Cats fall short to Pirates in shootout

Dakota Bridwell had more than 60 throws against Polson.

Dakota Bridwell (3) scrambles against Polson last week.

Trey Gates is all alone in the middle en route to a touchdown against Polson.

by CHRIS PETERSON
Editor | October 19, 2016 8:43 AM

Dakota Bridwell (3) scrambles against Polson last week.

Trey Gates is all alone in the middle en route to a touchdown against Polson.

With a 10-6 Wildcat lead at the half, it looked like the Columbia Falls-Polson football game was going to be a grinder.

But the Pirates scored 28 points in the third quarter and added an insurance touchdown in the fourth to pull away 42-27 in Polson, securing the Northwest A conference title.

“We had some uncharacteristic mistakes,” Wildcat coach Jaxon Schweikert said. “You’re going to have that. It’s all very fixable.”

Wildcat quarterback Dakota Bridwell was 37 of 63 passing for 464 yards. But he was picked off twice, once for a touchdown return.

The Cats also had a 60-yard touchdown catch by Sean Miller called back in the second quarter on a procedure penalty which would have put the Cats up 17-6 at the half. They also had a drive-killing fumble in the fourth-quarter.

On the plus side, Trey Gates had his best game of the season, with five catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Schweikert gave Polson credit.

“They played their best game of the year,” he said. “We knew we’d have to have our A game to beat them.”

The Cats had a tough time stopping Pirate receiver Matthew Rensvold, who had touchdown receptions of 20 and 60 yards, and had 12 catches for 225 yards.

It was the first loss of the season for the Wildcats (6-1, 1-1). They wrap up the regular season this Friday at home against Frenchtown. The Broncs, (2-6, 0-2) lost to Whitefish 42-14. If the Cats get by Frenchtown, they’ll host a first-round state A playoff game the following Saturday, likely against Whitefish or Corvallis. Win that game and they’d head to Sidney, the No. 1 seed in the East.

Columbia Falls 3 7 17 0 — 27

Polson 6 0 28 8 — 42

CF — Brandon Karberg 25 field goal

P — Cadis Chowning 36 pass from Tanner Wilson (pass failed)

CF — Trey Gates 46 pass from Dakota Bridwell (Karberg kick)

P — Colton Cote 9 run (Matthew Rensvold pass from Wilson)

CF — Sean Miller 46 pass from Bridwell (Karberg kick)

P — Rensvold 20 pass from Wilson (run failed)

P — Wilson 7 run (Wilson run)

P — Cameron Brown 34 interception return (pass failed)

CF — Bridwell 3 run (Karberg kick)

CF — Karberg 20 field goal

P — Rensvold 60 pass from Wilson (Rensvold pass from Wilson)