Cats crush Dogs for playoff berth

What better gift could the Columbia Falls Wildcats give their beleagurered fans than an overpowering 33-14 defeat of Whitefish, securing Flathead Valley bragging rites and a home-field playoff berth this Saturday?

Watching the Cats play four quarters of never-say die offense and defense in the cold drizzle last Friday were C-Falls graduates who needed an uplifting memory after three season losses on home turf.

A 1994 graduate, laid off by Plum Creek in June and still employed, who brought his young daughter to the game.

A 1961 graduate and widow, who remembered her late husband being the only fan still in the stands in a long-ago rainstorm.

And just below the stands, four upbeat 2009 seniors selling $5 chili dinners to raise money for a trip to the circus in Washington, D.C.

After the final gun, the Cats (5-3 overall and 3-1 Northwestern A) removed their helmets and sang their trademark cheer of appreciation to everyone still within earshot. The players were justifiably exuberant, having overcome a Whitefish Bulldogs score on their first play from scrimmage  — a 60-run just 1:13 seconds into the game — and then pounding the line of scrimmage, with 5’9” senior running back John Woody (32 carries for 190 yards' leading the way on play-action runs that stumped the Dogs defense.

The Cats rolled to a 19-7 lead by halftime, with receiver Matt Triplett scoring on fourth down from the 30 with 1:43 remaining.

In the third quarter, Columbia Falls quarterback Mitchell Wassam (11-for-17 for 210 yards and one interception) tossed to Kaleb Johnson, who leaped high over two Whitefish defenders for a game-clinching 60-yard score.

C-Falls coach Bill Coleman gathered told his players after the game “there's nothing better than being in the hunt.” The Cats will play a physically punishing Hamltion Broncs team at home on Saturday.

“The team responded well” to the Bulldogs early touchdown “and battled and fought on every play,” Coleman said. “I am so proud of this group, especially the seniors and the leadership they provided.”