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Bigfork, Polson Remain Ranked in Latest Football Polls
Columbia Falls hosts homecoming game; Glacier plays Flathead in annual cross-town meeting.
Flathead football players run through a drill at Legends Stadium during practice this season. - File photo Lido Vizzutti
The Bigfork Vikings are ranked fifth in Class B in the latest Associated Press High School Football Power Poll released Wednesday.
The Vikings (4-0) dropped from fourth place a week ago after earning a forfeit victory against Plains, which didn't have enough eligible players. Bigfork travels to Troy on Friday.
Undefeated Polson remains ranked fourth in Class A. The Pirates (4-0) had five different players score in a 35-0 victory over Columbia Falls last week. Will Davey, Dylan McCrumb, Jared Gallatin, Colton Lenz and Beau Mills all had touchdowns for Polson. The Pirates host Whitefish this Friday. Columbia Falls (2-2) hosts Livingston in its homecoming game.
Glacier nearly broke into the top five in Class AA rankings after upsetting previous undefeated No. 1 Bozeman. It was a happy homecoming in Legends Stadium as Glacier edged the Hawks 7-3. The Wolfpack’s top-ranked defense shined, forcing five interceptions, limiting the Hawks’ running game to 76 yards and keeping Bozeman out of the endzone despite 16 first downs. Reid Siderius had two interceptions and Rial Gunlikson had 13 total tackles and an interception. Glacier managed just enough offensive output against Bozeman’s second-ranked defense. Kelly Faraone rushed 14 times for 50 yards and Noah James had 28 yards. Todd Ogden scored the game’s lone touchdown on a one-yard run. Ogden also had an interception on defense. Kyle Griffith had four catches for 44 yards. Glacier (3-2) plays Flathead Friday at 7 p.m.
Flathead saw a 14-all tie vanish after Missoula Sentinel scored 34 unanswered points, defeating the winless Braves 48-14. Flathead quarterback Matt Tokarz rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown and passed for 201 yards but had four interceptions. Jerum AuClaire scored the Braves’ other TD.
In other action, Whitefish freshman quarterback Luke May continued to build an impressive resume in his first season under center, throwing for 231 yards and four TDs in the Bulldogs' 45-29 win over Libby. Senior Shane Marcial, also having a nice season so far, scored three times, including twice in the fourth quarter to seal Whitefish’s third victory.
Chris Ibach and Trent Vaughn accounted for four combined touchdowns and the Eureka Lions picked up their first win of the season, defeating Troy 36-14. Ibach connected with Dalton Smith on a 33-yard TD pass and then ran in a second score in third quarter. Vaughn ran in for two scores. Nikko Bakkala returned an interception 95 yards for Eureka’s final score. The Lions (1-3) travel to Florence Sept. 29.
Correction: Due to my lack of math skills, I added up the wrong point total of Missoula Sentinel's scoring. They scored 34 unanswered points, not 27.
The Vikings (4-0) dropped from fourth place a week ago after earning a forfeit victory against Plains, which didn't have enough eligible players. Bigfork travels to Troy on Friday.
Undefeated Polson remains ranked fourth in Class A. The Pirates (4-0) had five different players score in a 35-0 victory over Columbia Falls last week. Will Davey, Dylan McCrumb, Jared Gallatin, Colton Lenz and Beau Mills all had touchdowns for Polson. The Pirates host Whitefish this Friday. Columbia Falls (2-2) hosts Livingston in its homecoming game.
Glacier nearly broke into the top five in Class AA rankings after upsetting previous undefeated No. 1 Bozeman. It was a happy homecoming in Legends Stadium as Glacier edged the Hawks 7-3. The Wolfpack’s top-ranked defense shined, forcing five interceptions, limiting the Hawks’ running game to 76 yards and keeping Bozeman out of the endzone despite 16 first downs. Reid Siderius had two interceptions and Rial Gunlikson had 13 total tackles and an interception. Glacier managed just enough offensive output against Bozeman’s second-ranked defense. Kelly Faraone rushed 14 times for 50 yards and Noah James had 28 yards. Todd Ogden scored the game’s lone touchdown on a one-yard run. Ogden also had an interception on defense. Kyle Griffith had four catches for 44 yards. Glacier (3-2) plays Flathead Friday at 7 p.m.
