Cats fall to Dogs in conference battle

The Columbia Falls football team’s high-powered offense stumbled in the first half, and their defense had a tough time getting to the quarterback in their 20-15 loss to conference rival Whitefish away Sept. 26.

The Bulldogs held the Wildcats to zero points in the first half as Whitefish went ahead 6-0 with a touchdown late in the first quarter when Bulldog running back Jake Streibach rumbled in from a yard out. The point-after attempt was blocked.

The Bulldog score was set up by two penalties against the Cats. Cat defensemen Colton Gove was ejected for a flagrant personal foul, and another flag came out when Wildcat coach Jackson Schweikert went onto the field to argue the call.

The referees claimed Gove punched a Whitefish player, and Schweikert disagreed. There were plenty of flags throughout the game, as both teams went after each other.

Columbia Falls had its chance in the first half. In the second quarter, the Cats drove down to the Whitefish 36-yard line, but the Bulldogs were able to stop a Wyatt Green run on fourth down, and the Cats lost the ball on downs.

In the second half, Bulldog Chris Park ran in from two-yards out, and the Dogs were up 13-0. But Columbia Falls responded when Dakota Bridwell hit Sean Hoerner on an 8-yard pass with 2:31 left in the third to make it 13-6.

The Cats put together another drive but had to settle for a 24-yard field goal to make it 13-9 with 10:05 left in the game.

Whitefish responded with a touchdown when Luke May found Jack Streibach in the end zone from 19-yards out. The point-after attempt was good, and the Bulldogs were up 20-9 with 6:13 left.

Columbia Falls then drove down the field in a little over a minute. Bridwell hit Tyler Murphy in the end zone on a beautiful 24-yard pass to make it 20-15. The Cats went for two, but the pass was knocked away.

The Cats needed a defensive stop with a little more than four minutes to play, but the Bulldogs drove inside the Columbia Falls one-yard line and ran out the clock.

Bridwell threw for 178 yards, but Whitefish outgained the Cats 394-259 in total offense. That proved to be the difference in the game.

“We just weren’t as sharp as we’ve been,” Schweikert said. “We just missed in execution. They played extremely hard and gave themselves a chance to win.”

The Cats showed some class after the game when they recognized the Bulldogs for their effort. It was Whitefish’s homecoming.

Columbia Falls is now 4-1 overall. They have a bye this week and then face Frenchtown at home Oct. 10.

The Cats need a victory against the Broncs to stay in the hunt for the conference title. Prior to the Whitefish loss, the Cats were ranked No. 1 in the state Class A polls.

C. Falls 0 0 6 9 – 15

Whitefish 0 6 7 7 – 20

W – Jack Streibich 1 run (kick blocked) 11:58

W – Chris Park 2 run (Haley Nicholson kick) 7:01

C – Sean Hoerner 6 pass from Dakota Bridwell (kick blocked)

C – Trevor Hoerner 24 FG

W – Streibich 19 yard pass from Luke May (Nicholson kick)

C – Tyler Murphy 26 pass from Bridwell (run failed)