Dogs fall in heartbreaking homecoming loss
Senior Brady Staves runs the ball during Friday’s 23-17 homecoming loss to Corvallis.
It came down to one play, but the Bulldogs fell to Corvallis 23-17 in a tough loss on homecoming night.
Whitefish had fourth and goal on the Corvallis 5-yard line with 1:43 left in the game, down just six points. Senior Quarterback Derek Kastella took the snap and looked left to Tyler Cote at the front pylon. Cote went up high for the ball with tight coverage all over him, but the ball squirted out as he hit the ground and Corvallis ran out the remaining clock.
Corvallis led the entire game, scoring on their first two drives of the game. Senior Garrett Hunt ran in the initial touchdown, but Travis Catina blocked the extra point. Sophomore Liang Liedle ran for another score on the next drive. Corvallis looked to score again when Zander Wold knocked the football loose deep in Whitefish territory. Cote recovered the fumble.
Backup quarterback Forrest Kobelt led a long drive that saw fourth down conversions three times, all on Kobelt runs, but ended with a wild pitch on an option that Corvallis recovered.
In the Dogs’ final drive of the half Kastella completed a nine-yard pass to senior receiver Sawyer Silliker for a touchdown. After senior Haley Nicholson added the extra point, the Dogs ended the half down 13-7.
Corvallis kept up the scoring with a 40-yard touchdown pass on their first drive of the second half. Whitefish responded, scoring on a 45-yard Cote run on fourth down and adding a 32-yard field goal by Carver Gilman on their ensuing drive. Corvallis got their remaining score from a 34-yard field goal in their next possession.