Valkyries claim the state title in cross country, football heads into playoffs
CROSS COUNTRY
When the Bigfork Valkyries cross country team took to the starting line at the state meet in Great Falls on Saturday, there was only one thing on their mind — taking home a first place team trophy.
“They weren’t going to settle for anything but first,” head coach Sue Loeffler said. “They just dug down like I’ve never seen a team dig down before. It was amazing, just amazing.”
The Valkyries claimed first place over the defending champions Manhattan 63 to 88.
Sophomore Bryn Morley led the Vals to victory in 17:26, claiming her first individual cross country state title 1:40 ahead of the second place runner Tamia Two Moons from Lame Deer. Last year Morley placed second to her sister, Makena Morley.
However, Bigfork was ready to prove that the Morley’s aren’t the only outstanding runners in Bigfork, placing a total of four runners in the top 15, making them all-state.
Freshman Anya Young placed third in 19:07, senior Mattison McAnally took eighth in 19:50 and freshman Alicia Kalenak placed 13th in 20:08.
This was the first year the Vals have claimed a Class B state title in cross country since 1975. When Bigfork was in class A they won the state meet in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
McAnally was one of three athletes that competed in soccer as well as cross country. She was joined by Gabby Eaton and Haile Norred. The trio would run to soccer practice, to get in some mile so they could help lead the Vals to a state title.
“I knew if we could get the soccer girls, we had a shot,” Loeffler said.
For the first time ever Bigfork even had an alternate on the team, in freshman Kristen Hutz. Only seven runners can compete at state.
While the Valkyries stole the show, senior Logan Morley also blazed across the finish line to collect his second cross country state title.
“His perseverance and his hard work is what gets him where he is,” Loeffler said. “That was great to end his career.”
Logan plans to continue running at Colorado State University—Pueblo.
“You couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day for how the competed,” Loeffler said. “It was an amazing season and an amazing end to an amazing season.”
The Valkyries took the win with 63 points. Defending state champions Manhattan finished second with 88, and Lincoln County took third with 161.
1.)Bryn Morley 17:26.15; 3). Anya Young 19:07.91; 8.) Mattison McAnally 19:50.91; 13.) Alicia Kalenak 20:08.77; 38.) Gabby Eaton 21:25.04; 39.) Haile Norred 21:25.17; 61.) Xiaoxiao Strong 22:13.15
1.) Logan Morley 15:36.02; 90.) Cody Johnston 18:54.73; 163.) Jordan Claviera 21:34.92
FOOTBALL
Troy’s Sean Opland was no match for a determined Bigfork squad on Friday night as the Vikings crushed the Trojans 49-7 to advance to take second in their conference and advance to the state playoffs.
The Vikings (5-3 overall, 3-1 District 7B) led from start to finish and dominated every facet of the game.
“I thought my team played a great football game for four quarters,” Bigfork coach Todd Emslie said. “Troy, coming in here, they were riding a big win and they have a great player (Opland) on that football team, but my team came together and played tough.”
Bigfork used a pair of huge fakes in the kicking game and myriad offensive alignments in the first half to outfox the Troy defense, and end the first half 27-7.
On its first scoring drive, Bigfork had four different players take snaps at quarterback, converted on a fake punt and scored a touchdown when its top wide receiver (Adam Jordt) threw a pass to its quarterback (Jonathan Landon).
Jordt, also the Vikings’ holder, threw another touchdown pass on a fake field goal and would end up on the receiving end of a Landon scoring strike in the third quarter.
One of 12 Bigfork seniors honored before the game, Jordt finished with eight catches for 131 yards to go along with his two touchdown throws. Landon went 16-for-29 through the air for 219 yards and accounted for five touchdowns — two rushing, two passing and the early reception.
The Vikings outgained Troy 466-131 and piled up 225 yards on the ground. Matthew Farrier ran 22 times for 129 yards.
“Our offensive line, Russell Goeden, our center, Austin Pacheco, our tackle, had a fantastic game,” Emslie said.
Bigfork will travel to Roundup for their first playoff game on Saturday. Kick-off is at 1 p.m.
Troy 7 0 0 0 — 7
Bigfork 13 14 15 7 — 49
First quarter
BIG — Jonathan Landon 5 pass from Adam Jordt (Hugo Schyberg kick), 6:37
BIG — Landon 14 run (kick failed), 3:13
TRY — Sean Opland 72 pass from Tucker Winn (Austin Pattie kick), 0:00
Second quarter
BIG — Logan Taylor 48 pass from Landon (Schyberg kick), 10:08
BIG — Taylor 16 pass from Jordt (Schyberg kick), 0:25
Third quarter
BIG — Safety (intentional grounding in end zone), 8:27
BIG — Landon 11 run (Schyberg kick), 7:08
BIG — Jordt 48 pass from Landon (kick failed), 3:43
Fourth quarter
BIG — Gabriel Broughton 1 run (Schyberg kick), 3:18
VOLLEYBALL
Bigfork won it second-straight District 7B contest, stopping Eureka 25-22, 25-22, 25-18 in the regular-season finale for both teams on Thursday.
Miranda Campbell led Bigfork in kills (seven) and blocks (two).
Lana Berg also had two blocks for Bigfork (2-6 in league play) and a team high three aces.
“We played great,” Bigfork coach Schuyler Baird said.
“It was a complete team effort. Our outside hitters are coming right along.”
Wilson Vogt, who moved up to varsity from the JV ranks, turned in another solid performance. She had 15 of Bigfork’s 50 digs.
“She’s playing her heart out,” Baird said of Vogt.
“That’s what we need.”
Up next for Bigfork, the fourth seed in 7B, is a district tournament play-in game on Oct. 31 in Thompson Falls at 10 a.m. versus No. 5 seed Troy. That winner advances to the tournament, which starts later in the day.
Bigfork 3, Eureka 0
25-22, 25-22, 25-18
Kills — Eureka 25 (Amanda Peterson 9, Kaylee Kronsperger 8); Bigfork 30 (Miranda Campbell 7), Blocks — Eureka 4 (Kassi Peterson 2), Bigfork 5 (Campbell 2, Lana Berg 2); Assists — Eureka 22 (Liz Pacella 13, Ashlyn Waldo 8); Bigfork 27 (Kalia Wicklund 27); Digs — Eureka 69 (A. Peterson 14, Kronsperger 14); Bigfork 50 (Wilson Vogt 15); Aces — Eureka 3; Bigfork 4 (Berg 3).