Bulldogs make statement with 27-6 win over Browning

In case you didn't hear the roar coming from the Dawg Pound Friday night — they still play football in Whitefish.

The Bulldogs emerged from the rubble of last week's crushing loss to Havre by posting four touchdowns on Browning at home in a 27-6 rout. The nonconference victory signaled that Whitefish still has a heartbeat, even after losing their star quarterback, Mac Roche, for the remainder of the season.

Senior running back Jeremy Nielsen led the charge with 153 yards on the ground and three touchdowns.

On his final score, a four-yard jaunt into the south end zone, Nielsen calmly handed the ball to the referee, then turned and pointed to the student section as if to say, 'We're still here."

"With Mac out, no one believed in us," Nielsen said after the game. "But we're here to play. We proved we're going to be a force and we can win."

Whitefish coach Chad Ross said Nielsen and the team's other captains, Maxl Smith and Mac Roche, had a meeting before Friday's game to get everyone focused.

"I don't know what they said, but they got everyone believing in themselves," Ross said. "They weren't going to let one game decide the season."

Ross called Connor Donahue's number to step in as quarterback, and the junior performed with great poise, going 20-for-30 on 274 yards passing. Wide receivers Chris Forrest and Logan Harwood pulled in 94 and 121 yards, respectively, to lead the team.

"All of those guys had a big night," Ross said. "Connor did a good job of making safe passes and not getting rattled."

Yet, it was Nielsen's efficiency in the red zone and his on-field spirit that put Whitefish over the top.

Nielsen gave credit to the offensive line for creating running room and gaping holes.

"I told them, if they get out there and block, I'll do the rest," he said.

That same offensive line held Browning's over-sized front line to zero sacks on the night, giving Donahue plenty of time to find open men downfield.

"You have to give credit to the offensive line," Ross said. "Those sophomores are going to get exponentially better as we progress, too."

Whitefish started off their scoring with a 75-yard drive capped off by a 12-yard touchdown run from Nielsen.

In the second quarter, Harwood intercepted a Browning pass in the end zone to set up the ensuing 80-yard drive. Nielsen found a hole in the middle and took the ball 27 yards for his second score.

The 'Dogs' defense recovered a Browning fumble near the end of the first half, setting up Donahue's 3-yard TD run to make it 19-0.

After a scoreless third, Nielsen capped the night's scoring with a 4-yard run that brought the house down.

"The student section was the loudest I've heard in 12 years I've been here," Ross said. "It's really neat to see the support."

Whitefish 27, Browning 6

Browning 0 0 0 6 - 6

Whitefish 6 13 0 8 - 27

W -Jeremy Nielsen 5 run (Kick failed)

W - Nielsen 28 run (Kick failed)

W - Connor Donohue 3 run (Connor Ellis kick).

W -Nielsen 4 run (Chris Forrest to Shane Marcial)

B - C. Old Chief 1 run (Run failed).

Rushing - Whitefish: Connor Donohue 1-4, Jeremy Nielsen 22-153, Shane Marcial 2-15, Chris Forrest 4-9, Blake Boucher 2-minus 1.

Passing - Whitefish: Connor Donohue 20-30-0-1-274, Chris Forrest 2-4-19.

Receiving - Whitefish: Chris Forrest 8-94, Logan Harwood 6-121, Connor Ellis 2-11, Jeremy Nielsen 2-20, Gage Vasquez 1-23, Mark Stephenson 1-16, Caleb Newby 1-5, Shane Marcial 1-3.