EPISODE · Sep 2, 2026 · 11 MIN
Bigfork Vikings Football 2026: New Starting QB, a Young Roster and a Season-Opening Test
from Keeping Score · host Daily Inter Lake
The Bigfork Vikings are two days into fall camp with a new starting quarterback, a young roster and a season opener against defending state champion Frenchtown looming on the horizon. Keeping Score host Luke Schmit sits down with head coach Hunter Johnson, first-year starting quarterback Alex Ochs and receiver-corner Rye Rodriguez to talk about a summer of work that has this team ahead of where it was a year ago.Johnson explains how a state championship baseball season - one he coached alongside several of these same players - shaped the next-play mentality he's building into this football team, while Ochs and Rodriguez open up about stepping into bigger roles, the underclassmen who are turning heads in camp and why they're treating a matchup with the defending champs as just the start of the season rather than something to fear. Johnson also breaks down what a successful season looks like beyond the win-loss column.Chapters00:00 - Intro00:31 - Coach Johnson on seniors stepping up early00:52 - Alex Ochs on taking over at quarterback01:20 - Alex on his summer coming off a baseball state title01:59 - Coach Johnson on a young roster stepping up ahead of schedule02:37 - Season opener: facing defending champion Frenchtown03:01 - Alex on quarterback nerves and finding his rhythm03:18 - Rye Rodriguez on facing elite competition to open the year04:02 - Conference outlook and staying focused on themselves04:38 - Coach Johnson on bringing a state championship mentality from baseball05:20 - Rye on the journey of last year's baseball title run06:15 - Alex on his offseason focus as a senior06:42 - Underclassmen to watch this fall07:12 - Coach Johnson on Quinn's return and full commitment to football07:29 - What a successful season looks like beyond wins and losses08:40 - Coach Johnson's closing thoughts on his leadersNorthwest Montana deserves strong news reporting. Your donation helps continue work like this possible. Learn more at dailyinterlake.com/support Thanks to Corwin Motors for sponsoring the Keeping Score podcast! They’re proud to be family-driven for over 100 years. Corwin’s commitment goes beyond selling cars; they’re dedicated to serving our community and providing you with the highest quality vehicles to fit your lifestyle. Whether you’re searching for reliability, style, or comfort, they’ve got you covered. If you’re in the market for a new Chevrolet or just want to learn more, visit http://corwinmotorskalispell.com. For full coverage and the latest sports updates, visit the Daily Inter Lake at: https://dailyinterlake.com/news/sports/. Support local journalism and subscribe to us! Watch this podcast and more on our YouTube Channel. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a news tip, want to place an ad, or sponsor this podcast? Contact us!
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The Bigfork Vikings are two days into fall camp with a new starting quarterback, a young roster and a season opener against defending state champion Frenchtown looming on the horizon. Keeping Score host Luke Schmit sits down with head coach Hunter Johnson, first-year starting quarterback Alex Ochs and receiver-corner Rye Rodriguez to talk about a summer of work that has this team ahead of where it was a year ago. Johnson explains how a state championship baseball season - one he coached along...
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Bigfork Vikings Football 2026: New Starting QB, a Young Roster and a Season-Opening Test
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