Cats crush Copperheads, face Bulldogs

The Columbia Falls football team had a big third quarter to turn a fairly competitive first half against Anaconda into a 49-13 blowout Sept. 19 at home. The Wildcats are now 4-0 as they head into conference play this Friday against Whitefish away.

Against the Copperheads, the Cats opened the scoring with six seconds left in the first quarter when Dakota Bridwell hit Stephen Lindsey on a 44-yard strike. With six minutes left in the second, Ty Morgan returned a Copperhead punt 61 yards to put the Cats up two touchdowns.

The onslaught continued after Trevor Houston picked off an Anaconda pass across the middle. A few plays later, Bridwell found Houston in the end zone to go up three touchdowns.

All of Trevor Hoerner’s point-after kicks were good.

Will Johnson picked off another Copperhead pass at the 2:20 mark, giving the Cats had another scoring opportunity.

But Bridwell’s pass to Justice McManus was picked off in the end zone to end the drive. It was the only mistake the young quarterback made all night.

After the turnover, Anaconda showed some life and drove 80 yards. Dylan Flack punched it in from the goal line with 12 seconds left, and it was 21-7 at the break.

But the Cats scored 28 points in the third quarter to put the Copperheads away.

Houston had a 38-yard touchdown catch from Bridwell at the 9-minute mark in the third. Then Colton Gove ran back an interception 25 yards for a touchdown at the 8:42 mark. Bridwell then found McManus on a 20-yard strike with 6:04 left in the third.

Meanwhile, the defense kept the pressure on. Sean Miller picked off an Anaconda pass at the 3:55 mark in the third to stop a Copperhead drive. Anaconda mustered a touchdown after that, but Ike Schweikert scored from one yard out, and the Cats went up 48-13.

The Cats had 134 yards rushing, 244 yards passing and 378 yards total offense. Bridwell was 16 of 28 passing, Morgan had six receptions for 137 yards, and Houston had three catches for 86 yards.

“I thought we came out sharper in the third quarter,” coach Jackson Schweikert said.

Schweikert was pleased with Bridwell’s performance. He threw some nice passes including some long balls that were almost perfect.

“He’s doing great,” Schweikert said.

The offensive line gave Bridwell time to throw. On defense, the line had another stellar game.

“I thought our D-line was real tough,” Schweikert said.

As for the Wildcats’ upcoming game against Whitefish, Schweikert said he’d hadn’t watched any of their film yet.

“We’re focusing on us and making ourselves better,” he said.

Anaconda 0 7 6 0 — 13

Columbia Falls 7 14 28 0 — 49

CF — Stephen Lindsey 44 pass from Dakota Bridwell (Trevor Hoerner kick)

CF — Ty Morgan 61 punt return (Hoerner kick)

CF — Trevor Houston 10 pass from Bridwell (Hoerner kick)

A — Dylan Flack 1 run (Rowan Fogerty kick)

CF — Houston 38 pass from Bridwell (Hoerner kick)

CF — Colton Gove 25 interception return (Hoerner kick)

CF — Justice McManus 20 pass from Bridwell (Hoerner kick)

A — Flack 4 run (run failed)

CF — Ike Schweikert 1 run (Hoerner kick)