Maroons smash Dogs in semifinals
Butte Central’s smash mouth running game had its way with Whitefish on a frigid playoff Saturday at Memorial Field.
Butte running back Kyle Harrington carried the ball 22 times for 238 yards and three scores as the Maroons plowed their way to a 37-13 victory over Whitefish in the Class A semifinal football game.
“They were more physical, more seasoned, and a little bigger than us,” Whitefish coach Chad Ross said bluntly.
Possibly the most telling stat from the game — the Dogs finished with just 17 yards rushing, while giving up more than 300.
“They controlled the line of scrimmage,” Ross said. “When we couldn’t get the running game going, that’s when I knew we were in trouble.”
The Dogs started with a sizzle, scoring on the first play of the game.
Luke May connected with senior wide receiver Jack Streibich on a 72-yard bomb down the left side to the south end zone, setting the home crowd into a frenzy.
But the 7-0 lead didn’t last long as Whitefish’s offense sputtered and the Maroons took over.
Butte orchestrated two touchdown drives in the first quarter to regain the lead and momentum. Harrington sprung for a 69-yard rushing TD early in the second quarter to expand the lead to 21-7.
Whitefish managed to grind out a nice 78-yard touchdown drive capped with a 7-yard pass to Jed Nagler with four second before half to cut into the deficit.
But then the worst of the worst-case scenarios happened when the Dogs tried an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff.
The kick came up short, and as Whitefish’s defenders waited for the ball to go past the 10-yard mark, Butte Central’s Tanner Kump picked up the ball and ran 60 yards for a touchdown and a 28-13 lead.
“As a coach, I thought the best case, we get the ball back and get a shot at the end zone. We throw it up to Jed and score right at halftime,” Ross said. “The worst, they get it at their own 35.”
Ross said he doesn’t regret the play call, but takes the blame for a lapse in coaching.
“I don’t question the call,” he said. “I would do it again 10 out of 10 times. But I did a poor job of coaching the kids on what to do if the ball doesn’t go 10 yards.”
The play seemed to deflate any momentum the Dogs had going into the half.
Harrington tacked on another touchdown late in the third quarter to all but seal the victory.
Whitefish’s defense forced seven fumbles — recovering four of them — but the offense couldn’t take advantage.
“We get the turnovers and get the short field and then we can’t do anything with it,” Ross said.
Butte took away the deep passing threat by putting pressure on May. The Maroons sacked May five times for 45 yards in losses
Whitefish finished with 174 yards passing in the game — with 72 coming on the first play.
Streibich had five catches for 117 yards to lead the Bulldogs in receiving.
May was 14 for 40 for 170 yards and two interceptions.
Ross said the tough loss will linger, but he’s excited about the future of the program that reached its first semifinals in more than a decade.
“You can’t take away from all the accomplishments we had,” he said. “We won the conference, had home playoff games, made it to the semifinals — we did some really good things.”
“We’ll have more kids on All-State and All-Conference than I can remember us ever having.”
And a fleet of athletic juniors are poised to return, as well.
“Six of seven All-State kids are coming back,” Ross said.
He noted the leadership and play of this season’s seniors.
“They did a great job of working hard,” Ross said. “They’re some special kids and will do good things in life. They’re not just good football players, they’re good people, too.”
Whitefish finished the season 8-3 overall.