Cats win the 'must win' over Pirates
In the first few minutes of the third quarter, things were looking dreary for the Columbia Falls football team last Friday night. Polson had just taken the opening drive of the half down the field and scored a touchdown to make the game 20-6 with 6:31 left in the third quarter.
But when the Cats offense clicks, it really clicks.
Cat quarterback Dakota Bridwell hit a wide open Wyatt Green down the sideline and Green was off to the races into Polson’s red zone. A few plays later, Bridwell ran it in for a touchdown from the 1-yard line. The whole atmosphere turned in 45 seconds.
In the fourth quarter the Cats went up 20-19 when Stephen Lyndsey rumbled in from 4 yards out. The point after kick was no good, but the Cats were up 20-19. But Polson answered and less than two minutes later retook the lead with 9:02 left in the game on a 43-yard run by Tanner Wilson. The two-point conversion was no good, 26-19.
The Cats would not be denied. They rumbled down to the Polson red zone and with fourth and goal and 6:02 remaining, Bridwell snuck in the end zone and Stephen Lyndsey then rumbled in for a critical 2-point conversion to put the Cats back up, 27-26.
Polson looked to answer, but Stephen DeCamp intercepted a Polson pass at the Cats’ 38-yard line with 4:02 remaining. Lyndsey then had a 32-yard run for another touchdown and Bridwell got around the corner on the two-point conversion with 2:47 left to put the Cats up 35-26.
Polson needed two scores to win and aired the ball out. Wildcat Trey Gates grabbed an interception in the end zone to kill the Pirates’ drive with 48 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
While he didn’t score any touchdowns, Green had a great game for the Cats. He rushed for 161 yards and had 92 yards receiving for 253 of the Cats’ 405 yards of total offense. Polson actually outgained the Cats with 416 yards offense — 210 rushing and 206 passing, but they had two turnovers while the Cats had none — a critical difference in the game.
Coach Jackson Schweikert was pleased.
“It was a total team effort. It took everyone,” he said.
Schweikert said Lyndsey and their other running back, Logan Kolodejchuck, played on the defensive line the entire game, so it was up to Green to provide the Cats with the spark on offense and he did an admirable job.
Schweikert also had kudos for Bridwell, who has had some struggles this season.
“Dakota came up with big throws when we needed them,” he said.
The Cats are now 3-3 on the season and 1-1 in conference play. They had to beat Polson in order to make the playoffs. They face Frenchtown away Friday night in a game they need to win to host a first-round playoff game. Frenchtown is 3-5 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
Polson 0 14 6 6 — 26
Columbia Falls 6 0 7 22 — 35
CF — Trevor Hoerner 9 run (Brandon Karberg kick blocked)
P — Colton Cote 6 run (Cameron Brown kick)
P — Matt Rensvold 10 pass from Tanner Wilson (Brown kick)
P — Wilson 1 run (kick blocked)
CF — Dakota Bridwell 1 run (Karberg kick)
CF — Stephen Lindsey 4 run (kick failed)
P — Wilson 43 run (run failed)
CF — Bridwell 1 run (Lindsey pass from Bridwell)
CF — Lindsey 32 run (Bridwell run)