus 3 run.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Hamilton, Daniel Eccles 29-123, James Wood 3-65, Huus 3-6, Ryan Turley 1-(minus-3), Bourne 10-(minus-40). Columbia Falls, Scott Palmer 15-50, Josh Wilson 7-30, Boyer 1-17, Peterson 6-13, CJ Hanson 2-(minus-4), Fairbank 12-(minus-20).

PASSING—Hamilton, Bourne 9-14-2-120, Team 0-1-0-0. Columbia Falls, Fairbank 5-11-2-38.

RECEIVING—Hamilton, Wood 2-40, Tanner Weigle 2-33, Tyler Gillespie 3-27, Michael Crowley 1-8, Huus 1-2. Columbia Falls, Jared Jimmerson 2-21, Peterson 2-11, Boyer 1-6.