Huge football game against Wildcats coming up this weekend

By DAVID ERICKSON ' Whitefish Pilot

The Whitefish football team gave the Polson Pirates a big scare on Friday night, hanging within four points until the end of the third quarter. In the fourth, however, Polson scored two unanswered touchdowns to hold on for a 41-24 Northwestern Class A victory.

Polson's Tim Rausch ran for five TDs on his own against the Bulldogs.

"Mainly, there was just one kid that we couldn't stop," Whitefish head coach Patrick Dryden said. "We moved the ball very well, so I was pleased with the offense and special teams. Alex Elespuru had a great night. He made some big catches in traffic. Mac Roche performed great as well. We ended up with 360 yards of total offense."

Elespuru finished with 130 yards on just seven catches, including one TD and a field goal. Quarterback Mac Roche ended up with three passing TDs and 245 yards.

On a bright note, the Bulldogs didn't give up any turnovers.

"That's really important in a pressure-packed game like that," Dryden said. "Seth Wiley had another big interception for us."

Dryden said Polson was able to convert a third-and-25 late in the game that got them into scoring position.

"We gave up some big plays, and that's something we need to work on not doing," he said. "We just didn't make the stops defensively like we did against Libby a week earlier."

Dustin Beck led the team in tackles on defense.

For the second year in a row, the 'Cat/'Dog match-up this Friday night will determine which team gets to host a playoff game.

"It should be a good game," Dryden said. "There's a lot at stake."

The Bulldogs, 3-1 in conference and 4-4 overall, host Columbia Falls this year after losing on the road to the 'Cats last year.

"I'm pleased to have home-field advantage," Dryden said. "We play with more intensity when we're at home. We need to play with more intensity than we did against Polson, though."

Dryden said the Wildcats have a host of players who can run the ball effectively.

"On paper, it appears to be a toss-up," he said.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday night at Whitefish High School.

Whitefish 7 3 14 0 - 24

Polson 6 8 14 13 - 41

Polson — Chris Alfiero 32 pass from Craig Bagnell (kick blocked)

Whitefish — Alex Elespuru 24 pass from Mac Roche Elespuru kick)

Polson — Tim Rausch 14 run (Ryan Kelley pass from Bagnell)

Whitefish — Elespuru 26 field goal

Polson — Rausch 37 run (Bagnell kick)

Whitefish — Aaron Tkachyk 62 pass from Roche (Elespuru kick)

Whitefish — Willie Roche 13 pass from Mac Roche (Elespuru kick)

Polson — Rausch 10 run (Bagnell kick)

Polson — Rausch 8 run (Bagnell kick)

Polson — Rausch 10run (kick blocked)

Wf Polson

First downs 12 20

Rushes-yards 24-129 41-264

Passing yards 245 179

Passing (com-att-int-tds)

16-27-0-3 11-16-1-1

Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-yards 8-55 3-30

Rushing — Whitefish, Daniel Simmons 15-101, Derek Crittenden 6-40; Polson, Tim Rausch 21-158, Trae Fouty 9-47, Craig Bagnell 8-55.

Passing — Whitefish, Mac Roche 16-27-0-3-245; Polson, Bagnell 11-16-1-1-179.

Receiving — Whitefish, Alex Elespuru 7-130, Aaron Tkachyk 4-58, Seth Wiley 3-35; Polson, Chris Alfiero 3-93, Kyle Bagnell 4-42.