Dogs looking for playoff focus against Broncs

With a first-round bye in the State A playoffs secured, Whitefish has nothing to gain from its final regular season game Friday when they host Hamilton.

Don’t tell that to senior running back Brian FauntLeRoy.

“We have to get that playoff mentality,” FauntLeRoy said last week, fresh off a 45-0 win over Frenchtown that gave Whitefish the Northwest A title.

“Hamilton is a playoff team in the Southwest and we’re looking to face them like it’s a playoff game. We want to lock down the whole team, offense and defense, going into the playoffs. It will be a good note to end the regular season on.”

Led by fifth-year coach Travis Blome, Hamilton is 6-2 overall and 2-2 in a tough Southwest A conference. The Broncs only losses came at top-rated Dillon (7-0), and a 42-19 loss Friday to Butte Central (6-2).

Whitefish will need to contain running back Alex Draper (6-0, 200), who leads Hamilton in scoring. The Broncs are led by senior quarterback Bret Huxtable (6-1, 190) who likes to target wide receiver Bridger Bauder (5-11, 185).

“We haven’t had this kind of competition in awhile,” Whitefish coach Chad Ross said of Hamilton. “They’re a solid 6-2. It should be a good game.”

Bulldog running back Chris Park will look to build on his impressive season resume that includes 833 yards rushing. He leads the Northwest A in scoring with 96 points.

Whitefish quarterback Luke May has thrown for 1,191 yards and 16 scores, while picking up 635 yards rushing for the third most in the league.

Kickoff is Friday at 7 p.m. at Memorial Field. It is senior night for Whitefish.