Wildcats' loss a familiar story

The story line was the same as earlier games: Spot an opponent a sizable lead, make a comeback, fall just short.

That's how the Columbia Falls football team ended its season Oct. 15. They spotted the Libby Loggers a 21-point lead at the half.

Libby opened the scoring with a 55-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter to make it 7-0 with 7:47 left. Then in the second quarter, Libby's Nic Robertson intercepted an Austin Barth pass and ran it in 20 yards for another touchdown. The point-after attempt was good to make it 14-0 with 8:49 left in the half.

Barth was sacked inside the Wildcat 10-yard line on the next possession, and the Cats were forced to punt. Libby returned the kick to the Cats' five-yard line, and a few plays later scored again. With the extra point, they were up 21-0.

But with 3:02 left in the half, Barth connected with running back Josiah Osborne on a 30-yard pass for a touchdown to make it 21-7. The Cats got the ball back, drove down to Libby's 34-yard line, but Barth's pass was picked off to end the half.

In the second half, the Loggers punted on their first possession. The ball hit a Wildcat player, and Libby recovered the ball on the Cats' 41. A few plays later, the Loggers scored again to make it 27-7.

But then Wildcat running back Zach Darling rumbled in for a touchdown to make it 27-14. The Cats mounted another drive late in the game, and with 3:59 left to play, Darling ran in from five yards for another touchdown to make it 27-21 with the good extra point.

The Cats then had Libby on the Loggers' 43 with a third and long, but on a fake the Loggers' Jared Winslow ran 54-yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion was good and the Loggers went up 35-21.

In the Cats' one last drive, Josiah Osborne scored on a 34-yard run into the end zone with 1:28 left in the game. The point-after attempt was good to make it 35-28. Libby recovered the onside kick, ending the game.

Columbia Falls ends its season with a 2-6 record overall and 0-4 in conference. Barth was sacked six times in the loss. He threw for 310 yards.

The Cats' future could be brighter next year - most of their offensive and defensive output this season came from sophomores. Osborne, Darling and lead tackler Brendan Windauer are all sophomores. But the Cats need to improve the offensive line.

Columbia Falls 0 7 14 7 - 28

Libby 7 14 7 7  - 35

Libby - Colby Rybar 3 run

Libby - Nic Robertson 33 int

Libby Rybar 2 run

C. Falls - Josiah Osborne - 30 yd. pass Austin Barth

Libby Rybar - 5-yard run

C. Falls - Darling, 4 run

Libby - Jared Winslow, 54 run

C. Falls - Osborne, 34-yard run