Bulldogs take down Vikings

A fourth-quarter score by Whitefish lifted it past Bigfork 20-16 in Western A football action on Friday, Sept. 29. The win improved the Bulldogs to 2-4 overall and, more importantly, 2-3 in Western A play).

“The guys really executed on offense this week,” Whitefish Head Coach Brett Bollweg said. “Coach McKay and Coach Regier put together a good plan, and we were able to run the ball efficiently. Carson Gulick took what was given to him and also made some big-time throws. Dane Hunt had some huge catches for us. We are getting better each week, specifically on the offensive line, which is really exciting.”

Midway through the fourth quarter, Hunt caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Carson Gulick, and Whitefish held on for the victory.

Whitefish led 6-0 after the first quarter after a Gulick touchdown run. While Bigfork took the 7-6 lead in the second quarter, the Bulldogs answered back as Gulick hit Jesse Burrough for an 11-yard touchdown pass. Bigfork would strike again on a touchdown run for the 14-13 lead at the break.

After Hunt’s touchdown pass for Whitefish, Bigfork would record a safety in the fourth quarter, but it proved to be too little too late. The free kick resulted in a fumble that Whitefish recovered.

“Defensively, our guys really stepped up to a great challenge in Bigfork,” Bollweg said. “They are a really good team who can do a lot of things well. We were really pleased with how they responded to learning a new scheme for the complicated offense that Bigfork runs.”

Bigfork outgained Whitefish 355-290, including 217 passing yards by the Vikings QB, Tristan Herd. The Bulldogs made two goalline stands, one in the second quarter and another in the second half, where Bigfork was stuffed four times inside the five-yard line.

Gulick finished 16-for-31 with 180 yards in the air.

Bigfork fell to 3-3 on the year.

Whitefish will host one-win Stevensville this week for Homecoming, with kickoff slated for Friday at 7 p.m. Bollweg said that the team has to focus on the week ahead of them and that every game here on out is important if the Bulldogs want to make the postseason.

“We have a really talented group,” Bollweg said. “A big key for us, like I said at the beginning of the year, is to keep getting better each week. We have to make the most of the chances that we get against Stevensville and continue to play sound defense. We need to go one play at a time and focus on us. We have a chance to take another step forward this week, and that is the goal.”

At Bigfork

WHITEFISH 20, BIGFORK 16

Whitefish 6 7 0 7 - 20

Bigfork 0 14 0 2 - 16

W — Carson Gulick 1 run (kick failed)

B — Sam Plummer 6 run (Tristan Herd kick)

W — Jesse Burrough 11 pass from Gulick (Ryder Barinowski kick)

B — Plummer 6 run (Herd kick)

W — Dane Hunt 18 pass from Gulick (Barinowski kick)

B — Safety, Whitefish ball carrier tackled in end zone.