Whitefish storms back against Browning

A barrage of attacks from the backfield

and solid defense led Whitefish to a 53-26 nonconference win over

Browning on Saturday. The victory marks the first time Whitefish

(2-1) has had a winning record since they were 4-2 in 2009.

“It’s a really good feeling to be

winning,” said senior running back Robby Neff, who tallied a

touchdown and 50 yards rushing in the game.

After falling behind early in the

second quarter, the Bulldogs cleaned up some mental mistakes to

shut down Browning and post four unanswered scores. The Bulldgos

totaled 628 yards in offense, including 382 through the air.

Whitefish coach Chard Ross credited

assistant coach Eric May for creating the offensive plan.

“He does a great job of moving the ball

around,” Ross said. “We’re not a one dimensional team. We truly are

playing as a team right now. Other teams can’t just stop one

person.”

In all, five different players scored

for Whitefish. Neff said the ‘Dogs conditioning paid off against

the oversized Browning defensive linemen.

“We wore them down,” Neff said. “We had

great blocking and the field just opened up.”

Whitefish’s two senior quarterbacks,

Chris Forrest and Connor Donahue, each posted strong numbers.

Forrest was 14 of 18 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, while

Donahue finished 10 of 18 for 161 yards and a touchdown.

Forrest also rushed for 108 yards,

three touchdowns and caught three passes. Gage Vasquez tallied 168

yards on seven catches and Connor Ellis caught six for 92 yards.

Junior Logan Harwood made two touchdown catches, including a

spectacular grab in the second quarter to put Whitefish up

32-20.

While the offense was on cruise

control, Ross pointed to the defense for shutting down the Indians’

top playmakers.

“Our defense played a great game,” Ross

said. “We made some adjustments and everyone was doing what they

were suppose to.”

Conditioning played a roll, too.

“We’ve hit the conditioning hard since

day one,” Ross said. “We were pushed around in the first quarter,

then they got tired and we didn’t.”

Ross hopes the Saturday win sticks with

Whitefish as conference play starts up. The ‘Dogs have a bye week

before traveling to Libby on Sept. 23.

“Were ready to win a conference game

now,” Ross said. “We have a lot of confidence. This senior class

has done a really good job of getting everyone involved.

Expectations are up across the board — from practices to games to

watching film — this is the way we do it. They have taken it upon

themselves to lead the others.”

Forrest got the ‘Dogs on the board

first against Browning after a 2-yard touchdown run. Forrest then

hit Ellis on a TD pass to put Whitefish up 12-8, but two Bulldog

fumbles later in the half led to two Browning scores and a 12-20

Indian lead.

With about six minutes left in the

second quarter, Vasquez pulled in a long reception to put Whitefish

on the 3 yard line. Forrest then hit Harwood for a touchdown.

On Browning’s next possession,

Whitefish senior linebacker Jimmy Boles pressured Indian

quarterback Dontrell Spoonhunter into making an errant fumble deep

in the backfield. With the ball on the 13 yard line, two strong

Neff carries set up another Forrest touchdown run.

Whitefish’s Harwood added another TD

when he outjumped Browning’s cornerback to give the Dogs a 32-20

halftime lead.

After the break, Forrest kept the

momentum going with a touchdown run. Donahue then hit Harwood on a

20 yard TD pass and Forrest tallied another 24-yard touchdown

run.

Marcial scored at the end of the third

and Neff found the end zone on a six-yard run to make it 53-26.