Polson puts ranking, unbeaten mark on the line

Pirates host Whitefish tonight in a key Northwest Conference football contest.

By DAVID LESNICK

The Daily Inter Lake

It's been a series dominated by Whitefish over the years, but that means little heading into tonight's Northwest Conference football battle with Polson.

The Polson Pirates are ranked No. 3 in Class A and are undefeated in the conference, 3-0, and overall, 7-0.

The Bulldogs of Whitefish, on the other hand, enter 2-1 and 4-3.

Polson is coming off a 34-14 homecoming triumph over Columbia Falls last Friday while Whitefish was drilled by Libby 27-0.

It was a rare home conference loss for the Bulldogs.

And with just two weekends left in the regular season before the Class A playoffs are set to begin, both teams have postseason aspirations.

"We're still in the playoff hunt," said Whitefish coach Mike Ferda.

"A win by Polson seals them. We already have a conference loss. We need to win one of our last two games to have a shot at that. "

Whitefish closes out the schedule hosting rival Columbia Falls on Oct. 22. Polson visits Ronan the same evening.

"Since coach (Scott) Wilson has been there (with Polson), we've had good football games," said Ferda.

"A lot of similarities the way coach Wilson and I do things - run the ball, try to control the tempo of the game, play-action pass."

So tonight's battle will be just that, a physical contest on both sides of the ball.

Kickoff is slated for 6:40 p.m. and it will be telecast live by Omega TV (cable channel 97) to a statewide audience.

"I think it's a great opportunity for all the kids," said Wilson.

"Both sides to get some exposure. It's something they are not used to. It will be neat."

The last time Polson knocked off Whitefish was Oct. 22, 1999. That's when Jarrod Wilkinson kicked a 32-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Pirates to a 35-33 victory.

The victory was the first of the season for Polson while the setback knocked Whitefish out of the playoffs.

Then Polson head coach Randy Kelley said after the upset it was the Pirates' first win over the Bulldogs in 10 years.

Whitefish won last year's meeting with Polson in Whitefish, 35-18. And it happened to follow a 54-28 loss at Libby.

"They (Pirates) were my preseason pick to win the conference," said Ferda.

"A very senior laden team. A lot of kids who have played for a couple of years. Big physical running backs. They play hard."

Polson has 16 seniors on the roster. The Pirates start eight on offense and nine on defense.

"The leadership my seniors have given," said Wilson of his team's success.

"They have kept everyone focused. That's probably the single biggest thing."

Two seniors, running back/linebacker Terry Lundeen and tight end/linebacker Mac Gordon are three year starters for the Pirates.

Derek Pluff, running back/linebacker, was also starting his third fall in the lineup, but suffered a season- ending injury.

"Lost him the very first game to a hamstring," said Wilson.

Kevin Owen, as of the Oct. 6th football stats, keys Polson's ground game. He has rushed for 812 yards on 97 attempts for an 8.4 yard per carry average.

He has rushed for 10 TDs.

Terry Lundeen has 382 yards on the ground and Andy Nelson 199.

Owen leads the league in scoring with 66 points.

Joe Locke has passed for 657 yards, completing 38 of 72 passes.

Whitefish's Zach Fennelly has thrown for 688 yards. He has hit 37 of 60 attempts.

Fennelly has seven TD passes to five for Locke.

"They have been throwing the ball very well," said Wilson of the Bulldogs.

"We have to be aware of that threat. They can always hurt you with the run. We have been a little susceptible to big plays."

Polson leads the league in rushing, averaging 255 a game. Whitefish is second at 183.

"Hopefully we can make them earn all their yardage," said Ferda.

"Not let them eat up huge chunks of yardage."

Polson and Whitefish ranked 1-2 in rushing yards allowed, 75.68 and 81.14, respectively, per game.

Polson has allowed the fewest points, 80, with Whitefish third, 153.

"It's gone as I had hoped," said Wilson of the season.

"You never plan on being in the position we are in. You always hope to be successful."

On Friday night, there are two other key matchups. Bigfork, 0-3 and 2-5, visits Columbia Falls, 1-2 and 3-4, and Ronan, 1-2 and 3-3, travels to Libby, 2-1 and 4-3.