Bigfork rips Deer Lodge
DEER LODGE — Randy Stultz ran for two touchdowns and returned an interception for another as fourth-ranked Bigfork (7-1 overall, 5-1 conference) took down Deer Lodge 41-14 in Western B Division football on Friday.
Quarterback Anders Epperly threw three touchdown passes to help the Vikings pull away after leading 19-14 in the second quarter. Epperly finished the game with 243 yards passing.
Deer Lodge (2-6, 2-4) outgained Bigfork 507 yards to 389, but the Vikings defense stepped up at critical times. The Wardens went just 5-for-19 on third down and 4-for-11 on fourth-down conversion attempts.
Bigfork also collected two interceptions, including Stultz’s pick for a touchdown in the second quarter that gave the Vikings a lead they would not relinquish.
The Vikings will have a first-round Class B playoff game next week.
Bigfork 7 20 8 6 — 41
Deer Lodge 8 6 0 0 — 14
DL – Nicholson 82 pass from Applegate (Nicholson pass from Applegate)
B – Randy Stultz 11 run (Jacob Herd kick)
B – Stultz interception return for TD (Herd kick blocked)
B – Stultz 1 run (pass failed)
DL – Nicholson 25 pass from Applegate (pass failed)
B – Herd 36 pass from Anders Epperly (Epperly pass from Reichenbach)
B – Reichenbach 5 pass from Epperly (Reichenbach pass from Luke Schmit)
B – Schmit 39 pass from Epperly
Columbia Falls 62, Polson 8
POLSON — The third-ranked Wildcats (7-1, 5-0) stomped winless Polson (0-9, 0-5) to finish undefeated in Northwest A Conference play.
Columbia Falls advances to the Class A playoffs and will receive a first- round bye.
No scoring or game statistics were available.
Libby 28, Whitefish 24
LIBBY – Libby (5-4, 4-1) earned a second-place finish in the Northwest A Conference by narrowly defeating Whitefish (5-4, 3-2) in the regular-season finale.
The Loggers receive a Class A playoff berth.
No scoring or game statistics were available.
Browning 58, Ronan 36
RONAN – Browning (3-6, 2-3) finished the season by thumping Ronan (1-7, 1-4) in Northwest A Conference play.
No scoring or game statistics were available.