Championship Roundup: Dillon, Florence-Carlton and Fairview claim football titles

by Brandon Hansen / For The Leader
| November 23, 2023 12:00 AM

With football season in the rearview mirror, here’s a rundown of the teams that claimed state titles:

CLASS A

Dillon quarterback Kee Christiansen crossed the goal line on a two-point conversion in overtime to lift the Beavers past Columbia Falls 36-35 in the State A Football Championship Game. Dillon finished 11-0 and won its ninth state title, its first since 2016.

The game was knotted 14-14 at halftime, but Dillon took a 28-14 lead in the third quarter. Columbia Falls’ QB Cody Schweikert threw two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to force overtime.

Columbia Falls rushed for 58 yards and passed for 409 more, with quarterback Schweikert going 39-for-51 and four touchdowns while rushing for another. Hence Miller caught eight balls for 150 yards, and Mark Robison caught 13 balls for 109 yards.

The last time Dillon won a state championship was a 34-17 victory over the Wildcats. Columbia Falls, however, would go on to win their only state title the next year.

CLASS B

Florence-Carlton won its third consecutive Class B state football title in overtime, defeating the Manhattan Tigers 21-14.

The game went through regulation with both teams tied 14-14, but Florence-Carlton’s Ethan Alexander scored at the goal line for the Falcons to pull ahead for the first time since the first quarter. Manhattan had a chance to respond with a touchdown, but a runningback fumble sealed the game for Florence-Carlton.

CLASS C

Fairview defeated Belt 40-28 for a perfect 12-0 season and second state title since 2019.

The game, which was tied 14-14 at the half, saw Belt take a 22-14 lead in the third quarter, but Fairview battled back on a 63-yard touchdown run by Tyler Loan and a 60-yard scoring run by Brock Schlothauer.

Fairview forced its third turnover of the game early in the fourth quarter, and Loan scored again to pull ahead 34-22.

Belt would answer back to pull within 34-28, but Schlothauer broke open a 42-yard touchdown run to pull Fairview ahead for good.