'Dogs show defiance on homecoming

There is something very likable about the enduring spirit of this Bulldog football team. Sure, the end result of Friday’s game was the same. Libby rolled to a 38-25 win and added another notch to the ‘Dogs’ loss column. Yet, its doubtful anyone — fans, coaches and players alike — left the Dawg Pound that night with their head down.

Whitefish put on an energized display of determination and sheer grit for a homecoming crowd that bordered on the thousands. They showed they aren’t giving up on this season, no matter what their record says.

“They didn’t give up,” coach Chad Ross said. “We’ve got great kids this year. They have great attitudes, and across the board, no one is giving up. Everyone even seems to be working a little harder.”

Junior Maxl Smith put his emotions on his sleeve after the final whistle. He told his teammates in the post-game huddle that he was as proud of them as he’s been all season.

“We played like men tonight,” Smith told the team as senior captain Mac Roche stood  on crutches beside him.

With the Dawg Pound crowd and pep band rocking, Whitefish tallied four touchdowns, more than 400 passing yards, and gave the Loggers a serious run in the fourth quarter.

“The community support, I mean, wow,” Ross said. “For a team that’s 1-5, the crowd stayed for the whole game. It’s just incredible. It makes it fun for the kids to play.”

Whitefish lit up the scoreboard first when Logan Harwood brought in an 18-yard pass from Connor Donahue to give the ‘Dogs a 7-0 lead. The touchdown capped off a 70-yard drive.

Libby rallied for three consecutive touchdowns to open up an 18-7 halftime lead.

The ‘Dogs came out fired up in the third quarter and pieced together a nice drive early after senior Nate Wiedenmeyer wrapped up Libby’s quarterback, Kelly May, in a bear-hug tackle. His pressure forced May into an errant throw that was picked off by senior Jeremy Nielsen.

On the ensuing offensive possession, Nielsen had one of the highlights of the season. As Nielsen took a hand-off and rounded to the left sideline, the running back darted up field. With two Logger defenders closing in, Nielsen leaped five feet into the air, hurdled a defender, landed in stride and gained another 10 yards. His display of athleticism brought the house down.

“He’s a great athlete,” Ross said.

Yet, the coach noted that he’d rather not see Nielsen hurdling defenders and putting himself at risk of injury.

“Maybe at the goal line, but not with multiple defenders on him,” Ross said. “He’s too valuable. With him in the game, we’re a different team, both offensively and defensively. I don’t think anyone works harder than Nielsen.”

Despite the acrobatics, the ‘Dogs drive stalled at the 3-yard line and both teams went scoreless in the quarter. Libby’s May punched in a touchdown on a quarterback-keeper to put the Loggers up 24-7 to start the fourth.

Whitefish countered with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Nielsen from Donahue. As Nielsen broke away from defenders on the right sideline, he had to dive into the end zone from the 5-yard line to get the ball inside of the pylon.

Libby added another touchdown on their next possession to go up 31-13. Donahue then hit Harwood on a 62-yard strike along the sideline to close the gap to 19-31. Again, Libby countered with another touchdown off a 39-yard run. Whitefish came right back when Chris Forrest ran 70 yards to the end zone to make it 25-38.

“We were really good in the first and third quarters,” Ross said. “But as the game went on, they just kind of wore out.”

Ross commended the receiving corps of Harwood, Gage Vasquez and Forrest.

“They made some great catches and great plays,” Ross said.

Vasquez repeatedly took a pounding as he crossed the middle to bring in passes. A few licks he took brought out resounding “oohhs” from the bleachers, but he kept bouncing back up.

“Gage was a stud out there,” Ross commented.

Donahue took a beating, too. After getting sacked only once all season, Libby knocked the junior quarterback down six times and put good hits on him at least another six times.

“Libby was the most physical team we’ve played so far,” Ross said. “They’re a class program.”

Overall, the coach was pleased with Whitefish’s effort but disappointed with their inability to convert good chances.

“We had fourth-and-one at the goal,” Ross said. “We had chances to make it closer or even at winning the game.”