Wildcat football cruises past Stevi, 27-7

When the pressure was on, the Columbia Falls defense did not give in during Friday's season opener at Stevensville.

The Wildcats did not allow a Yellow Jacket touchdown after two turnovers, and the C-Falls offense amassed 381 yards of offense in Bill Coleman's debut as head coach. The result was a 27-7 Wildcat victory over the Southwest A Conference foes.

"We set out to make it a physical game and I think we accomplished that," Coleman said. "Our defense played really well. We didn't help them out defensively."

When it appeared the Jackets would capitalize on a Cat fumble on C-Falls' second possession, the Wildcats held inside their 10-yard-line. A pass interference penalty on C-Falls gave Stevi a first-and-goal at the 7, but a touchdown was nullified due to a procedure penalty. After another flag on Stevi, Matt Triplett defended a pass on fourth-and-goal.

C-Falls' offense then responded, marching 85 yards for a touchdown — using five runs and five passes on a 10-play drive capped by an 11-yard swing pass from Mitchell Wassam to Kaleb Johnson for a score. After a bad snap, the conversion pass failed.

Stevi picked off a Wassam pass after a Yellow Jacket punt, taking over at the C-Falls 25. After a first down at the 15, Mike Macijunas sparked C-Falls with a tackle for a seven-yard loss. A play later, the Cats took over. It was 6-0 at half.

Devyn Rocker recovered a Stevi fumble on the kickoff to start the second half and the Cats were in business again at the Jacket 27. A few plays later, Dustin VonFeldt scampered 17 yards for a touchdown. The conversion pass was incomplete.

Later in the third period, Stevi scored on a 30-yard pass from Logan Connors to Josh Haynes on a fourth-and-17 play. Connors kicked the extra point and it was 12-7.

Back came the Cats as they sustained a drive culminated by a 16-yard TD run by John Woody. Wassam passed to Johnson for the conversion and a 20-7 cushion.

C-Falls held again inside its own 20 on Stevi's next possession as Wayde Martinson deflected a pass into the end zone on a fourth-down play. The Jackets threatened again early in the fourth period, but Rocker picked off a Connors pass in the end zone.

The Cats sustained an impressive 80-yard drive and Chris King scored from a yard out with a minute remaining. Wassam kicked the PAT.

"We had three really long sustained drives," Coleman said. "We played pretty disciplined football, but we still have a lot to learn."

The Cats defense was in Connors' face all night long, pressuring him into hurried throws. "That really changes the composure. It really played out in the second half," Coleman said.

C-Falls had 284 yards rushing, with Nate Thompson carrying for 97 and Woody for 94. King added 62. The Cats had 97 yards passing; Thompson caught three for 43 yards and Johnson two for 36.

The Cats held Stevi to 171 total yards, 101 passing and just 70 rushing.

"It was a tremendous effort, everybody being where they were supposed to be," Coleman said, and he lauded the offensive line for its collective blocking. Johnson was singled out for his play at tight end. "He made our game running off-tackle." Thompson had a great all-around game.

C-Falls hosts Hamilton on Friday in the home opener.

"They're big and physical. They'll want to run the ball and mix in the pass. We'll want to do the same," Coleman said.

"We definitely need to improve, all across the board. We're not interested in taking a step backward," he said. "We'll focus heavily on being better than we were last week."

Columbia Falls 6 0 14 7 - 27

Stevensville 0 0 7 0 - 7

C-Falls — Kaleb Johnson 11 pass from Mitchell Wassam (run failed)

C-Falls — Dustin VonFeldt 17 run (pass failed)

Stevi — Josh Haynes 30 pass from Logan Connors (Connors kick)

C-Falls — John Woody 16 run (Johnson pass from Wassam)

C-Falls — Chris King 1 run (Wassam kick)