Wampus Cats fall to Mullan/St. Regis at home

CLARK FORK – The Mullan/St. Regis Tigers showed why they are at the top of the North Star League Friday night with a 56-40 win over Clark Fork.

The Wampus Cats, hoping to challenge Mullan for that top spot, were able to put together three solid quarters of football, but were ultimately doomed by the one that got away.

“I thought we came out really tough in the first quarter,” Clark Fork Coach Brian Arthun said.

“We played them evenly, then the wheels kind of fell off in the second quarter and we lost momentum.”

Led by the solid offensive play of Alex Trogden, Caleb Ball and Austin Zingler, who made his first varsity start Friday night, the Tigers went to work on the Wampus Cat defense in the second quarter and carried a 36-6 lead into halftime.

“We bend, but don’t break, and we’re opportunistic. Wait, wait, wait, pick. Wait, wait, wait, fumble. Just keep tackling, just keep getting there to the ball and it seems to work,” Mullan/St. Regis Coach Stetson Spooner said.

Zingler, in Friday's lineup due to injury, rushed for three touchdowns and over 100 yards.

Not going down without a fight though, the Wampus Cats stormed back in the second half, nearly trading touchdowns with the visitors.

“I thought we came out, battled back and showed a lot of heart,” Arthun said. “That second quarter killed us, and we really haven’t been able to put four quarters together all year, so we have to figure that out before playoffs start.”

The 34-point Clark Fork effort was spearheaded by Antonio Mayorga, who was responsible for five touchdowns and three two-point conversions.

The Wampus Cats are set to take on the Wallace Miners next week in Silverton to break a tie for second place in the division.