Wildcats wallop Browning, face Copperheads
Early and often. That’s how the Wildcats scored against Browning last week, dropping the hapless Indians 69-6 at home Sept. 12.
Wide receiver Ty Morgan opened the scoring with a 63 run and catch on a short pass from Dakota Bridwell on the opening play from scrimmage to score Columbia Falls’ first touchdown.
Wyatt Green rumbled in from 5 yards out to add another touchdown a few minutes later. Then Ike Schweikert scored on a one-yard jab into the end zone with 4:36 left in the first quarter.
With 1:15 left in the first, running back Stephen Lyndsey cruised into the end zone. Roughly 30 seconds later, Sean Miller intercepted a Browning pass and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown with 44 seconds left in the first quarter.
It took almost an hour to play the first quarter. The Cats weren’t done, however.
They added 13 more points in the second quarter, when Bridwell hit Sean Hoerner on a five-yard pass and Trevor Houston caught a 2-yard pass with 1:32 left in the half to make it 49-6 at the break.
Bridwell was 14 of 19 for 333 yards total, but most of that yardage included runs after the catch — he didn’t throw deep passes.
Morgan finished with three receptions for 159 yards. Wyatt Green rushed for 55 yards on six attempts. Lindsey had six carries for 48 yards. All told, the Cats rushed for 154 yards.
The Indians’ lone touchdown came on a sweet 28-yard floater from Caleb Old Chief to Ryan Loring in the end zone.
Browning has a big team, but instead of running the ball, they stuck to passing and the Cats defense forced three-and-outs on nearly every possession. The Cats held the Indians to 117 yards total offense.
Coach Jackson Schweikert was pleased with the Cats’ effort.
“The offensive line was outstanding,” he said. “Browning wasn’t bad up front. Our quarterback got hit once.”
The defense also had a great game. Miller, who’s just a sophomore, had two interceptions in the game.
“Our defense is big and strong and disciplined,” Schweikert said.
The Cats will face a tougher opponent in Anaconda this week. The Copperheads beat Hardin 42-14 last week and walloped Libby earlier this season.
Schweikert said Anaconda will try to disguise their pass coverage. Bridwell will have to play disciplined.
“We just have to play smart,” he said. “Bridwell has to keep taking steps forward. He played really well this game.”
The Anaconda game is at home Friday night. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Columbia Falls is now 3-0.
Browning 0 6 0 0 — 6
Columbia Falls 36 13 14 6 — 69
CF — Ty Morgan 63 pass from Dakota Bridwell (Trevor Hoerner kick)
CF — Wyatt Green 5 pass from Bridwell (Hoerner kick)
CF — Ike Schweikert 1 run (kick failed)
CF — Stephen Lindsey 5 pass from Bridwell (Schweikert run)
CF — Sean Miller 55 interception return (Schweickert run)
CF — Sean Hoerner 5 pass from Bridwell (kick failed)
CF — Trevor Houston 2 pass from Bridwell (Bekzat Abdyracakov kick)
B — Caleb Old Chief 28 pass from Ryan Loring (kick failed)
CF — Morgan 91 pass from Bridwell (Abdyracakov kick)
CF — Green 5 run (Abdyracakov kick)
CF — Austin Green 3 run (kick failed)