Wildcats cruise past Yellowjackets 55-14
Lane Sapa looks to make a big gain against Dillon earlier this season. Sapa and the Wildcats took down the Yellowjackets in Stevensville Friday, 55-14. (Jeremy Weber photo)
Going into Friday night’s matchup in Stevensville, many might have expected a close game between the Wildcats’ top-ranked run defense and the Yellowjackets top-ranked running offense, but it was all Columbia Falls as the Wildcats cruised to a lopsided 55-14 victory.
The Cats erased any doubt early as they raced out to a 48-0 halftime lead and held the Yellowjackets scoreless until the fourth quarter, picking up as many yards on the ground (172) as the Stevensville offense gained in total.
Columbia Falls had 400 yards of total offense in the victory as quarterback Drew Morgan finished 12 of 19 passing for 190 yards and three touchdowns while running back Colton McPhee had 112 yards and two scores on 10 carries. Isaac Balla led the Wildcat receivers with 38 yards while Bryce Seymour had one reception for a 37-yard touchdown. Parker Greene and Easton Sempf caught the other two touchdown passes for the Cats.
McPhee was also a force for the Cats on the defensive side of the ball, leading the team in tackles with 11 (five solo) while also forcing a fumble. Caleb Smith and Tanner Gove each added nine tackles in the win.
Brayden Stone and Logan Bechtel each had interceptions the win, Stone’s for 10 yards and Bechtel for 100 yards and a touchdown.
The Cats jumped out to a quick lead on their first possession as Sempf capped of the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run to put C-Falls up 6-0.
McPhee used a 55-yard run to help set him up for a 3-yard scoring run on the Cats’ next possession, Auguste Emond added the PAT to put C-Falls up 13-0.
The Cats picked up two more scores in the opening quarter on 2-yard runs by McPhee and Jack Price and led 27-0 after 12 minutes of play.
It was more of the same in the second quarter as C-Falls added to its lead with a 30-yard pass from Morgan to Seymour, a 7-yard pass from Morgan to Greene and a 100-yard interception return by Bechtel to lead at halftime by 48.
After both teams went scoreless in the third quarter, the Yellowjackets finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth on a six-yard run by Ben Tack. After recovering the ensuing kickoff, Stevi scored again on their next possession, this time of a 20-yard pass from Garrison Bradt to Kellen Bradt.
Jason Dobson put the finishing touches on the Wildcat win with a 20-yard scoring run to make the final score 55-14.
The Cats will host their homecoming game Friday as they host Libby starting at 7 p.m.
The Loggers come into the matchup 1-3 this season after winning their season opener against Bonners Ferry before falling to Corvallis and Frenchtown.