Clark Fork host Mullan in NSL game

CLARK FORK - Despite currently sitting at 0-4, Clark Fork coach Brian Arthun is continuing to preach playoffs to his young but steadily improving football team, which hosts Mullan tonight in Thursday night homecoming football action.

The Cats are essentially competing with Kootenai and Mullan for the two A-1, Division 2 state playoff berths. A win tonight against Mullan would go a long way to helping the Cats make the playoffs.

"It's our biggest game of the year," said Arthun, whose team lost 30-6 to Mullan in the first game of the year. "I've been telling the kids all week about this really being a playoff game."

Freshman quarterback Stillman Berkley continues to improve with more snaps, and the two-pronged running attack of Chaunce Nesbitt and Howard Katzenberg continues to drive the offense. Arthun had high praise for senior lineman Chase Chowning, who at 6-5, 235 pounds, anchors both lines.

"Chase is stepping up as a leader on the line," Arthun said, adding the entire team continues to improve around him. "I'm excited to see how far we've come; it's a good test for us."

Defensively, Arthun plans to throw a variety of blitzes at the Mullan quarterback, whom he calls their best player.

"Hopefully we can get some hits on him and make him uncomfortable."

Clark Fork still has games left this season against Wallace, Kootenai and Lakeside. Kootenai, the power of the North Star League, is all but assured a playoff berth, and Arthun believes his team has closed the gap on Mullan.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m., in the rare Thursday night homecoming game.