Cats swamped by Bulldogs 47-7, face 'must win' against Polson

Time to regroup.

The Columbia Falls football team was walloped by Whitefish 47-7 at home last Friday, but coach Jackson Schweikert notes the young Wildcat team still has a shot at the playoffs.

“It’s a must-win this week,” Schweikert said.

If the Cats can drop Polson, Schweikert thinks the team will get stronger.

“We’ll turn the corner and be pretty good,” he said.

Despite the lopsided score, the Cats played hard against the Bulldogs. It was a clean game with a lot of hard hits and the younger Cats never gave up. But mistakes also killed them. Whitefish had a successful onside kick that went off the hands of a Cat player and quarterback Dakota Bridwell had to contend with two snaps that went over his head. One of those resulted in a turnover, the other killed a Cat drive. Bridwell did not have an interception, however.

Bridwell finished the game with 110 yards passing against a tough Bulldog defense that held the Cats to  negative 11 rushing yards. Whitefish, which was bigger and faster, had 236 yards on the ground and 203 yards passing.

The Cats at times had six sophomores on defense and started a freshman as well. There was a bright spot on the defense — Bryce Fagerland had a 68-yard pick six for the Cats only score of the game.

Schweikert has confidence in his young squad showing success.

“We’re closer than people think,” he said. 

He said the Cats will trim the playbook a bit for Polson and the boys need to play fast and aggressive against the Pirates. The game is at home Friday at 7 p.m.

Whitefish 3 34 3 7 — 47

C. Falls 0 0 0 7 — 7

W—Haley Nicholson 32 field goal

W—Tyler Cote 8 pass from Luke May (Nicholson kick)

W—May 8 run (Nicholson kick)

W—Jed Nagler 20 pass from May (kick blocked)

W—May 1 run (Nicholson kick)

W—Cote 46 pass from May (Nicholson kick)

W—Carver Gilman 39 field goal

CF—Bryce Fagerland 68 interception return (Brandon Karberg kick)

W—Cote 68 run (Nicholson kick)