<div>GREAT FALLS — The CMR Rustlers are set to host their first AA state quarterfinal since 2014 on Friday night when they welcome the Big Sky Eagles (8-2) to Memorial Stadium in Great Falls.The Rustlers fell to the Eagles in the AA playoffs in 2025, 32-13, in Missoula. CMR won its first playoff game since 2014 against Butte, 42-6, prior to its defeat at the hands of Big Sky.Rustlers senior defensive lineman Landon Bahmiller said it is great to continue to improve year-by-year."It's super cool to finally bring it back here and give this town a playoff game again and a bigger playoff game than last year,” Bahmiller said. “So just keep taking steps.”The Rustlers have received valuable production from junior wide receiver/defensive back Devyn Smith, who leads the team with 513 receiving yards. Smith said it is special to be a part of a team that has reset the standard at CMR."It's really important to me what we're doing to us just because it hasn't been done in over ten years,” Smith said. “So obviously that's a big achievement for us. And I think that's something we should be proud of as a whole."The bitter taste of how the season ended in 2025, and a rematch with that same opponent has the Rustlers ready for ‘revenge.’Smith said the mentality is to avenge last season, and keep playing Rustlers football."We're coming for them,” Smith said. “We're coming back. We're back for blood. So you know we'll take that personally and play with the chip on their shoulder and play our game. Do what we do.”Bahmiller has had a stellar senior season with a team-leading 13 tackles for loss and four sacks. He said the loss and how CMR’s season finished a year ago have stuck with the returners."Super cool to be able to play them in the same game as last year that they knocked us out,” Bahmiller said. “But flip the place is good to see them at home. Last year was definitely heartbreaking. But I'm excited to get another chance at them and really just get a little revenge game.”The Rustlers had finished with a losing record in eight of the nine prior seasons before A.J. Wilson took over as the head coach in 2024. CMR posted a winning record for the first time in 11 years a season ago, and built on it with a 7-2 regular season in 2026.Bahmiller said he has enjoyed developing with his head coach over the last three seasons."I love how much tradition he implemented back,” Bahmiller said. “So that's been super fun. It’s just the tradition and how serious he takes it and how he can be a player's coach. But then also be like a coach that can be hard but he's also young enough to be kind of like us. So I mean it's been really fun to have a relationship with him.”Wilson currently holds a 17-13 record as CMR’s head coach and will look to lead his team to a semifinal berth. He said he’s been pleased seeing this senior class’ growth throughout his time in charge of the program."I mean, I took over when they were all sophomores,” Wilson said. “And again, some of these guys played for us that first year when I took over. And it's just fun to see them grow and see them where they were as sophomores to juniors and now to seniors, you know, getting themselves a bye week into a home playoff game. So, you know, I'm just super happy for all those guys.”Wilson also called on the home crowd to show up for the showdown with Big Sky."We need our fans out there on Friday night,” Wilson said. You know they're a big part of it. They come out. They're loud, they're obnoxious to the other side and we love it. So they've been great to us all season. They've shown out. Come out 7:00 tomorrow night, baby.”The Rustlers will look to win a playoff game in back-to-back seasons with a victory over the Eagles at Memorial Stadium at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.</div>

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GREAT FALLS — The CMR Rustlers are set to host their first AA state quarterfinal since 2014 on Friday night when they welcome the Big Sky Eagles (8-2) to Memorial Stadium in Great Falls. The Rustlers fell to the Eagles in the AA playoffs in 2025, 32-13, in Missoula....

CMR is hosting a quarterfinal for the first time since 2014

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GREAT FALLS — The CMR Rustlers are set to host their first AA state quarterfinal since 2014 on Friday night when they welcome the Big Sky Eagles (8-2) to M

CMR is hosting a quarterfinal for the first time since 2014

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