After four straight losses, this victory on homecoming was extra special for Littlefork-Big Falls.
“It was really fun,” junior Tyler Lehman said after rushing for 96 yards and three touchdowns. “The team finally came together. It was a big victory for us.”
No Vikings team had ever lost four games in a row in the five years under head coach Derek Bilben, and Cotton (2-5) had little chance Wednesday in a 56-0 drubbing at John Thompson Field.
“Home helped,” Bilben said. “Home helped a lot, but these kids stepped it up. This was a different team tonight. Their confidence was up and they were playing for each other.”
Joining Lehman in the backfield with big performances were senior Bryce Ziemba and junior Aaron McGuire. Ziemba rushed 12 times for 87 yards and McGuire had 67 yards and three scores. Lehman added an 80-yard kickoff return for a score to open the second half to make it 48-0.
McGuire scored soon after and the benches started clearing and the clock was put on running time with just over five minutes to play in the third quarter.
“I think everyone was up for homecoming and sick of losing,” senior Jesse Steele said, noting it was also the last home game of the season.
The defense also dominated, holding the Cardinals to -8 yards in the first quarter. By halftime, Cotton had only 48 yards on 31 plays.
“The main thing is our confidence is up and we know we can do it,” Steele said. “We played intense the whole time.”
Even with a win Tuesday at Mountain Iron-Buhl, the best the Vikings (3-4) can do in the Section 7 9-man tournament is the fifth seed, preventing them from hosting a playoff game. Cherry, Mountain Iron-Buhl and Bigfork are locks for the top three, while Tower-Soudan and Orr are battling for the fourth and fifth spot, with the Vikings potentially sneaking in at No. 5.
The Section 7 9-man tournament begins Oct. 27.
Littlefork-Big Falls 56, Cotton 0
C 0 0 0 0—0
LBF 24 16 16 0—56
First Quarter
L-BF — Aaron McGuire 1 run (Bryce Ziemba run)
L-BF — Tyler Lehman 8 run (Ziemba run)
L-BF — Lehman 62 run (Garrett Larson run)
Second Quarter
L-BF — Lehman 5 run (Ziemba run)
L-BF — McGuire 23 run (Larson pass to Patrick Boorman)
Third Quarter
L-BF — Lehman 80 kickoff return (Larson run)
L-BF — McGuire 4 run (Larson to McGuire)
