Cats thump Chiefs, 31-6

The Columbia Falls football team started out their conference play with a blowout against Ronan last week, 31-6.

Mitchell Wassam threw for four touchdown passes. He was 12 of 20 passing for 195 yards, hitting Kaleb Johnson and Kyle Howell twice each. Wassam also kicked a field goal.

The Cats held a 14-6 lead after the first half, but then scored 17 unanswered points in the second half, while the defense held the Chiefs scoreless.

Coach Bill Coleman said the team got a slow start.

"We struggled defensively getting our timing down," he said. But they settled down, made some adjustments, and the lone touchdown was all the Chiefs would get.

Coleman said the team ran the ball well, which set up the pass. It was a balanced offensive attack and more importantly there were no critical turnovers.

Johnson had TD catches for 10 and 52 yards. Howell had an 11 yard TD grab and a 26 yard TD catch as well. Wassam knocked in all his point after attempts as well.

John Woody rushed for 67 yards and Nate Thompson had 75 yards. The Cats had 406 yards of offense.

The win puts the Cats at 1-0 in conference play and 3-2 overall.

Johnson, who puts those long arms at 6-3 to great advantage over defenders, now has 50 points on the year - the second most in Northwest A. Howell returned to the lineup at 100 percent, he's been dogged by injuries most of the season.

The Cats travel to Libby this Friday. The Loggers are 1-4 this season, but always a real threat, especially at home.

"They're dangerous … They like to throw the ball deep," Coleman said. "We've got to keep the ball in front of us."

Columbia Falls 41, Ronan 6

Columbia Falls 0 14 7 10 - 31

Ronan 6 0 0 0 - 6

Ronan - Xavier Morigeau 2 run (pass failed, 2:50

Columbia Falls - Kaleb Johnson 10 pass from Mitchell Wassam (Wassam kick), 6:07

Columbia Falls - Kyle Howell 11 pass from Wassam (Wassam kick), 3:21

Columbia Falls - Howell 26 pass from Wassam (Wassam kick), 8:50

Columbia Falls - Johnson 52 pass from Wassam (Wassam kick), 11:54

Columbia Falls - Wassam 27 field goal, 6:35

Individual Stats

RUSHING - Columbia Falls, John Woody 16-67, Nathan Thompson 13-75, Mitchell Wassam 7-33, Chris King 5-16.

PASSING - Columbia Falls, Wassam 12-20-1-195.

RECEIVING - Columbia Falls, Thompson 5-47, Kaleb Johnson 3-71, Kyle Howell 3-66, Woody 1-12.