Vikings play Deer Lodge in first round of state playoffs
<p>Logan Mejak runs for a touchdown against Thompson Falls on Friday.</p>
Bigfork football claimed their sixth-straight district championship on Friday in a 48-0 win over Thompson Falls.
The win advances the Vikings to the playoffs and gives them home field advantage for their first matchup, over Deer Lodge, at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Deer Lodge has a 7-1 record. “They’re kind of diverse. They’re a lot like us in a lot of ways,” head coach Todd Emslie said.
If Bigfork beats Deer Lodge, they will take on either Malta/Whitewater/Saco or Roundup/Melstone in the quarterfinals.
On Friday the Vikes continued their trend of coming out quick, when Josh Sandry ran for a 45-yard touchdown a minute and half into the game. Then on Thompson Falls’ first possession of the game Bigfork lineman Aaron Luna bumped a pass thrown by Thompson Falls’ Greg Wadsworth into the hands of fellow Bigfork lineman Logan Mejak, who ran for the second Bigfork touchdown, giving the Vikings a 14-0 lead two minutes into the game.
Isaac Martel scored twice for the Vikings in the first quarter. Sandry completed a pass to Martel for an 18-yard touchdown. Then Martel returned returned a Thompson Falls punt for a 55-yard touchdown. “We came out fast, and that’s what we needed to do,” Martel said.
Vinny Quirk finished out the quarter with his first touchdown of the game.
Early in the second quarter Bigfork blocked a Thompson Falls punt attempt, which was recovered by Matthew Farrier for a touchdown. The rest of the quarter remained scoreless until the last minute when Quirk scored the final touchdown of the game with at 38-yard run.
“I’m very happy with out defense, “ Emslie said.
Quirk led the Vikes for rushing with 110 yards. Jon Landon had one reception for 24 yards, and Isaac Martel had two for 22 yards.
Total offensive yards: Bigfork 318, TFalls 151
Number of plays: Bigfork 34, TFalls 40
Total passing yards: Bigfork 52, TFalls 52
Yards rushing: Bigfork 266, TFalls 57
Yards receiving: Bigfork 52, TFalls 94
Turnovers: Bigfork 0, TFalls 1
Penalties: Bigfork 8, TFalls 2
Defensive sacks: Bigfork 2, TFalls 0
Time of possession: Bigfork 25:17, TFalls 22:43