Flathead saw a 14-all tie vanish after Missoula Sentinel scored 34 unanswered points, defeating the winless Braves 48-14. Flathead quarterback Matt Tokarz rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown and passed for 201 yards but had four interceptions. Jerum AuClaire scored the Braves’ other TD.
In other action, Whitefish freshman quarterback Luke May continued to build an impressive resume in his first season under center, throwing for 231 yards and four TDs in the Bulldogs' 45-29 win over Libby. Senior Shane Marcial, also having a nice season so far, scored three times, including twice in the fourth quarter to seal Whitefish’s third victory.
Chris Ibach and Trent Vaughn accounted for four combined touchdowns and the Eureka Lions picked up their first win of the season, defeating Troy 36-14. Ibach connected with Dalton Smith on a 33-yard TD pass and then ran in a second score in third quarter. Vaughn ran in for two scores. Nikko Bakkala returned an interception 95 yards for Eureka’s final score. The Lions (1-3) travel to Florence Sept. 29.
The Associated Press Top 10 Montana high school football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses followed by records, rating points and previous rankings:
Class AA
1. Helena Capital (8), 4-1, 107, 2
2. Great Falls Russell (2), 4-1, 95, 4
3. Helena (1), 4-1, 94, 3
4. Bozeman, 4-1, 89, 1
5. Butte (1), 4-1, 67, 5
Others receiving votes: Glacier 28.
Class A
1. Billings Central (12), 5-0, 120, 1
2. Laurel, 5-0, 103, 2
3. Dillon, 2-1, 99, 3
4. Polson, 4-0, 83, 4
5. Livingston, 3-1, 45, NR
Others receiving votes: Hardin 18, Stevensville 6, Anaconda 6.
Class B
1. Manhattan (9), 4-0, 108, 1
2. Malta (2), 4-0, 101, 2
3. Red Lodge, 4-0, 87, 3
4. Missoula Loyola, 4-0, 71, 5
5. Bigfork, 4-0, 69, 4
6. Florence, 4-0, 46, 8
7. Fairfield, 3-1, 43, 7
8. Roundup, 4-0, 41, 9
9. Forsyth, 3-1, 19, 10
10. Choteau, 3-1, 8, NR
Others receiving votes: Columbus 6, Glasgow/Hinsdale/Nashua 4, Townsend 2.
Class C 8-Man
1. Fairview (11), 5-0, 110, 1
2. Chester-Joplin-Inverness, 5-0, 97, 2
3. Broadview-Lavina, 4-0, 84, 4
4. Charlo, 5-0, 81, 5
5. Ennis, 4-1, 49, 7
6. Chinook, 4-1, 47, 6
7. Wibaux, 4-1, 40, 8
8. Drummond, 4-1, 34, NR
9. Superior, 4-1, 27, 3
10. Twin Bridges, 3-1, 18, 10
Others receiving votes: Great Falls Central 11, Victor 5, Centerville 2.
Class C 6-Man
1. Hot Springs (10), 4-0, 100, 1
2. Hysham, 4-0, 83, 2
3. Big Sandy, 4-0, 76, 3
4. Valier, 4-0, 71, T4
5. Alberton, 3-0, 70, T4
6. Geraldine Highwood, 3-1, 40, 6
7. Bridger, 3-1, 38, T8
8. Reed Point-Rapelje, 3-1, 30, 10
9. Westby-Grenora, 3-1, 17, NR
10. Fromberg1Roberts, 2-2, 7, 7
Others receiving votes: Savage 4, North Star 4, Lone Peak 4, Custer-Melstone 2, Roy-Winifred 2, Lambert-Richey 1, Lima 1.
Correction: Due to my lack of math skills, I added up the wrong point total of Missoula Sentinel's scoring. They scored 34 unanswered points, not 27.
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