Bulldogs rough up Blue Devils
Whitefish simply took care of business Friday night in their nonconference shutout of Corvallis.
The Bulldog defense had no problem slowing the outmatched Blue Devils running game, while the Whitefish offense was steady and efficient in the 37-0 victory at the Dawg Pound.
Corvallis was held to minus 3 yards rushing and less than 100 yards of total offense. The Bulldog linemen dominated in the trenches, tallying four sacks and seven tackles for a loss.
Corvallis didn’t get a first down until the third quarter.
“The defensive line has been emphasizing getting a push and getting into the backfield,” senior linebacker Gage Smith said. “We knew our guys were bigger and stronger, and our blitz was working out.”
Early in the second quarter senior Dave Rizzolo gave the Dogs a spark when he blocked a Corvallis punt attempt. After studying film all week, he knew he had the advantage coming around the corner.
“We just kept going and going and we finally got one,” Rizzolo said.
The blocked punted led to the Dogs second touchdown. Calub Thilmony punched in an 8-yard run and the rout was on.
Bulldog quarterback Luke May ran for a pair of touchdowns and threw for two more in an all-around solid effort for the sophomore.
The offensive play of the game came in the third quarter when May tossed a 66-yard bomb to Sean Foley. The senior receiver brought in the pass in full stride and out-raced a pair of defenders to the end zone.
Whitefish finished with 240 yards rushing and 150 yards passing.
“We tried to open up the passing game and spread it out a lot,” Foley said. “We complimented it on the ground and Corvallis never knew what was coming.”
“We haven’t got our offense going in the first half all year, but this week we got it going right away.”
Smith said it was important to bounce back from last week’s two-point loss at Belgrade.
“We needed a big one, especially at home,” Smith said.
Corvallis 0 0 0 0 – 0
Whitefish 7 17 13 0 – 37
W - Jack Streibich 12 pass from Luke May (Nathan Boone kick)
W - Calub Thilmony 8 run (Boone kick)
W - May 26 run (Boone kick)
W - Boone 36 field goal
W - May 1 run (Boone kick)
W - Sean Foley 66 pass from May (kick failed)