Pirates set sights on playoff berth again

The Polson football squad has 13 returning starters, and a host of all-conference talent returning, as the team looks to make a run for the playoffs again in the new 7-team conference.

For the first time in a while, the team will play two games before school starts, due in part to Eureka joining Class A action this year, and the school board's decision to start class after Labor Day. Regardless, the team has some good talent returning, and will host Hamilton Friday night for the home opener, a non-conference one.

The team lost all-state talent Colton Woods, Andy Nelson and Aaron Jones to graduation, but will have all-conference and all-state starters Bryce Picard, Ted Morigeau, Craig Bagnell, Pat Dellwo, Jeremy Basler, Kalvin Patterson and John Rausch back, among many of the strong players on both sides of the ball.

"We lost five starters on offense and four on defense, but Andy, Colton and Aaron accounted for six of those nine positions, since they were two-way starters," head coach Scott Wilson said.

The team earned a first round bye for the playoffs last year, but finished the season 7-2 after losing their first playoff game. Wilson said Libby returns a lot of starters from a strong team last year, and Whitefish has a strong senior class. Columbia Falls has some potential, too, Wilson said.

While coaches normally swap tapes prior to games, Hamilton and Polson didn't send each other scrimmage footage, so the team will see what the Broncs bring to the table Friday night.

There are now seven conference teams, with Hamilton and Stevi being the two non-conference match-ups. The team will start conference play Sept. 8 in Libby. Friday's game starts at 7 p.m.