Dogs rumble into playoffs

It wasn’t pretty, but football games

aren’t judged on style. All Whitefish needed was a win, and they

got what they were after.

The Bulldogs defense held off

Frenchtown in the fourth quarter for an 18-12 victory at home Oct.

21, securing their first postseason appearance since 2008.

Whitefish wrapped up the regular season with a 5-3 overall record.

Friday’s win was their third consecutive.

“We did the job and got done what we

needed to,” Whitefish coach Chad Ross said. “We keep finding a way

to win.

“You can feel the excitement in the

locker room that we’ll be playing in the postseason.”

Koler Kanistanaux had a 32-yard field

goal in the first quarter as the Bulldogs went into the half down

6-5.

Coming out of the break, Frenchtown

exploded for a big run that was stopped when Bryce Wehrli made a

shoelace tackle that may have proved to be the difference in the

game. The Dogs’ defense stood strong in the redzone and the Broncs

turned it over on downs.

On the ensuing drive Whitefish junior

Shane Marcial punched in a 2-yard touchdown run to cap an

impressive march down the field. Logan Harwood pulled in a great

catch on fourth down to keep the scoring drive alive, and a big run

by Robby Neff up the middle set up Marcial’s touchdown.

Marcial’s second score came on a

24-yard reception from quarterback Connor Donahue. Marcial made the

catch, broke a few tackles and dove into the end zone for an 18-6

lead. Connor Ellis snagged a long pass in the middle of the field

to set up the touchdown.

Whitefish’s defense came up big in the

fourth by putting consistent pressure on Frenchtown’s

quarterback.

“We blitzed the quarterback well,”

Whitefish senior Jimmy Boles said after the game. “Maxl did a great

job on the other side and it allowed me to get to the

quarterback.”

Frenchtown was stuffed on their final

play as they again turned the ball over on downs.

Frenchtown 6 0 0 6 - 12

Whitefish 5 0 13 0 - 18

F - Daniel Lebsock 14 run (kick

failed)

W - FG Koler Kanistanaux 32

W - Punter ran out of end zone

W - Shane Marcial 2 run (Kanistanaux

kick)

W - Marcial 24 pass from Connor Donahue

(run failed)

F - Brydon Peacock 3 run (pass

failed)

Up Next

Whitefish travels to Stevensville on

Friday, Oct. 28 for a first-round Class A state playoff game. The

Yellowjackets are 3-2 in the Southern A league and 6-2 overall.

Stevensville lost 18-15 to Corvallis

last Friday. The weeks prior they topped Hamilton 41-13, Anaconda

41-6 and they lost to Dillon 41-0.

They average 32 points a game and rely

on a ground game that averages 180 yards per contest. Senior Caleb

Vance has 562 yards rushing this season

“If we can control Vance, that gives us

a chance,” Ross said. “The key to the game will be our defensive

line.”

Whitefish will continue their offensive

assault through the air. The Bulldogs have tallied 2,299 passing

yards and 20 touchdowns led by senior quarterbacks Connor Donahue

and Chris Forrest.

They’ve racked up 1,388 yards rushing

and average 173 yards at game on the ground.

The Bulldogs defense needs to make

first-chance tackles to slow the Jackets’ running game.

“We’ve got to be better than we’ve ever

been before,” senior linebacker Jimmy Boles said. “We have to play

perfect.”