Dogs prepare for Maroons in semifinals

Only four teams are left standing in what has been a wild Class A football playoffs.

Whitefish (8-2) hosts the Butte Central Maroons (9-1) on Saturday at 1 p.m. for a chance to play in the state championship. Dillon and Billings Central will battle it out on the other side of the playoff bracket.

Butte Central is the No. 1 seed in the Southwest A. The Maroons beat No. 3 Laurel 27-12 to reach the semifinals.

Whitefish and Butte Central last met in the first round of the 2013 playoffs where the Dogs rolled to a 43-12 victory at Memorial Field.

The Maroons reloaded this season with eight returning starters on offense and defense.

Butte wears its opponents out with a stifling defense and grinding running game led by running back Kyle Harrington. Harrington piled up 157 yards on a whopping 32 carries to lead Butte’s offense against Laurel.

Expect more of the same in Saturday’s game at Whitefish.

“They pound it at you and make you make plays,” Whitefish coach Chad Ross said of Butte’s offense. “They run some play action, and then run, run, and run some more.”

Maroons senior signal caller Danny Peoples was an efficient 9 of 16 for 167 yards passing against Laurel.

“He’s a true zone quarterback,” Ross said. “He does a great job.”

Ross said the Dogs need to be disciplined on defense and control the trenches to have a chance.

“We need to be disciplined and get off the ball quicker,” he said. “Gap control will be important. Butte will really hurt us if we give up 10 to 12 yards a pop.”

“Across the board, our offensive line needs to play better. We’ll go as far as our line takes us.”

Butte has chalked up some impressive wins this season, including victories over the two other semifinalists Billings Central and Dillon.

“They have some great wins against good opponents,” Ross said. “They’re fundamentally sound and well coached.”

Head coach Don Peoples Jr. is in his 26th season with Butte.

Playing at home should be an advantage for Whitefish with Butte Central used to playing on artificial turf.

And with a frigid week ahead, Memorial Field could be frozen solid and torn up from a week of practice.

Ross believes his team can compete with the Maroons if the Dogs play to their potential.

“I think we can compete with anyone, and that’s exactly what we want to do — compete,” Ross said. “We want to keep it close and give ourselves a chance in the fourth quarter