Cats roll over Broncs, face Corvallis in playoffs

The Columbia Falls football team ended its season on a high note, downing Frenchtown 61-0 in a blowout. The Wildcats scored 21 points in the first five minutes en route to the win.

The victory secured second place in the Northwest A conference. The Cats wrapped up the regular season with a 7-1 record.

In three of the last four years, the Cats have had one loss or less in the regular season. In 2013 the Cats went undefeated in the regular season; in 2014 they were 7-1; and last year they were 5-3.

“That’s been a pretty good run,” coach Jaxon Schweikert noted.

They’ll open the state A playoffs against Corvallis Friday at 7 p.m., a team they beat 48-14 in the first game of the season this year. Corvallis has a revamped offense, but the Cats have a lot of fire power of their own.

They’re averaging about 47 points a game.

“We’ve been more dominant offensively than we’ve ever been,” Schweikert noted. “The offensive line is the best it’s ever been.”

Defensively, they’ve been very good against the run and they’ve forced 27 turnovers on the season.

They forced three turnovers against the Broncs in the rout, including a pick six by Austin Green. The Cats had eight different players score against the hapless Broncs, who had just one senior on their squad.

Running back Seth Gossett had his best game of the season for the Cats with 12 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Dakota Bridwell was 14 of 16 passing for 283 yards. The junior varsity squad played most of the second half with a running clock.

This year’s playoff bracket could be in the Cats’ favor, as powerhouses Polson and Dillon are in the same bracket. If the Cats beat Corvallis, they’d travel to Sidney. Get by Sidney, they’d face either Belgrade, Hamilton or Butte Central in the semifinal. If they win that, they’d host the championship game.

Frenchtown 0 0 0 0 — 0

Columbia Falls 27 21 13 0 — 61

CF — Seth Gossett 36 run (Brandon Karberg)

CF — Colton McPhee 2 run (Karberg kick)

CF — Trevor Hoerner 16 pass from Dakota Bridwell (kick failed)

CF — Gossett 2 run (Karberg kick)

CF — Bridwell 2 run (Karberg kick)

CF — Austin Green 37 interception return (Karberg kick)

CF — Steven DeCamp 23 pass from Bridwell (Karberg kick)

CF — Sean Miller 89 pass from Bridwell (Karberg kick)

CF — KJ Arends 2 run (kick failed)