Football advances to state quarterfinals, volleyball heads into divisionals tournament
FOOTBALL
A missed two-point conversion and a third interception by Adam Jordt helped secure the Vikings a narrow 37-36 victory over Roundup in the first round of the state playoffs on Saturday.
Bigfork found itself in a shootout against Roundup, facing a running attack that was deceiving and potent. Roundup also held the ball nearly twice as long as the Vikings, forcing Bigfork to have to take advantage of the few opportunities it had on offense.
“We had to score when we had it,” head coach Todd Emslie said. “We scored quick and then they’d chew up the clock.”
Jordt got his first interception on the opening drive, but the Vikings weren’t able to do anything on the first drive and punted to Roundup.
The teams traded touchdowns at the end of the first quarter, each making a conversion to enter the second tied at 8-8.
On the first play of the second quarter, Roundup’s Tristan Salthe broke loose for a 53-yard touchdown, only for Bigfork’s Matthew Farrier to return the ensuing kickoff for a 79-yard touchdown.
The Panthers answered later in the quarter when they caught the Vikings off guard by going to the air, one of just eight passes on the day, as Austin Kinn found Salte for a 22-yard touchdown.
Jonathan Landon would punch in a short run and conversion to tie the game at 22-22, only for Dalton Salthe to return the ensuing kickoff for an 84-yard touchdown, giving the Panthers a 30-22 halftime lead.
Jordt returned his second interception of the day for a touchdown in the third quarter to tie the game at 30-30. Tristan Salthe put Roundup back in the lead early in the fourth, but a missed conversion left the door open for the Vikings.
When Farrier scored a 6-yard touchdown with 9:27 to play, the Vikings turned to kicker Hugo Schyberg for the first time, the converted soccer player burying the extra point to give Bigfork its first lead.
The defense held on late, aided by third Jordt’s interception in the end zone, and Bigfork was able to run out the final minutes.
“We made just enough (stops) in the end,” Emslie said. “It was a close one.”
Farrier finished with a game-high 165 yards on 20 carries and Landon was 6 for 15 for 82 yards passing and had three rushes for 44 yards. In addition to his stellar day on defense, Jordt had a team-high two catches for 42 yards.
Tristan Salthe had 13 carries for 132 yards for Roundup and Dalton Salthe had 24 rushes for 91 yards as the Panthers outgained Bigfork 364-290 in the game.
“I think we held in there and our seniors did a tremendous job today,” Emslie said. “They made plays when they had to and showed the other kids what it takes to win a playoff game.”
The Vikes will stay closer to home this Saturday, traveling to Missoula to take on district 6B champions, Loyola Sacred-Heart in a quarterfinal match. Loyola shut out Cut Bank in their opening match 29-0.
The winner of the Loyola-Bigfork game will advance to the semi-finals and take on the winner of the Malta and Huntley Project matchup.
On the other side of the class B bracket, Colstrip is facing off against Fairfield, and Baker takes on Manhattan. Colstrip took down district 7B champions Thompson Falls 38-14.
Bigfork 8 14 8 7 — 37
Roundup 8 22 0 6 — 36
First Quarter
R—Dalton Salthe 2 run (Able Armitage run), 1:42
B—Anders Epperly 10 pass from Jonathan Landon (Logan Taylor pass from Landon), 1:08
Second Quarter
R—Tristan Salthe 53 run (run failed), 11:44
B—Matthew Farrier 79 kickoff return (pass failed), 11:30
R—Tristan Salthe 22 pass from Austin Kinn (Armitage run), 5:16
B—Landon 1 run (Landon run), 2:44
R—Dalton Salthe 84 kickoff return (Dalton Salthe run), 2:32
Third Quarter
B—Adam Jordt interception return (Landon run), 2:52
Fourth Quarter
R—Tristan Salthe 13 run (run failed), 11:19
B—Farrier 6 run (Hugo Schyberg kick), 9:27
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Bigfork, Matthew Farrier 20-165, Jonathan Landon 3-44. Roundup, T. Salthe 13-132, D. Salthe 24-91, Armitage 17-66.
