by Scott Sacry, Sports Editor
The Hamilton football team hosted Bigfork in the first round of the Class A State Playoffs on Friday, October 31, and defeated the visiting Vikings 46-20.
The Broncs thrived in all three facets of the game. Hamilton showcased a balanced offensive attack, Hamilton’s opportunistic defense created four turnovers, and Hamilton scored an exciting special teams touchdown. Add it all together and Hamilton is off to the second round of the Class A State Playoffs.
The first quarter had plenty of fireworks. Hamilton defense scored first with a safety. Then Hamilton had two scoring drives ending in a Brandon Saltzman 11-yard touchdown run, and a Jude Widmer 43-yard touchdown run. Bigfork scored near the end of the quarter. Then at the end of the first quarter on the ensuing kickoff, Hamilton’s shifty speedster Jackson Lubke thrilled the home crowd by returning a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, giving Hamilton a 20-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Hamilton’s Easton Rominger (#72) and Kaeden Gum (#15) looking to make a block. Gum had a big game receiving with five catches for 101 yards and a 32-yard touchdown reception in Hamilton’s 46-20 victory over Bigfork in the first round of the Class A State Playoffs on Friday, Oct. 31. Photo by Scott Sacry.
In the second quarter, Hamilton quarterback Cooper Weston hit Kaeden Gum for a 32-yard touchdown that gave the Broncs a 26-6 halftime lead. Hamilton kept the pressure on in the second half as Weston had two rushing touchdowns and Widmer added another as Hamilton rolled to the 46-20 victory.
Bigfork had a steady offense and was able to move the ball against Hamilton’s solid defense and the Vikings gained 346 yards of total offense. But Hamilton’s defense didn’t break, and forced four crucial turnovers (two fumbles and two interceptions), and also got a safety.
Hamilton’s offense gained 412 yards of total offense, 179 rushing and 233 passing, and they didn’t have any turnovers.
Individually for Hamilton, Kaeden Gum had a big game receiving, with five catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Running back Jude Widmer ran free all night and had 14 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Cooper Weston completed 17 of 25 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 39 yards and two touchdowns.
Billings Central up next
Hamilton advances to the second round of the Class A playoffs where they face the #1 seed for the East, Billings Central. The Rams are 9-0 on the season and have been ranked #1 in Class A all season long.
The Rams have scored at least 35 points in all of their games and have won all their games by at least 27 points. Frenchtown won the Southwest A Conference title and was defeated by Billings Central 35-7 in September.
Hamilton plays Billings Central on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Rocky Mountain College football stadium in Billings.