'Dogs run over Browning

The Bulldog's ground game seems to have found its footing.

In a nonconference Class A football game on Friday at Browning's Arrowhead Stadium, Whitefish (1-1) tallied four touchdowns and more than 300 yards of offense on the ground, winning the game 28-6.

Tanner Benedict was the leading rusher with 140 yards on 14 carries, and running backs Daniel Simmons and Derek Crittenden had two touchdowns each in the affair.

"The right side of the line really dominated," head coach Patrick Dryden said. "Orrin Dugan, Tyson Ferdan and Connon Silliker had a really good game blocking for us."

According to Dryden, his running backs ran little lower to ground and made solid cuts to avoid Browning's swarming defense.

"Their confidence is growing, too," he said about the team's ability to move the ball.

After a scoreless opening quarter, Whitefish quickly found the red zone when Benedict broke free from a Browning defender with a spin move and ran the ball into Indians' territory before being stopped at the 13-yard line.

Simmons capped off the drive with a 2-yard run by following lead-blocker Crittenden up the middle for an easy six points with 10 minutes left in the quarter.

Kicker Geoff Streeter booted in the point after to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead.

Dryden was pleased to see Streeter make all four of his extra point attempts, saying that the special teams unit is getting better and more aggressive each week.

Later in the second, Whitefish pieced together an impressive drive to end the half behind a seemingly unstoppable ground game and a few big plays from their junior quarterback.

Simmons started the drive with a 13-yard run, and Benedict tacked on another eight to push the 'Dogs down the field.

Quarterback Mac Roche got into the mix, connecting with Willie Roche for a first down and then moved the chains again on a scramble.

After getting knocked back by the Indian defense, Whitefish found themselves looking at a third-and-20 situation and possibly stalling what had thus far been a solid drive.

But Roche found Simmons open on a deep pass and Whitefish was again in scoring position on the goal line.

Roche was 5-of-13 passing for 66 yards in the game, throwing one interception.

Simmons punched in a 1-yard run to cap off the 85-yard drive that took three minutes off the clock.

The Bulldogs led 14-0 going into the half.

Crittenden tacked on another two short touchdown runs in the second half to put the game in the books.

The 'Dogs' defense held the Indians to one touchdown in the fourth quarter.

"Our defense was solid," Dryden said. "We made an adjustment to Browning's fly sweep, and after the adjustment, we played them really well."

Whitefish next hosts Anaconda on Friday.

Dryden says Anaconda's size up front could pose a problem for the Bulldogs.

"The thing that concerns me is that they are massive on the line," Dryden said. "We're not going to move people like that."

Three players on Anaconda's offensive line tip the 250-pound marker. Senior David Paull, in particular, is listed at six-feet, six-inches tall and 300 pounds.

Expect the 'Dogs to try to run around Anaconda's big line and look to Roche to pass more.

Anaconda features a talented senior quarterback in Matt King, who will test the Bulldogs secondary.

"We have to keep him (King) in the pocket," Dryden said. "He is a very shifty quarterback."

The game will be played at the Dog Pound at 7 p.m.

Whitefish 0 14 7 7 — 28

Browning 0 0 0 6 — 6

Whitefish — Daniel Simmons 12 run (Geoff Streeter kick)

Whitefish — Simmons 2 run (Streeter kick)

Whitefish — Derek Crittenden 3 run (Streeter kick)

Whitefish — Crittenden 2 run (Streeterkick)

Browning — 28 yard touchdown pass (run failed)

Col Falls 1 1

Polson 1 1

Ronan 1 1

Whitefish 1 1

Libby 0 2