Whitefish wins State A title in thriller over Dillon
The Whitefish Bulldogs have shunned “I” in favor of “we” all year. So it’s only fitting that it took a team effort to hoist the school’s first State A championship trophy since 1979.
Whitefish outmuscled the two-time defending champs of Dillon Saturday afternoon to hang on for a thrilling 17-13 victory on the frozen turf of Vigilante Field.
Bulldog junior defensive back Derek Kastella knocked down Dillon quarterback Troy Andersen’s last gasp hurl to the end zone on the final play of the game. As the pass fell incomplete and the clock ticked to zeros, the packed Whitefish bleachers erupted, and players and coaches stormed the field.
After congratulatory hand shakes with Dillon, Bulldog senior captain Chris Park was called on to accept the championship trophy. Unable to walk after suffering a serious knee injury in the second quarter, Park was aided to midfield, arms wrapped around his teammates’ shoulders. As he accepted the plaque, he turned toward a sea of parents, students and fans, and thrust the trophy high into the sky — signaling the end to Whitefish’s 36-year football championship drought.
“CP got hurt early, and he’s such a piston on this team,” Whitefish coach Chad Ross said of the Dogs’ leading rusher. “But at halftime, he was the first to say, ‘someone has to step in and do the job.’ And they did.”
“They’ve taken that unselfish attitude all year. It’s not about stats, it’s about the team.”
Whitefish (11-1) never trailed against one of the most dominate Class A football programs of the past decade. Dillon (11-1) came into the title match undefeated and winner of the past two state championships. Whitefish’s only blemish this season came in a 22-21 loss to Dillon back in week 2.
The Bulldogs showed no fear from the first snap.
Senior quarterback Luke May connected with Park on a 6-yard touchdown pass to put Whitefish on the board first.
Then the stout Whitefish defense took over. Linemen Alex Curry and Chaffin Ross, and linebackers Logan Wynn, Travis Catina and Patrick McGeady were able to pressure Andersen in the backfield. Dillon was held without a first down until mid-way into the second quarter.
“They ran seven offensive plays in the first quarter,” Ross said. “That’s when I knew we had a chance to go all the way. The defense was great, they have been all year.”
The Dogs added to the scoring off a defensive stop in the second quarter.
May jumped a hitch rout to pick off a pass and return it to the 5. He took a big shot from Andersen on the return, but was able to shake it off and punch a run into the end zone on the next play.
“From watching film, I knew they liked to run the hitch on first down,” May said. “I just read the play. Their quarterback, he’s one of the best in the state. He hit me really hard at the end of the play — got me good. But we were able to pound it in after that.”
May, a four-year starter for the Dogs, capped his career with an all-time performance Saturday. He finished 12 for 22 passing for 162 yards, gained 94 yards rushing and snagged a pair of interceptions.
The Beavers finally mustered some momentum before the half when All-State receiver Nate Simkins hauled in a 8-yard pass, then dragged a pack of Bulldog defenders across the goal line.
Dillon’s only other score came at 5:49 in the third when Andersen hit Payton Lafrentz on a 44-yard touchdown strike. A costly penalty, however, pushed the Beavers back on the PAT attempt and the kick missed wide left.
In the waning seconds of the third quarter, May launched a 40-yard pass that fell into Jed Nagler’s fingertips at the 5 yard line.
Nagler finished with seven catches for 132 yards. He will play for the University of Montana Grizzlies next fall.
“Hats off to Jed Nagler,” said Ross. “All season, it’s not been about ‘throw me the ball.’ It’s been about ‘who’s open.’ And today, he made two huge catches and gave us a chance to win.”
The Beaver’s kept Whitefish out of the end zone after the catch, but junior placekicker Haley Nicholson came up clutch with a 22-yard field goal to expand the lead.
The remainder of the final frame went back and forth and was littered with Beaver fumbles and Bulldog penalties. Dillon turned the ball over twice and Whitefish couldn’t put the game away or drain the clock quickly enough.
Whitefish was forced to punt on its final drive, and a good return and a late-hit penalty gave Dillon the ball at the 32 with 24 seconds left.
Down four, the Beavers had no choice but to shoot for a touchdown. Each of Andersen’s pass attempts fell incomplete, including his final throw to the back of the end zone.
“On that last play, I was confident,” said senior lineman Chaffin Ross. “[Andersen] was scrambling outside, didn’t have much time and he hucked one up. We made the play to end the game.”
“Our defense has been the backbone of the team all season. We stepped up like we always have and got the job done.”
Father like son, coach Ross never doubted his defense on the final drive, either.
“I so believed in our defense,” he said. “We had a line that was going to pressure them. We had defensive backs who knew what they’re doing and were in the right spots. We were playing great football. It was the defense’s football game to win.”
Ross credited senior defensive back Brian FauntLeRoy for leaving it all on the field in his final game.
“He played every single down,” Ross said. “At one point I told him to take a break and he’s like, ‘No way coach. I’m not leaving the game.’”
As the victory celebration spilled onto the field, tears of joy were shed and many long hugs shared with the hundreds of parents, coaches, students and fans who traveled strong to support the Dogs in their first championship appearance in 14 years.
“I can’t even explain this moment,” said May. “I’m just so glad I get to experience this with all these guys. All the work we put in, it means the world to finally get to this point.”
“I’m so glad that we could win it for this community. They were behind us the whole year — they have been my whole career.”
“Total happiness,” said Chaffin Ross of his emotions following the game. “We did it. We did what we set out to accomplish. Play 12 and win the last one. We did it.”
Chaffin and coach Ross found each other amid the celebration chaos for a long embrace.
“Being with my son and some of these guys since fourth grade — as a father, you couldn’t ask for anything better,” said coach Ross.
“To see these guys get here after working as hard as they have, that’s the best part. The boys earned it. They gave the community something special that they will have forever.”
Whitefish 7 7 0 3 — 17
Dillon 0 7 6 0 — 13
First quarter
WF — Chris Park 6 pass from Luke May (Haley Nicholson kick), 7:42
Second quarter
WF — May 2 run (Nicholson kick), 7:34
DIL — Nate Simkins 8 pass from Troy Andersen (Payton Lafrentz), 5:29
Third quarter
DIL — Lafrentz 44 pass from Andersen (kick failed), 5:49
Fourth quarter
WF — Nicholson 22 field goal, 11:54
Rushing — WF: Luke May 22-94, Chris Park 12-69; DIL: Troy Andersen 18-42, R.J. Fitzgerald 7-29.
Passing — Luke May 12-22-1-162; DIL: Troy Andersen 19-37-2-199.
Receiving — WF: Jed Nagler 7-132, Peter Mow 1-9, Dylan Cardon 1-9; DIL: Payton Lafrantz 8-116, Nate Simkins 8-48.