Cats blank Loggers, 73-0

As near as many people can remember, Columbia Falls put up the most points ever in a football game at Satterthwaite Field on Oct. 17, crushing Libby 73-0.

The Wildcats started the scoring early and often. At 10:33 in the first quarter, Trevor Hoerner sacked Libby quarterback Dom Voorhies, and Wildcat lineman Josh Snyder scooped the ball up and ran it 25 yards into the end zone for the Cats’ first score.

The touchdown had a little history to it. Neither Snyder’s grandfather Paul or his father Beau scored while playing football for Columbia Falls. Josh was the first to get into the end zone in three generations, although his sister Maddy scored the first point in football for the Snyder family when she kicked an extra point for the team last year.

A multitude of Cats scored against the hapless Loggers, who had about 10 players total on the bench. Suffering from declining enrollment, Libby will drop to Class B next season.

Ike Schweikert rumbled in twice on short runs, wide receivers Ty Morgan, Justice McManus and Trevor Houston all scored. Running backs Connor Bowman, Wyatt Green, Logan Kolodejchuk and Nathan Riley also reached the end zone.

Green had the longest run — the 77-yard kickoff return was a first for the speedy sophomore. Riley also had a nice touchdown run of 51 yards in the second half.

The win assured Columbia Falls second place in the conference, as Whitefish beat Frenchtown, 35-9.

All told, the Wildcats wracked up 478 yards in total offense — 337 yards rushing and 141 yards passing. The Cats’ defense, meanwhile, lived in Libby’s backfield, holding them to just 95 yards total offense. Schweikert, Bowman and Hoerner had great games.

“We had that bye week, and we fixed a bunch of details,” coach Jackson Schweikert said after the game. “We’ve really worked hard the last three weeks.”

It’s showed in both offense and defense. The Cats wrap up the regular season with an away game against Polson, which is 3-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play. Columbia Falls is 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

Looking ahead to the playoffs, the Cats will face the third-place team from the Southwest in a conference that is so tight that three teams could end up third — Dillon, Hamilton or Corvallis. The Cats will host one of them in the first round of the playoffs.

Libby 0 0 0 0 – 0

C. Falls 14 33 14 12 – 73

CF – Josh Snyder 25 fumble return (Trevor Hoerner kick)

CF –Ty Morgan 20 pass from Dakota Bridwell (Hoerner kick)

CF – Justin McManus 13 pass from Bridwell (Hoerner kick)

CF – Ike Schweikert 3 run (kick failed)

CF – Schweikert 6 run (pass failed)

CF – Trevor Houston 8 run (run failed)

CF – Connor Bowman 6 run (Morgan run)

CF – Wyatt Green 77 kickoff return (Hoerner kick)

CF – Bowman 9 run (Hoerner kick)

CF – Logan Kolodejchuk 3 run (kick failed)

CF – Nathan Riley 51 run (kick failed)