After gruesome “two-a-days,” the Vikings were finally ready to take on the Shelby Coyotes. Being on the road for their first game proved no challenge to the Vikes as they came away with a 23-19 lead. Although the game started slow in the first half, the defense came back strong in the second half, overpowering their offense. Their next game was at home against the Anaconda Copperheads, the first home game of the season. The team was complete and ready to go as they had two key players back on the team to help them secure a 46-7 win. Continuing on into their season, the boys loaded up onto the bus, not exactly sure where we were heading due to the smoke.They ended up playing the game in Florence, and at one point, ashes were coming down like a light sprinkle. This was a very tough game physically as two of our seniors came out of the game for injury. The Vikes scraped by with a 14-8 win over the Falcons. The next two weeks were uneventful, as the game against Eureka was cancelled and the next week was their bye week. Again, the Vikes were on the road for another “business trip” as the coaches like to call it. Thompson Falls was a fun game for everyone on the team as the JV players got to go in a varsity game. The game ended with a score of 44-0. Homecoming was a blast all week and was even more great when gameday came around. Playing Townsend for homecoming was a hard fought battle with the Vikes coming up with a 13-7 win. One of our very own players, senior Logan Taylor, even won Homecoming King. Bigforks sworn rivals, Loyola, was the first loss for the Vikes all season. The game was rough and the boys played their hearts out, but were unable to come out on top. The Deer Lodge Wardens were next on the list. Winning this game secured the Vikes a spot in the playoffs. Like Thompson Falls, the JV players got some playing time in a varsity game. The Vikes came away with a 41-0 win. The boys kept a perfect home game record (3-0) as this was the last valhalla on the lake for seniors playing under the lights. After having a delicious team dinner made by the parents of the team, the Vikings drove to Cut Bank and spent the night. That Saturday, the boys went to team breakfast to get ready for the big game. Sadly, the season had come to an end, only losing by a field goal.
Deer Stories BY HATTIE EMSLIE A brisk spring day opens the turkey hunting season that year as two boys leave early from their house in an effort to get a bird each with their bows. Reaching their homemade blind they begin gobbling hoping for two big toms to come by. The waiting game began as the turkeys were still hidden. As the gobble rang through the air the two brothers jolted up ready for their harvest. Bigfork students in the valley know that hunting is often learned and passed on as a family trait. It is a right of passage, one that leads kids from hunting trips when they are much too young to actually participate, through Hunter’s Education and plan to pass their knowledge on to their kids as well. Senior Logan Taylor has been hunting his whole life. “I always saw my dad leave the house and comeback with a huge animal,” said Taylor. Taylor also said that his father made him get his start in hunting squirrels until he was ready for the big game animals. Shelton Woll a freshman at Bigfork also got his start with hunting from his father and has loved it ever since. It is one of his favorite pass times when with his older brother. Hunting stories bring families closer as it gives them something to have in common. There's no other feeling than being out with your family in the woods and having a comfortable silence. There is no need to talk as the as the call of the animal rings through the air. As most hear it as a second language. Logan and Luke Taylor, though they were mocked by the turkeys and ended up sending their arrows awry, and though they went home empty handed, they still have a family memory and a story to tell about hunting in the valley.