Mountain Cat gridders blank Horsemen, 46-0
Clark Fork Mountain Cats quarterback Bryan Mask looks for a receiver last Saturday against Plains. The senior had a big game in propelling his team to a 46-0 win. (Chuck Bandel/Mineral Independent)
By CHUCK BANDEL
Valley Press
“It was a dark and stormy night” has probably been the opening line over time in many unfinished novels.
It was semi-reality in Superior Saturday night for the hardy souls who attended the Plains versus Clark Fork 8-man football game.
But for the rained on and in some cases no doubt shivering home fans, it had a warm ending as the Mountain Cats stormed past Plains 46-0.
After an uncertain start to their season, Clark Fork has gelled into a playoff threat.
That was evident Saturday night as the Cats overcame a penalty-filled contest and ran their season record to 6-2, including four lopsided wins in a row following a 2-2 start.
Clark Fork senior quarterback Bryan Mask got things rolling when he and the Cats took the opening kickoff and drove methodically downfield, capped by a one-yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown with 7:28 to go in quarter number one.
Senior do-everything lineman/running back Aaron Waddle bulled into the end zone for the two points after touchdown try that staked Clark Fork to an early 8-0 lead.
The smothering Mountain Cats defense then forced Plains into a punting situation on the Horsemen’s first possession, giving Mask and company the ball on their own 15.
Shortly thereafter, Mask hooked up with sophomore wideout and backup quarterback Orion Plakke on a long pass and run play that covered 60 yards and put the Cats on the Plains 16 yard line. From there they move the ball to the Plains one where Mask once again ran across the goal line for six more points with 3:46 to play in the first quarter.
The PAT try was snuffed out, thanks to a penalty that nullified a two-point conversion by sophomore Decker Milender, leaving Clark Fork with a 14-0 advantage.
Plains was once again forced to punt after the ensuing kickoff. With the ball on their own 24, Clark Fork used a successful screen pass to give them a first down on their own 39-yard line.
On the next play, with time evaporating in the first quarter, Mask broke free around end and raced 41 yards for his third touchdown of the quarter. That scamper put Clark Fork up 20-0 as the quarter came to an end.
Plains managed to moved the ball successfully downfield on their next drive, but the Mountain Cats defense stopped them on a fourth and five situation, giving Clark Fork the ball at their own 25.
That drive came to a screeching halt when Plains defensive back Gavin Regalado picked off a Mask pass that set the Horsemen up with the ball on their own 15. Two first down securing runs by senior Tucker Foster had the Horsemen moving before they fumbled the ball back to Clark Fork.
The Mask to Plakke aerial show then went to work, first with a 30-yard pass to move the ball to the Plains 12, then a Mask to Plakke touchdown pass good for 12 yards. Another unsuccessful PAT attempt left the score at 26-0 Clark Fork.
Plains set up shop on their 30 yard line following the kickoff, but promptly fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Clark Fork with 1:44 to play in the first half.
Several plays later, after a Waddle run and a Jake Calloway reception took the Cats to the visitors’ 20 yard line, Mask found wideout Silas Acker in the end zone for a 20-yard TD strike. Mask then ran for the PAT and the Mountain Cats had a 34-0 lead at the half.
The third quarter opened with Clark Fork returning the Plains kickoff to their own 35. From there Mask connected with Danner Haskins on a play good for 26 yards.
A Mask run moved the ball to the Horsemen three yard line where Plakke tossed a short TD pass to Haskins, giving the hosts a 40-0 lead and putting the 35-point, constantly moving mercy rule clock in play.
The two teams traded turnover the rest of the way in the third quarter, which ended with Plains punting and Clark Fork taking over at their 35.
A long run by Issac Miller moved the Cats into Horsemen territory, but the Plains defense held and forced the Mountain Cats to punt for the first time in the game.
Plains mounted one last drive before that was halted when Plakke picked off a pass from Plains quarterback Tristan Subatch with 3:55 to go in the game.
With the rain falling steady and the temperature dropping, the Plakke pick caused one fan in the stands to remark, “That’s the play of the game, it keeps the clock running.”
Clark Fork tacked on another TD just before time expired when freshman running back Chase Woodson plowed into the end zone from seven yards out.
The win adds to Clark Fork’s playoff momentum as they seek to defend their 8-man Western conference title from last year. Up next for the Mountain Cats is a regular season-ending home game against Troy Friday night.
The loss dropped Plains to 2-5 on the season. The Horsemen close out their season Friday night with a home game against Seeley-Swan.