Columbia Falls Wildcats Football 2026 Season Preview: Brotherhood, Speed, and a Playoff Push

Two days before kickoff, Daily Inter Lake sports reporter Luke Schmit sat down with Columbia Falls Wildcats head coach Kelly Houle, quarterback Banyan Johnston, and running back/linebacker Tripp Ross ahead of Thursday's season opener against Fergus at Grizzly Stadium in Missoula.Coach Houle breaks down why this team is "weeks ahead" of where they were a year ago, the brotherhood culture that drives the program, and what he wants to see change after a playoff run last season - starting faster instead of building momentum late. Johnston talks about sharpening the details in his game and stepping into a senior leadership role for the Wildcats' freshmen, while Ross previews his downhill running style, a veteran offensive line, and a defense built to play fast with Jackson Cadwell and Daniel Contreras up front.Chapters00:00 - Intro00:29 - Coach Houle on Season Expectations01:02 - Thursday's Opener vs Fergus at Grizzly Stadium01:08 - Banyan Johnston on Off-Season Growth01:27 - Tripp Ross on Trusting His Quarterback01:37 - Ross's Running Style and a Veteran O-Line02:05 - Building Chemistry With a Newer-Look Team02:45 - Family Culture and Letting the Kids Play03:02 - Johnston Steps Into a Senior Leadership Role03:16 - What Fueled Last Year's Playoff Run04:10 - Playing Fast: Read, React, Fire04:23 - The Johnston-to-Jordan Hill Connection05:20 - Defense Preview With Ross and Jackson Cadwell05:34 - Coach Houle on Culture, Trust, and "Love Each Other"06:15 - The Whitefish Game Audible That Shifted Momentum06:52 - This Year's Goal: Fix the Slow Starts07:09 - Player Shoutouts07:47 - Final ThoughtsNorthwest 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!