Bulldogs cruise to victory over Chiefs
A massive 28-point second quarter gave the Whitefish Bulldogs a clear advantage over Ronan in a Class A football game on Friday night.
The Dogs kept on sailing through the last half of the game to take a commanding 43-13 win over the Chiefs. Bulldog head coach Brett Bollweg was pleased with the effort.
“As a team, we thought we played well,” Bollweg said. “Took us a little bit to get going in the first quarter and that’s a credit to Ronan, they did a nice job of moving the ball on us on their first drive and then our kids settled in.”
In the first quarter, Ronan moved the ball well and put together a scoring drive that resulted in an early 7-0 lead. Whitefish took a look at the Chiefs’ strategy, made a few adjustments and started rolling late in the first quarter. Whitefish quarterback Fynn Ridgeway scored on a 1-yard drive to tie the game.
To start off the big-scoring second quarter, Bulldog Clayton Godsey caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Ridgeway. With another successful drive, Ridgeway then found receiver Mason Kelch for a 9-yard gain to score. Bulldog Ty Schwaiger ran into the end zone as well as Ridgeway who broke away for 40 yards to score. Whitefish took a 35-7 lead into halftime.
“We saw what they were trying to do against us and we tried to put our players in positions to make some plays, and they did a great job of doing that,” Bollweg said.
Schwaiger scored his second touchdown of the night in the third quarter with an 18-yard rush. A bobbled snap on the PAT attempt ended up with Jesse Burrough throwing a pass to Carson Krack for a two-point conversion.
Ronan’s Robbie McCrea caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Caleb Cheff to put some points on the board in the fourth quarter. Whitefish didn’t score in the last quarter of play.
“They (the Bulldogs) did a nice job of taking what we were given and making the most of the situation,” Bollweg said.
Ridgeway rushed for 125 yards and two TDs, and threw for two scores as well. Ridgeway was 8-for-15 passing for 145 yards.
Schwaiger ended with 62 yards on 11 carries. Dane Hunt added an interception for the Bulldogs. Whitefish improved its record to 5-1.
This week the Bulldogs are back home to host the Libby Loggers for senior night and the final home game of the regular season.
“Our kids love playing at home, our community does such a great job of supporting them and coming out on Friday nights,” Bollweg said. “Certainly there will be a lot of excitement and a lot of emotion which is a great thing. Our senior guys deserve to be honored in a great way.”
Kick-off against the Loggers is Friday at 7 p.m. at the Dawg Pound.
Whitefish 7 28 8 0 - 43
Ronan 7 0 0 6 - 13
R — Caleb Cheff 1 run (kick)
W — Fynn Ridgeway 1 run (Ryder Barinowski kick)
W — Clayton Godsey 50 pass from Ridgeway (Barinowski kick)
W — Mason Kelch 9 pass from Ridgeway (Barinowski kick)
W — Ty Schwaiger 1 run (Barinowski kick)
W — Ridgeway 40 run (Barinowski kick)
W — Schwaiger 18 run (Carson Krack pass from Jesse Burrough)
R — Robbie McCrea 7 pass from Cheff (pass failed)