Pirates pound Bulldogs

The Polson Pirates football team was as good as advertised.

The No. 5 ranked Pirates used a pounding running game, led by running back Tim Rausch, to outscore Whitefish (4-3, 1-2) by 29 points in the final three quarters of play and take a 43-21-conference victory.

"That's a good football team over there," Bulldog coach Patrick Dryden told his players after the game. "There's nothing to be down about. We played with a lot of intensity and heart. We're going to bounce back from this."

Whitefish struck first in the game with a 67-yard, 10-play drive capped off by a 21-yard touchdown pass from Mac Roche to Willie Roche.

The Roche brothers have connected for eight passing scores in five consecutive games.

Polson countered two drives later when Vince DiGiallonardo took a quarterback keeper 4 yards into the end zone to tie the score.

The 'Dogs bit back 19 seconds later.

Mac Roche dropped back to pass from White-fish's 33-yard line, and then rolled out of the pocket to throw a bullet to wide receiver Kalin Hale, who was streaking across the middle of the field. Hale easily snagged the pass and took it untouched into the end zone to put Whitefish on top 14-7.

Whitefish forced a fumble on Polson's ensuing drive, and the game's momentum looked to heavily favor the Bulldogs.

"I was pleased with performance in first quarter," Dryden said. "We really got after it."

But Polson came out at the start of the second quarter with their running game in full force.

Rausch tacked on an 11-yard touchdown run four minutes into the quarter, and Joe Andrews added another running score to close out the half and give Polson a 22-14 lead.

Willie Roche made a hustle play worthy of the highlight reel at the start of the second half.

Polson's DiGiallonardo broke away on a long run and looked poised to go untouched into the end zone.

Willie Roche, undeterred by the situation, used his speed to track down DiGiallonardo from behind and strip the ball out of his right arm, forcing a fumble that the Bulldogs recovered on the 15-yard line.

Yet, DiGiallonardo would have the last laugh.

On the ensuing Bulldog drive, DiGiallonardo picked off a pass from Mac Roche, broke two tackles and took the ball 82 yards into the end zone.

That score was the nail in the coffin for Whitefish.

The Bulldogs struggled for the remainder of the game to stop Polson's slow and steady running attack or to put together consecutive offensive drives.

Simmons tacked on a 1-yard touchdown early in the fourth to narrow the gap to 36-21, but Polson's Rausch scored another touchdown to close out the game.

"Rauch is a wrecking ball out there," Dryden said. "His hits took a toll on our guys. That's the most physical team I've seen in 10 years."

Simmons rushed for 98 yards on 17 carries and scored one touchdown.

Mac Roche passed for 198 yards on 10 attempts and tossed two touchdowns.

Hale was the Bulldogs' leading receiver with five catches for 96 yards. Chris Forrest followed with two catches for 48 yards, including a near score in the second half.

"Chris is only a sophomore," Dryden said. "He has a big future ahead of him."

Polson 7 15 14 7 - 43

Whitefish 14 0 0 7 - 21

Whitefish - Willie Roche 21 pass from Mac Roche (Tanner Benedict kick)

Polson - Vince DiGiallonardo 4 run (Kyle Bagnell kick)

Whitefish - Kalin Hale 68 pass from M. Roche (Benedict kick)

Polson - Tim Rausch 1 run (Bagnell kick)

Polson - Joe Andrews 8 run (DiGiallonardo run)

Polson - (player unknown) 82 interception return (Bagnell kick)

Polson - (No. 3) 22 pass from DiGiallonardo (Bagnell kick)

Whitefish - Daniel Simmons 1 run (Benedict kick)

Polson - Rausch 1 run (Bagnell kick)