Libby is shut out by powerful Stevensville squad, 33-0

Bigger, faster, stronger. Those three words describe Stevensville in Friday’s 33-0 football victory over No. 5 Libby, the first loss for the Loggers this season.

Watching Stevi’s quarterback Jared Schultz was something else, as the junior went 26-40 for 366 yards and five passing touchdowns. He rushed for 108 yards on 13 carries and effectively buried the Loggers.

The Yellowjackets were easily the best team Libby had faced this season, and before a single down was played, it was obvious that the Stevi line was going to give the Loggers fits for four quarters.

When they weren’t blowing holes wide enough for logging trucks to cruise through, they were providing pass protection for Schultz. Even so, the Yellowjackets were far from perfect,

“We had problems today,” said Stevi head coach Hank Praast. “Their No. 50 is really good, he was giving our center problems. We made a lot of mental mistakes. Also, this is the third game in a row we’ve thrown two interceptions in the endzone.”

Libby’s No. 50, Tarasik Krisanov, got penetration many times during the game, but with potential Division-I athletes behind the offensive line, it became a chore to get contact.

“I don’t think we sacked (Shultz) even once,” Krisanov said. “He was faster than me. And (Jesse) Sims is a player. He got in my head.”

Stevi sophomore wide receiver Jesse Sims, a 6-foot 4-inch nightmare for Libby, had five catches for 94 yards and a touchdown. 

“He’s worked to be that strong and fast,” Praast said. “It’s easy to throw to six-foot four.”

With these problems, Libby had shots, but junior quarterback Jared Winslow was hounded in the backfield and his targets had largely diminished. Senior wide receivers Danny Leggins and Will Reichel are still out because of injuries, leaving senior wideout Lane Luscher as his preferred target. Winslow went 5-for-20 for 33 yards and rushed for another 35.

   Heading to the half down 26-0, the defense allowed Stevi to score just once more in the second half.

   “Our defense stepped up in the second half,” said Libby offensive coordinator Kyle Hannah. “But I give Stevi all the credit. They were ready to go.”

   The Loggers face Whitefish on the road Friday. Krisanov said the way to get over the Stevi loss was simple.

   “We’re going to shake off this loss, start practicing hard,” he said. “And we’re going to beat them.”