Quarterfinal weekend for prep football playoffs
Quarterfinal high school football playoff action resumes this weekend for four local teams in three classes — AA, A and B.
It all starts Friday night with fourth-seed Flathead (7-3) hosting fifth-seed Billings Senior (6-5) at Legends Stadium and sixth-seed Glacier (5-5) at third-seed Helena High (8-2).
Both games begin at 7 p.m.
Flathead and Senior, the two-time defending state champions, did not play during the regular season. Senior defeated Helena High in last year’s title game at Daylis Stadium in Billings, 21-12.
Glacier and Helena High met back on Sept. 14 at Legends Stadium with the Wolfpack whipping the then third-ranked Bengals 48-14. That was Glacier’s first win after starting 0-3.
Flathead is in the playoffs for a second-straight year. The Braves were also seeded fourth a year ago and lost to fifth seed Helena Capital 24-10 at Legends Stadium to finish at 6-4 (one regular-season game was postponed).
Glacier missed out on the playoffs a year ago with a 4-6 mark. That ended a string of eight straight playoff appearances for the Wolfpack.
Undefeated Bozeman, the eighth seed last year, is the No. 1 seed in 2018. The Hawks (10-0) host No. 8 Great Falls High (5-5).
The other Class AA matchup has No. 2 Billings West (9-1) entertaining No. 7 Butte (5-5).
Those games are also Friday at 7 p.m.
Last year just one 5-5 team (Bozeman) qualified for the playoffs. This year there are three.
In Class A, Northwestern league champion Columbia Falls (7-1) is home versus Lewistown on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Satterthwaite Field.
Columbia Falls had a first-round bye while Lewiston hosted Sidney last Saturday and rolled to a 21-0 victory.
Columbia Falls is the defending Class A champion, winning the 2017 final over Hamilton 26-14.
The Wildcats were second in 2016, losing to Dillon 34–17 in the final.
A victory on Saturday would keep Columbia Falls home for the semifinals against the winner of Miles City/Hamilton quarterfinal matchup.
Columbia Falls would host the championship game if it advances that far.
In Class B, Bigfork (8-1) heads east for a quarterfinal Class B contest on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Roundup.
Bigfork thumped Townsend last weekend 47-13 while Roundup crushed Cut Bank 60-14.
The Bigfork/Roundup winner will face the Fairfield/Manhattan victor in the semifinals on Nov. 10.
Prep Football Playoffs
Quarterfinals
Class AA
Friday, 7 p.m.
Great Falls at Bozeman
Billings Senior at Flathead
Glacier at Helena High
Butte at Billings West
Class A
Saturday, 1 p.m.
Lewistown at Columbia Fall
Miles City at Hamilton
Corvallis at Laurel
Dillon at Billings Central
Class B
Saturday, 1 p.m.
Colstrip at Big Timber
Huntley Project at Missoula Loyola
Bigfork at Roundup
Manhattan at Fairfield
8 Man
Saturday, 1 p.m.
Scobey/Opheim at Great Falls Central Catholic
Arlee at Fairview
Circle at Shelby
Culbertson vs. Drummond/Granite at Philipsburg
6 Man
Saturday,1 p.m.
Jordan at Hot Springs
Richey/Lambert vs. Geraldine/Highwood at Geraldine
Big Sandy at Wibaux
West Yellowstone at Grass Range
Final Standings
Class AA
Overall
W L
*Bozeman 10 0
*Billings West 9 1
*Helena High 8 2
*Flathead 7 3
*Billings Senior 6 5
*Glacier 5 5
*Butte 5 5
*Great Falls High 5 5
Missoula Sentinel 5 5
Helena Capital 4 6
Great Falls CMR 2 8
Missoula Big Sky 2 8
Missoula Hellgate 2 8
Billings Skyview 0 10
*Teams advancing to postseason quarterfinal play next weekend
Tiebreakers
Glacier had 34 quality points and therefore receives the 6th seed.
Butte defeated both Great Falls and Sentinel and therefore receives the 7th seed.
Great Falls defeated Sentinel head-to- head and therefore receives the 8th seed.
Week 10
Last Friday’s Games
Helena High 22, Flathead 7
Billings West 42, Billings Senior 0
Great Falls 19, Great Falls CMR 0
Butte 37, Missoula Big Sky 14
Missoula Sentinel 39, Helena Capital 27
Last Thursday’s Games
Glacier 40, Missoula Hellgate 21
Bozeman 69, Billings Skyview 20