Friday night football preview

Friday's match up with the Polson Pirates will be a true test for the Bulldogs on both sides of the ball.

The Pirates are ranked fifth in Montana's Associated Press Class A power poll and have won five consecutive games.

While Whitefish has moved the ball effectively through the air and on the ground, Polson is holding its opponents to 20 points per game -— the second best in the league — and they are lighting up the scoreboard with an average of nearly 40 points per game.

"Polson will be the best team we play this year," Bulldog coach Patrick Dryden said. "It will take a total team effort to be successful. I haven't seen anyone in Class A that looks this good."

Polson (5-1, 2-0) is coming off a 43-23 win in a shoot-out with Columbia Falls on Oct. 9.

Against Columbia Falls, the Pirates scored 14 points in less than five minutes. Polson opened with a six-play, 45-yard scoring drive, capped by a Tim Rausch touchdown. Senior running back Joe Andrews ran for 190 yards on 17 carries and scored three touchdowns in the game.

Polson's Rausch is the league's leading scorer, averaging 13 points a game. Andrews is second in the league with an average of 10 points per game.

As a team, the Pirates lead the league in scoring and are second in rushing yards.

"We have to slow down their game," Dryden said. "They have some physical backs. We have to come up with some turnovers."

Whitefish is second in the league scoring, putting nearly 30 points a game on the board.

The Bulldogs' defense is allowing their opponents 21 points per game.