State record falls as Cats thump Blue Devils, 55-14
Braxton Reiten scores one of his five touchdowns against Corvallis Friday night.
Braxton Reiten races to the end zone against Corvallis last week.
Austyn McCubbins, left, and Bryce Fagerland force a Corvallis fumble in the second half.
Dakota Bridwell set a new Class A record with eight touchdown passes in a game.
The Columbia Falls football team advanced in the state A playoffs last week, breaking or tying a couple of state records along the way as they thumped Corvallis, 55-14 at home Friday.
Senior Quarterback Dakota Bridwell broke the state record for touchdowns in a game with eight, and receiver Braxton Reiten matched a state record for touchdown receptions in a game with five. Reiten also tied the state record for touchdown receptions in a season with 17, according to the Montana High School record books.
Both players were humble about the accomplishments after the game.
“I couldn’t have done it without the guys on the field with me,” Bridwell said.
Reiten, in turn, noted the bigger picture this season.
“I focus on the main goal we have. Focus on the state championship,” he said.
Both Reiten and Bridwell said this year’s team is more than just a family.
“It’s a brotherhood,” Reiten said. “I just love these guys. They’re very special to me.”
The bulk of the team has been playing football together since the first grade, Bridwell noted.
The next step is the long trip to Sidney, where they’ll play the Eagles on Saturday. Get by them and they’ll face either Belgrade or Hamilton on the road.
Reiten is looking forward to the road trip.
“It’s going to be fun,” he said. “I’m excited.”
Coach Jaxon Schweikert noted the stellar play of the offensive line against the Blue Devils, as they gave Bridwell time to throw the ball.
“The o-line paves the way to victory,” he said.
He gave kudos to Bridwell.
“He’s as good of a quarterback as I’ve ever had,” he said. He said he spends a ton of time watching film and doing the necessary preparation to be a success. Bridwell threw every single day this summer, Schweikert said.
“The kids believe in him and know he’s a winner,” Schweikert said.
Bridwell finished 19 for 27 for 356 yards.
The Wildcats scored early and often against the Blue Devils. It was 28-7 with 45 seconds to go in the first quarter and 41-7 with 7:29 to go in the second. That margin started the running clock. Bridwell hit Reiten early in the third for the eighth touchdown and the reserves finished off the game.
Reiten had five receptions for 164 yards; Trey Gates five receptions for 80 yards. Gates, Sean Miller and Trevor Hoerner all had touchdown receptions in the win. The Cats had 482 yards of offense.
Sidney promises to be a different opponent. They have just one loss on the year, a 14-7 loss to Lewistown. Look for them to try and run the ball against the Wildcats, eat up the clock and keep the Cats’ offense off the field.
The bus will leave Thursday. It’s 543 miles to Sidney down U.S. Highway 2. They plan on stopping at MSU Northern to practice one day before the game, which starts at 1 p.m.
Corvallis 7 0 0 7 — 14
C. Falls 28 20 7 0 — 55
First quarter
CF — Braxton Reiten 5 pass from Dakota Bridwell (Brandon Karberg kick), 9:45
CF — Trevor Hoerner 28 pass from Bridwell (Karberg kick), 4:43
COR — Liang Liedle 65 run (Cayden Ayers kick), 4:24
CF — Sean Miller 18 pass from Bridwell (Karberg kick), 3:11
CF — Trey Gates 10 pass from Bridwell (Karberg kick), 0:45
Second quarter
CF — Reiten 21 pass from Bridwell (kick failed), 10:54
CF — Reiten 55 pass from Bridwell (Karberg kick), 7:29
CF — Reiten 33 pass from Bridwell (Karberg kick), 3:50
Third quarter
CF — Reiten 49 pass from Bridwell (Auguste Emond kick), 8:00
Fourth quarter
COR — Liedle 80 run (Ayers kick), 7:32