Cats edge Libby in thriller
Kaleb Johnson on the carry with 1:27 remaining in the first half makes it third and six for the Wildcats. Libby's Alex Cislo on the tackle. Left: Mitchell Wassam is all smiles after the win. (Paul Sievers photo)
The Columbia Falls football team put together two impressive drives in the last four minutes of the game to beat Libby last week 22-21 away, taking the lead on a 23-yard field goal by Mitchell Wassam with 58 seconds to play.
The boys are now 2-0 in conference play heading into this Friday's homecoming game against Polson.
"I'm proud of the way they played," said coach Bill Coleman. "I don't think they ever feel like they're out of a football game."
The Cats overcame some mistakes against Libby to get the thrilling win, including a blocked punt that set up a touchdown to give Libby the lead in the fourth quarter.
After Libby scored in the fourth, the Cats engineered a drive to get within two after Wassam hit Kaleb Johnson for a 26-yard touchdown to make it 21-19. The Cats went for the tie, but the two point conversion failed. Libby got the ball back, but the Cats defense held.
With time running out, The Cats made one last drive and got the ball inside Libby's 10 yard line, but the Loggers held the Cats on downs.
With fourth and goal to go, Wassam kicked the field goal and then the defense held Libby in the final 50 seconds for the win.
"Our defense played really well," Coleman said.
Libby led the game 7-0 after the first quarter, but the Cats came back, with Chris King scoring on a one-yard run to make it 7-0. Wassam then hit King again in the second quarter on a 19 yard pass to make it 13-6 at the half. The point after attempt failed.
Wassam was 12 of 26 passing for 148 yards. The Cats also had 42 rushes for 142 yards, using six different backs. Top rusher was John Woody with 69 yards. The Cats are now 2-0 in conference and 4-2 overall.
The Cats play Polson Friday night for homecoming. Polson is a physical team that will look to pound the ball.
"We have to play just as physical as them," Coleman said. "They want to run the ball right at us … we've got to limit their carries."
Gametime is 7 p.m.
Columbia Falls 22, Libby 21
Columbia Falls 0 13 0 9 - 22
Libby 7 0 7 7 - 21
L - TJ Benson 55 pass from Kelly May (Kaila Forster kick)
CF - Chris King 1 run (Mitchell Wassam kick)
CF - King 19 pass from Wassam (kick failed)
L - Benson 91 pass from May (Forster kick)
L - Justin Thrailkill (Forester kick)
CF - Kaleb Johnson 26 pass from Wassam (Pass failed)
CF - Wassam 23 FG