PASSING—Bigfork, Jonathan Landon 6-15-1-82. Roundup, Kinn 1-2-0-22, Armitage 2-5-3-21, D. Salthe 1-1-0-20.
RECEIVING—Bigfork, Adam Jordt 2-42, Logan Taylor 2-23, Anders Epperly 1-10, Matthew Farrier 1-7. Roundup, T. Salthe 3-51, D. Salthe 1-12.
VOLLEYBALL
After the Valkyries thumped Troy in four sets to secure their spot in the district tournament in Thompson Falls on Saturday, they faced an uphill battle to move up from fourth place.
The Valkyries faced Thompson Falls in an intense semifinal match, which they lost in five close sets.
“We actually gave them the hardest run,” head coach Schuyler Baird said. Thompson Falls went on to beat Libby for first place.
Eureka fell to Libby in their semi-final match and faced Bigfork for third place. Eureka took down the Vals in three sets.
“We played more matches than any other team there,” Baird said. “Even though we’re fourth coming out, that doesn’t really show how well we actually played.”
Baird gave props to the seniors, who have helped carry the team into the divisional tournament.
“I’m really proud of their leadership and how far they’ve been able to take us. Hopefully we’ll get another week.”
The top four finishers in the tournament — Libby, Thompson Falls, Bigfork and Eureka — all advance to next week’s Class B Divisional tournament in Libby.
While Bigfork played in a tough district, the divisional meet might prove even tougher. The Vals will start the tournament against Florence at 2 p.m. on Thursday. Florence is the defending Western B divisional champions.
Third-place game
Eureka def. Bigfork, 25-17, 25-10, 25-21.
Kills – Eureka 35 (Amanda Peterson 13), Bigfork 16 (Lana Berg 6). Blocks – Eureka 3 (Peterson 2), Bigfork 1 (Berg). Digs – Eureka 57 (Rylee Morgan 17), Bigfork 39 (Julia Saunders 6). Assists – Eureka 33 (Liz Pacello 18), Bigfork 19 (Kalia Wicklund 14). Aces – Eurkea 12 (Sienne Utter 5), Bigfork 7 (Sami Varner 2).
Semifinals
Libby def. Eureka 25-22, 25-19, 16-25, 25-14, 15-11.
Kills – Libby 33 (Mehki Sykes 9), Eureka 44 (Amanda Peterson 19). Blocks – Libby 13 (Emily Mossburg 8), Eureka 10 (Peterson 5). Digs – Libby 60 (Bailie Rosling 14), Eureka 99 (Kaylee Kransper). Assists – Libby 27 (Ashley Walker 15), Eureka 44 (Liz Parella 23). Aces – Libby 14 (Sykes 8), Eureka 9 (Rylee Morgan 3).
Thompson Falls def. Bigfork 22-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-12, 15-12
Kills – Thompson Falls 49 (Shey Hannum 14), Bigfork 32 (Miranda Campbell 11). Blocks – Thompson Falls 11 (Autrey Hannum 6), Bigfork 8 (Lana Berg 4). Digs – Thompson Falls 39 (Megan McKenzie 12), Bigfork 85 (Berg 17). Assists – Thompson Falls 42 (Haley Wilson 33), Bigfork 23 (Kalia Wicklund 22). Aces – Thompson Falls 17 (McKenzie 5), Bigfork 16 (Berg 5).
Play-in game
Bigfork def. Troy 25-18, 17-25, 25-12, 25-16.
Kills – Bigfork 35 (Lana Berg 11), Troy 26 (Alyssa Lewis 9). Blocks – Bigfork 6 (Miranda Campbell 3), Troy 7 (Alyssa Lewis 4). Digs – Bigfork 60 (Lana Berg 12), Troy 52 (Kaitlyn Downey 23). Assists – Bigfork 33 (Kalia Wicklund 29), Troy 23 (Allie Brown 23). Aces – Bigfork 14 (Kalia Wicklund 4, Jaime Berg 4), Troy 10 (Allie Brown 3, Olivia Roach 3).