Dogs fall in homecoming heartbreaker

Friday’s Whitefish-Columbia Falls rivalry football game will go down as another classic in a long line of memorable battles.

The Wildcats snuck out of the Dawg Pound on Whitefish’s homecoming night with a one-point 14-13 win. The difference after four quarters of hard-nosed defense on both sides was a blocked extra point attempt — it couldn’t have been any closer.

The loss drops Whitefish to 1-2 in the conference and 3-4 overall.

Whitefish struck first in the first quarter when Shane Marcial capped off a drive with a 1-yard TD run to set off the packed grandstands.

The Cats countered with a touchdown of their own before going into halftime.

Whitefish quickly regained the lead after the break. Marcial scampered 6 yards into the left corner of the endzone for another Whitefish score to cap a 28-yard drive, but Nathan Boone’s extra point attempt would get tipped.

Columbia Falls also blocked a Bulldog field goal attempt in the first half.

A pivotal moment came in the third quarter when Bulldog lineman Jake May went down with a tweaked ankle. The injury put the senior, who was crowned Homecoming King at halftime, on crutches and only able to watch from the sideline. Without May the Dogs were missing a critical blocker and pass rusher.

“Losing Jake was huge,” Whitefish coach Chad Ross said. “He’s a team captain and leader.”

The Dogs also lost Marcial in the fourth quarter when he went out after a hard hit.

“Losing two captains messes with the team chemistry,” Ross said.

Columbia Falls put together their game-winning drive in the third quarter. The drive started with the Cats pinned on their own 26 facing a long third down and ended with a Ty Morgan 2-yard TD run and a good extra point.

An impressive defensive stand with two minutes left in the fourth gave Whitefish quarterback Luke May and his fleet of top receivers one last chance to get the go-ahead score. A few long passes just missed and the Dogs failed to move the chains.

May finished 15 of 22 passing for 212 yards. Logan Harwood brought in nine catches for 139 yards.

Col. Falls 0 7 7 0 — 14

Whitefish 7 0 6 0 — 13

Whitefish — Shane Marcial 1 run (Nathan Boone kick)

Columbia Falls — Zach Darling 2 run (Alex Presnell kick)

Whitefish — Marcial 6 run (kick failed)

Columbia Falls — Ty Morgan 2 run (Presnell kick)