Turnover bug bites Cats in opener

Before the season began, coach Bill Coleman likened the first four games of the football schedule to the preseason — none of the games count toward a playoff run.

The first game of the year played out like preseason for sure. One minute the Cats looked brilliant, the next like neophytes as they turned the ball over 10 times and blew a 20-6 lead against Stevensville, eventually losing in stunning fashion, 41-20.

The first quarter was all Columbia Falls. On the second play from scrimmage quarterback Austin Barth floated a sweet pass to wide receiver Kaleb Johnson for a 67-yard touchdown.

On the next possession, running back Nate Thompson turned a sweep play into a 57-yard touchdown and the Cats were up 12-0 on the Yellowjackets. Both extra point tries failed.

But then the Cats fumbled at their own 7-yard line early in the second quarter and the Yellowjackets scored to make it 12-6.

On the ensuing possession, Thompson, who is also the Cats' kicker, faked the punt and had a sweet run for a touchdown, breaking away from several Stevi defenders to make it 18-6. The Cats would get the two-point conversion for a 20-6 lead.

And then things went south in a hurry. Turnover after turnover ensued, from fumbled exchanges to intercepted passes. Stevi returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown with 52 seconds left, then on the ensuing possession, the Cats lost yet another fumble with seven seconds left.

Stevi had one play and as time ran out, Yellowjacket quarterback Caleb Vance scampered into the end zone for a touchdown. They added the extra point and a stunned Wildcat team went into the locker room down 27-20.

The misery continued into the second half. The Cats drove down to Stevi's 12-yard line on the first possession of the third quarter, but couldn't score and then the defense stopped Stevi and the Cats regained possession at its 40-yard line.

Thompson had another great run, but was topped short at Stevi's one yard line. But the turnover bug hit again and on third down, a fumble from the shotgun position gave the Yellowjackets the ball back.

Stevi would march 85 yards for another touchdown and then add a second insurance score to make it 41-20.

Despite the turnovers, the Cats had some very bright spots. Thompson ran for 207 yards on 20 carries and Johnson's reception showed the Cats can throw the ball deep. Barth threw for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Coach Bill Coleman was focusing on the positive.

"We're clearly disappointed (in the turnovers)," he said. "But other than that, I thought we did a pretty good job."

He noted the Cats also forced several Stevi turnovers as well and Barth played with an injury he received after he was squashed in a tackle following a bad snap. He should be fine for this week, Coleman said.

But there are things to work on.

"Ball security is the theme of the week," he said. "We didn't tackle very well and we didn't block very well."

The Cats also had several starting players out because they didn't have the required number of practices to play, but the entire squad should be eligible to play against Hamilton this Friday as the Cats go on the road.

The game will be Hamilton's first of the season. What do the Cats need to do to be successful?

"We need to eliminate our mistakes," Coleman said.

Stevensville 0 27 0 14 - 41

Columbia Falls 12 8 0 0 - 20

CF - Kaleb Johnson 67 pass from Austin Barth (kick blocked)

CF - Nate Thompson 57 run (pass failed)

S - Josh Lords 7 pass from Caleb Vance (kick blocked)

CF - Thompson 48 run (Devyn Rocker pass from Barth)

S - Tyler Murray 4 pass from Vance (kick blocked)

S - Jalen Pfau 55 interception return (Vance run)

S - Vance 30 run (Vance kick)

S - Josh Haynes 12 pass from Vance (Vance kick)

S - Billy Andrews recovered fumble in end zone (Vance kick)