Whitefish gets rematch with Belgrade

Whitefish travels to Belgrade (7-2, 4-0) on Saturday for a Class A quarterfinal playoff game. The winner advances to the semis to take on Dillon or Laurel.

The No. 1 seed Panthers edged Whitefish 21-19 earlier this season in Belgrade after posting three first-half touchdown. Whitefish’s rally came up exactly two extra-points short as starting kicker Nathan Boone was unavailable due to a soccer match.

“They beat us hands down. They were the better team,” Whitefish coach Chad Ross said of the close game. “But we could have played better. Now we get the chance to prove it.”

The Dogs are confident going into this Saturday’s rematch, knowing how much they’ve improved since September. Whitefish has posted a 5-1 record since the loss at Belgrade.

“We were down 21-0 early at Belgrade, but we shut them down at the half,” senior Gage Smith said. “I believe we can do it a full game next time.”

“It’s going to be big. We’ve gotten better, but they’ve gotten better, too. It will be another battle.”

The Panthers feature dual-threat quarterback Brayden Konkol. The junior has 1,068 rushing yards on the season and averaged almost 8 yards per carry. Through the air, he averages 90 yards per game, and has a dozing passing touchdowns and four interceptions.

Whitefish’s stingy defense will test Konkol and the Panthers. The Bulldogs allow on average just 99 yards per game and less than 3 yards per carry.

Ross says the game will come down to big plays.

“We need the ‘bend don’t break’ philosophy,” Ross said. “They’ll get first downs, but it comes down to limiting big plays and making them earn everything.”