Bulldogs finish second in State A soccer tournament

The Montana Class A State boys soccer championship game on Saturday was a rematch between the Whitefish Bulldogs and the undefeated Billing Central Rams. Whitefish won in 2023, but this time around the Rams came out on top in a thrilling 3-2 win in overtime. 

It’s the Rams’ second championship, having won its first in 2009. The Bulldogs have won the top spot a total of 10 times, including five titles in the last seven years. 

“There’s nothing you could have done better,” Whitefish Head Coach Eric Sawtelle told his team after the game. “You did everything you could. It's all good. That's the sport. That's the game.” 

Sawtelle said he was proud of the team and happy with how they played in the title match. He noted the season they have had, finishing with a record of 11-3-1. Their only losses came from matches with Billings Central and Columbia Falls. 

Skies were overcast and temperatures cool at Amend Field in Billings for the championship.  

Whitefish went ahead early when the Bulldogs’ leading scorer Kyler Jonson sank a penalty kick after a handball call in the 15th minute. Soon after that, Jonson netted another dot shot after a Ram penalty in the box. 

Jonson finished the season as the third highest goal scoring player in Class A, behind Stevensville’s David Beames and Columbia Falls’ Maxwell Everett. 

Billings Central was quick to answer. The Rams’ Cole Bland scored just four minutes later with a worm-burner of a shot. Minutes later, Whitefish keeper Charlie Dow made a great save to keep the score at 2-1 heading into halftime.   

The Bulldogs came out energized in the second half, often putting together several two-touch passes involving six or more players in their offensive half. Whitefish displayed graceful teamwork in each section of the field as they overlapped and switched fields fluidly. 

“Defensively we were solid throughout the game and offensively we created early opportunities that led to goals by quickly switching the field and playing balls through the weak side channels,” Sawtelle said. “We also had some good spells of possession when we found quick simple 1-2 balls through the midfield.” 

In the 53rd minute, the Rams were granted a penalty kick and Bland converted it to tie the game. The score remained tied after regulation. 

Neither team scored in the first of the two 10-minute overtime periods. Midway through the second overtime period, after a host of calls against the Bulldogs, the Rams scored off a Sawyer Guenthner header. Despite many good chances, Whitefish could not equalize.  

“I am so proud of our boys. This group has grown and evolved into a collective force over the past couple of months,” Sawtelle said. “Today, they showed that and left everything on the pitch. That is all we can ever ask.” 

Sawtelle said Billings Central fed off the energy of the hometown crowd and played hard for the whole game. 

The Bulldog coach said the team has learned many life lessons throughout the season. He said the final game demonstrated that even when the players give their all, variables outside the team’s control can influence the outcome of the game. 

“We will walk away from this encounter with our heads held high,” Sawtelle said. “We are extremely disappointed we are not bringing the title back to Whitefish but I have no doubt our boys will be even more determined to get here again and to give it another go.”   

Senior team captains Preston McPherson and Logan Bingham echoed the coach’s thoughts and displayed composure and maturity while reflecting on the game and the team’s season. 

“I'm proud of the team. We were fifth-ranked coming into the playoffs, ended up getting second,” McPherson said. “Unfortunate way to end off senior year, but I think we played great and I'm excited to see what the program has in store for the next few years. I think they’ll be strong and, hopefully, they’ll get another championship.” 

Bingham said this was his best season yet and credited the team's comraderie. 

“We worked our hearts out. We put it all on the field,” Bingham said. “We worked hard on the off season, team bonding everything, just to come together. Showed on the field. Proud of us. We know each other. We're connected.” 

Sawtelle said the hardest part of the team’s final game was saying goodbye to the seniors. 

"What an amazing group of boys who worked extremely hard in the off season, set the bar for work ethic and sportsmanship, and gave everything they had in every game all season,” he said. “The boys coming back next year will have big shoes to fill but I know they will be fueled by this experience.” 

He said the younger players will step up and take responsibility for carrying on the strong tradition of Bulldog soccer.   

“It is now up to them to get us back to this place, to earn the right to play for another championship,” Sawtelle said. “We are Whitefish and we will never shy away from a challenge.  Thank you all for a great season.” 

Whitefish    2    0    0    0    -    2  

BC Rams    1    1    0    1    -    3  

WF — Kyler Jonson (PK) 15:00  

WF — Jonson (PK) 23:00  

BC — Cole Bland (Daniel Apostol) 27:00  

BC — Bland (PK) 53:00  

BC — Sawyer Guenther 95:00  

Shots — Whitefish 7, Billings Central 5. Fouls — Whitefish 17, Billings Central 13. 

    The Billings Central goalkeeper collides with a teammate and Bulldog Griffin Gunlikson. The play resulted in the second penalty kick for Whitefish. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    Bulldog Gavin Sibson Griffin changes direction and shakes off a Billings Central defender. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    The six seniors on the Whitefish Bulldog soccer team pose with the Class A trophy after the final game on Saturday. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    Whitefish senior Justis Arterbury sends a pass up field at the Montana Class A championship game on Saturday. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    Logan Bingham kicks up the turf as he moves through midfield on Saturday. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    The Billings Central boys soccer team celebrates their win at the Montana Class A Championship on Saturday. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    Bulldogs Rowan Perkins and Elijah Adams-Griffin take a moment after the Class A championship game on Saturday at Amend Park in Bilings. The Rams won 3-2 in overtime. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)