Dogs rally comes up short at Belgrade

A second-half rally by the Whitefish football team came up exactly two extra points short. Belgrade held on for a 21-19 non-conference win Saturday on their home turf, sending the Bulldogs home with their first loss of the season.

Belgrade (2-1) came out hot on their homecoming night and opened up a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Silly mistakes and penalties crushed Whitefish’s chances in the early going.

“We didn’t have the right game plan going in,” Whitefish coach Chad Ross said. “We came off the bus sluggish.”

The Bulldogs finally answered with 17 seconds left in the half when sophomore quarterback Luke May punching in a 1-yard touchdown.

The rally-attempt was on after the break. The Dogs held Belgrade scoreless and to under 100 yards total offense in the second half.

Senior defensive back Sean Foley returned an interception 45 yards to cut the lead to one score in the third quarter, but a missed extra point kick left the Bulldogs trailing by eight points.

Calub Thilmony scored on a 3-yard run early in the fourth quarter but the 2-point conversion pass to tie the game was tipped away.

“We dug ourselves too deep and almost got out,” Ross said. “This will be a good learning moment for us. We’ll be OK.”

Ross praised the second-half adjustments that allowed the Dogs to get back into the game.

“In years past we would have folded, but we had the resolve to come back,” he said.

Ross commended the play of defensive ends Koler Kanistanaux and Brady Harwood.

“They were key reasons we shut them down on defense,” Ross said.

Belgrade 21, Whitefish 19

Whitefish 0 7 6 6 — 19

Belgrade 14 7 0 0 — 21

B - Brayden Konkol 60 run (Shane Huntsman kick)

B - Garet Fowler 2 run (Huntsman kick)

B - Tristan Walker 20 pass from Konkol (Huntsman kick)

W - Luke May 1 run (Koler Kanistanaux kick)

W - Sean Foley 45 interception return (kick failed)

W - Caleb Thilmony 3 run (pass failed)