Panthers slip past Bulldogs 27-21
<p>Whitefish receiver Walter Holliday goes up for a touchdown pass Friday against Belgrade.</p>
Friday’s 21-27 loss to Belgrade can be chalked up as another game where the ball wouldn’t bounce Whitefish’s way — literally. An on side kick slipped just out of reach in the waning seconds, leaving the Dogs searching for answers following their final home appearance of the season.
Turnovers and a potent Panther running game put the Dogs in a hole early, but Whitefish was able to stitch together two impressive fourth-quarter drives to pull the game within reach.
Early in the fourth, freshman quarterback Luke May capped a 94-yard drive with a 13-yard TD pass to Sean Foley to make it 14-24.
The Dogs’ next score came with 1:34 on the clock. Within an arms shot of the end zone, May scrambled out of the pocket and hurled a fourth-quarter prayer. Rising high above his defender, Walter Holliday grabbed the ball with two hands and came down in the back of the end zone.
Down 21-27, the Dogs opted for an onside kick. The ball took a good first bounce, but flew through Logan Hardwood’s hands and stopped along the Whitefish sideline. Brian Fauntleroy, David Rizzlo and Harwood each dove for the recovery but a lone Belgrade player slipped beneath the scrum. After a few seconds of indecision, the refs signaled Belgrade ball, ending the Dogs’ rally attempt.
Untimely turnovers were the story early. The Dogs’ opening drive ended with a fumble on the 1-yard line. Another fumble in the second quarter ended a scoring drive on the 50-yard line.
Defense dominated the first half with neither team able to move the ball consistently. Belgrade’s lone score came on a 30 yard run. The Panthers added a field goal to make it 10-0 at the break.
Whitefish countered in the third with a nice scoring drive capped by a 15-yard TD scamper from May.
Belgrade would gain control of the line in the third quarter and score two more rushing TDs for a 6-24 lead. They would add a field goal between Whitefish’s final two scores.
May tallied 199 yards passing and two touchdowns. He also carried the ball 11 times for a team-best 84 yards.
Foley had seven catches for 70 yards, and Hardwood picked up 69 yards receiving.
Belgrade 0 10 14 3 – 27
Whitefish 0 0 6 15 – 21
B – Zac Brady 30 run (Tino Torres kick)
B – Torres 30 field goal
W – Luke May 15 run (kick failed)
B – Brayden Konkol 4 run (Torres kick)
B – Brady 1 run (Torres kick)
W – Sean Foley 13 pass from May (May run)
B – Torres 22 field goal
W – Walter Holliday 24 pass from May (Nathan Boone kick)