Bulldogs felled by Loggers in home opener
Bulldogs head coach Chad Ross directs his team during Friday’s loss against Libby. (Daniel McKay)
Devin Beale cuts by a defender during Friday’s loss against Libby. (Daniel McKay)
Chad Queen directs his offense during Friday’s loss against Libby. (Daniel McKay)
An excited Bulldog student section cheers on the football team during Friday’s loss against Libby. (Daniel McKay)
Devin Beale skies for the reception during Friday’s loss to Libby. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Fynn Ridgeway fires a pass on the run during Friday’s home opener against Libby. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Zach Veneman fights for yards after the catch during Friday’s loss against Libby. (Daniel McKay)
The Bulldogs are looking for improvement after a tough home opener.
On Friday the Dogs hosted the Libby Loggers in a Northwest A football opener, but Whitefish fell 31-0.
The Loggers scored on their opening possession, driving 77 yards and ending with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Offenbecher.
They followed that up on their next possession with 2-yard touchdown run from Dawson Young to go up 14-0.
The Bulldogs moved the ball down to the 7 yard line. Penalties moved the Dogs back, but they made it back to the 6 for fourth down. Even after a second chance caused by a Libby pass interference, the Dogs couldn’t convert.
Libby answered a few plays later. Offenbecher sprinted down the left sideline for a 93-yard touchdown. The Loggers ended the first half with a short field goal to go up 24-0.
The Loggers got on the board one more time early in the fourth, when Young found the end zone for a second time on a 4-yard sweep.
The Dogs had two near-scores in the game that fell just short. Devin Beale scrambled into the endzone from several yards out in the first half, but a holding call set Whitefish back. Then in the fourth quarter, quarterback Fynn Ridgeway rifled a pass to the endzone and hit his receiver on a high slant, but the ball was jarred loose as the player was tackled.
In total, Libby amassed 478 offensive yards, while Whitefish put up only 176. Libby’s Young finished with 125 yards on 28 carries, while Offenbecher racked up 115 yards on just four carries.
Beale led the Bulldogs offensively with 125 yards rushing on 28 carries.
Both teams had one turnover. Jaxsen Schlauch came up with an interception deep in Libby territory, while the Loggers got a pick of their own on a fake punt attempt late in the game.
The Bulldogs host the Polson Pirates this week, who just took down the Columbia Falls Wildcats 20-6 to open their season. That game starts at 7 p.m. at Memorial Field.
Libby 14 10 0 7 — 31
Whitefish 0 0 0 0 — 0
L — Jeff Offenbecher 16 pass Jay Beagle (Chandler Bower kick)
L — Dawson Young 2 run (Bower kick)
L — Offenbecher 93 run (Bower kick)
L — Bower 20 field goal
L — Young 4 run (Bower kick)