Wolf Point Loses Defensive Battle Against Cut Bank, 22-16

The Wolf Point Wolves didn’t go down without a fight in their 22-16 home loss against Cut Bank on Friday, Oct. 9.

Trailing 22-6 in the conference contest, the Wolf Point fought back when the defense led by Cole Holen and Zandon Calder stopped Cut Bank’s quarterback Bodie Barbie in the end zone for a safety with 9:03 remaining.

Cut Bank limited Wolf Point’s offense on its next possession, but Wolf Point gained another chance on its own 32 with 3:45 remaining.

Sophomore quarterback Reed Garfield quickly guided Wolf Point into Cut Bank territory on passes to Prestyn Klatt and Wheeler Damboise. After a run by Jesse Reed was good for a first down at the 23, a leaping Klatt hauled in a pass at the 12 for another first down.

Garfield then connected with Klatt for a touchdown with 1:48 remaining. Reed battled in for the two-point conversion to close the margin to 22-16.

Wolf Point’s hopes of a comeback disappeared when Cut Bank’s Eli Schultz recovered an on-sides kick.

The game started as a defensive battle. Cut Bank drove inside Wolf Point’s territory on its first possession, but a sack by Calder helped end that threat. Wolf Point struck first when Garfield passed to Klatt at about the Cut Bank 35, and the fast Lustre student raced the distance with 2:32 left in the opening quarter.

Cut Bank’s defense made a big play when Tyler Raines recovered a fumble at the Wolf Point 43. Four plays later, Barbie hit Tadan Shook with a 28yard touchdown pass for a 6-6 deadlock with 10:57 remaining in the half.

After Wolf Point’s Klatt and Cut Bank’s Justus Cassidy each accounted for interceptions, Wolf Point’s defense continued its outstanding play when tackles by Holen and Calder ended Cut Bank’s next possession.

Cut Bank’s defense, however, then came up with a huge turnover when Thunder Redhorn intercepted a pass and went 30 yards for a touchdown. Cut Bank accounted for a two-point conversion and a 14-6 lead with 2:50 left in the half.

Cut Bank also was successful on its last drive of the half. After barely making a first down on a fourth-and-four fake punt run, Cut Bank moved down to the six on a pass interference call. On fourth down from the six, Barbie scrambled into the end zone. Shook ran in the conversion for a 22-6 halftime margin. Cut Bank made a scoring threat early in the third quarter, but a pass defended by Jayden Dominique stopped the drive.

Wolf Point then used the powerful running of Reed to drive inside Cut Bank territory. The possession ended when a deflected pass was intercepted by Cassidy with under three minutes left in the third quarter.

Wolf Point plays at conference leader Fairfield on

Friday, Oct. 16.