Pirates to face Rams' stout rushing attack in home playoff game
Jarrett Wilson gives Colton Graham a look against Whitefish. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
The Class A state football playoffs are coming to Polson.
The undefeated Polson Pirates (9-0) will host Billings Central (7-2) in a quarterfinal game at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Pirates have advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
The Rams hosted Libby last weekend in a first-round matchup and cruised to a 54-12 win.
The Billings Central offense is run heavy. The Rams’ Clay Oven rushed for 94 yards on 11 carries, and Kade Boyd carried the ball 13 times for 93 yards. Each contributed three touchdowns. Starting quarterback Adam Balkenbush, a sophomore, threw just four passes last weekend, though three went for touchdowns.
The Loggers are one of two common opponents this season between Polson and Billings Central. The Pirates won 49-14 Sept. 24 at Libby. Polson junior quarterback Jarrett Wilson threw for 333 yards and six touchdowns in the win.
Both teams also face Havre this season. The Blue Ponies lost 37-7 on Sept. 17 at Billings Central, and then lost 42-14 three weeks later at Polson.
The Rams lost 28-14 at home against top seeded Laurel (8-0) on Oct. 1. Their only other loss was a 21-14 overtime defeat against Lewiston (7-1), the No. 3 seed in the postseason.
Polson, the No. 4 seed, enjoyed a bye last weekend, along with Laurel, Lewiston and No. 2 Hamilton (8-0).
The Pirates’ had won every game by at least 28 points heading into their regular season finale at Whitefish, which turned out to be their biggest challenge so far. The game involved seven lead changes and was settled in the final minutes when Wilson picked off a pass on defense and returned it 30 yards to seal a 38-24 victory and the Northwest A title.
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs advanced to the first round of the playoffs, but they lost 24-13 to Frenchtown on Saturday. Columbia Falls also lost, 21-20 to Miles City, leaving Polson as the only remaining Northwest A team still chasing a state title.
On Tuesday, the National Weather Service forecast for Polson called for a high of 52 degrees and a slight chance of rain Saturday.
Frenchtown will visit Laurel on Saturday, with the winner of that game meeting the winner of the Polson/Billings Central game next weekend in the semifinals.
Class A playoffs
First round
Saturday, Oct. 30
Billings Central 54, Libby 12
Frenchtown 24, Whitefish 13
Miles City 21, Columbia Falls 20
Sidney 17, Dillon 14
Quarterfinals
Saturday, Nov. 6
No. 5 Billings Central (7-2) at No. 4 Polson (9-0), 1 p.m.
No. 11 Frenchtown (7-3) at No. 1 Laurel (8-0), 1 p.m.
No. 9 Miles City (5-4) at No. 2 Hamilton (8-0), 1 p.m.
No. 7 Sidney (5-4) at No. 3 Lewistown (7-1), 1 p.m.