Dogs outlast Blue Ponies in opener
Whitefish opened its football season Saturday with a convincing win at Havre in the annual railroad game.
Led by a big game from junior quarterback Luke May, the Dogs racked up 415 yards of offense and scored in each quarter for a 27-14 victory.
Whitefish and Havre traditionally face off in the season opener. It’s the third consecutive year Whitefish has brought home the BNSF trophy.
The teams traded scores in the first three quarters.
May connected with Jed Nagler on a 23-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to get the Dogs on the board.
Havre responded with a touchdown just before the end of the first to knot the score at 7-7.
May hit running back Chris Park in the second quarter to reclaim the lead.
The Blue Ponies responded again after the half with another touchdown pass from 37 yards out.
Whitefish regained the lead for good when May hit Brian FauntLeRoy from the two-yard line for his third TD pass of the day.
May added the Dogs’ final score on a 1-yard scamper into the end zone in the fourth.
May was 10 of 20 passing for 189 yards. He did not throw an interception. He also led the ground game with 103 yards on 22 carries.
The Bulldogs rushed for 279 yards on 34 carries. Chris Park picked up 95 yards on 14 carries.
Jed Nagler pulled down four receptions for 134 yards to lead the passing attack.
The Dogs defense held the Blue Ponies to 263 yards — with only 30 coming on the ground.
Whitefish also tallied seven sacks in the game.
Whitefish coach Chad Ross said he was pleased with the Dogs’ effort on both sides of the ball.
“Overall, we didn’t have any turnovers,” he said. “We made less mistakes than they did.”
Whitefish had 10 penalties for 90 yards.
The Bulldogs continue with nonconference play on Friday at Browning.
Whitefish 7 7 7 6 — 27
Havre 7 0 7 0 — 14
W — Jed Nagler 46 pass from Luke May (Luke Cardon kick)
H — Kody Pribyl 6 pass from Dane Ward (Gunner Aageson kick)
W — Chris Park 19 pass from May (Cardon kick)
H — Nate Rismon 37 pass from Ward (Aageson kick)
W — Brian FauntLeroy 4 pass from May (Cardon kick)
W — May 1 run (kick failed)