Billings Central whips Whitefish

WHITEFISH - The Billings Central boys soccer team knew exactly what to do when the final whistle sounded - the championship slide.

After two years of doing everything but winning a state championship, the Rams came through in the final game of the season and took down Class A powerhouse Whitefish 5-1 in a rain and shine Class A state championship game at Smith Field on Saturday.

As soon as the game ended, the ecstatic Rams rushed across the field and each and every player dove into the muddy grass and slid in front of the small section of cheering Billings fans.

Cold mud never felt so relieving.

"It's a big relief, that's for sure," Billings coach Patrick Cates said afterward. "Emotion was all over the guy's faces. These seniors, their first time playing on this field was when Whitefish was unbelievable and we lost 14-3. So to be able to come back and beat Whitefish on this field for the state championship is just a great feeling."

Saturday ended up being a historic day for Billings Central as both the boys and girls teams claimed soccer state championships. The girls defended their title earlier in the day at Libby, winning 4-2 in the second overtime.

For the boys team, who lost to eventual state champ Libby last year, it was the first title in the program's 13-year history.

"These guys worked at it and worked at it and got a shot last year and it just didn't work out. But to finally get over that hurdle when we have 12 seniors total and 10 starting, it's just a huge, huge deal for these guys," Cates said.

The Rams (12-1-1) came out sighted in from the start on Saturday. Senior Kevin Klee snuck behind a pair of Whitefish defenders and scored off an assist from Dominic Lloyd-Randolfi in the sixth minute. Seven minutes later, senior Cory Miller lined up a 20-footer from center stage and scored to give Billings a quick 2-0 lead.

"The guys came out on fire," Cates said. "They have been waiting a full year to get back to this and came out ready to play and played extremely well the entire game."

Whitefish (10-4-1) could never get in rhythm on offense and let another goal sneak by in the 34th minute after Connor McDonnell deked Alex Whitaker in goal and tapped in the score.

"I have to give Billings Central all the credit in the world. I really think it was their day for sure," Whitefish coach O'Brien Byrd said. "They brought a great team and they came out swinging. It would have been bitter if we had lost to a lesser team and if maybe there was a lot of luck involved, but there wasn't."

Whitefish managed a goal late in the second half after Travis Adams took a pass from Matt Danczyk and scored to make it 4-1.

But the home crowd only had a moment to celebrate because less than a minute later Billings was back at it as Steven Sheehy scored his second goal of the day and capped the game at 5-1.

"We just tried to keep a high energy level up, but they caught us off guard a couple three times and scored some nice goals," Byrd said. "They obviously showed today why they're here."

The Rams have antagonized the Bulldogs a lot in recent history after breaking two-time defending champ Whitefish's 43-game win streak in last year's semifinals and winning in a nonconference meeting earlier this season.

"I'm really proud of my boys," Byrd said. "They've come a long ways this season and at the end of the game they can do nothing but hold their heads high. Through the tears they were smiling. They know how far they've come from the beginning of the year to now, it's been a heckuva ride.

"We're keeping the excitement going," he added. "One more state championship game. We're looking to be back here again next year."

Billings Central 3 2 - 5

Whitefish 0 1 - 1

Billings Central - Kevin Klee (Dominic Lloyd-Randolfi), 6:00; Cory Miller, 13:00; Connor McDonnell, 34:00; Steven Sheehy (Mikey Wall), 44:00; Sheehy, 70:00

Whitefish - Travis Adams (Matt Danczyk), 69:00

Shots on goal - Billings 10, Whitefish 3

Goalie saves - Billings 3 (Cody Linde), Whitefish 10 (Alex Whitaker)

Corner kicks _ Billings 5, Whitefish 4

Fouls - Billings 15, Whitefish 10

Cards - Whitefish, yellow