Warriors down Wampus Cats, earn state berth

HARRISON FLATS — Junior Morgan Willms had a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown, along with a 70-yard kickoff return for a score to lead the Warriors past the Wampus Cats in the North Star League finale for both schools.

With the win, Kootenai (6-3, 4-0 NSL) earns the lone berth from the league to the state 1A Division II playoffs, where they will face defending champion Salmon River next weekend in Harrison.

“They’ve been pretty much laying the whooping to everyone this year,” Kootenai coach Doug Napierala said.

Willms also ran for 137 yards on seven carries and three touchdowns for Kootenai.

“Morgan had a great night tonight,” Napierala said. “On both sides of the ball really. Offensively and defensively, he really dominated the game.”

It is Kootenai’s sixth straight trip to the state playoffs, with a runner-up finish in 2008.

“We’re senior loaded with 10 of them on the team this year,” Napierala said. “It’s been a goal of theirs’ to get back (to the title game). The seniors were eighth graders that year, and are really geared toward it.”

Nate Nesbitt had a 1-yard touchdown run for Clark Fork, which finishes 3-5, 2-2.

Clark Fork    6    0    0 — 6

Kootenai      20  20  14 — 54

Game called with 7 minutes remaining in the third quarter due to 45-point rule.

Koot — Simeon Desautel 22 pass from Jake Pfeiffer (pass failed)

Koot — Morgan Willms 40 run (Desautel run)

CF — Nate Nesbitt 1 run (run failed)

Koot — Willms 70 kickoff return (run failed)

Koot — Desautel 65 run (run failed)

Koot — Willms 64 run (Colson Schultz pass from Pfeiffer)

Koot — Willms 70 punt return (run failed)

Koot — Willms 18 run (Schultz pass from Pfeiffer)

Koot — Pfeiffer 22 run (no attempt)