Bulldogs at Stevi for Class A football playoffs
What a year a difference makes.
Last year Whitefish was on the outside looking in for the second-straight year regarding Class A postseason football action.
The Bulldogs struggled through an injury-filled campaign to finish 1-7.
Fast forward to this year ... it's a much brighter picture, and future, for the Bulldogs. Whitefish holds a 5-2 mark overall and opens playoff action tonight at Stevensville.
The kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
"It's been a great year," second-year Whitefish head coach Chad Ross said.
"We've had a lot of fun."
He said a victory tonight, which would be the first playoff victory for the Bulldogs since 2002, "would continue the fun."
Whitefish finished as the No. 3 seed in Northwestern A with a 2-2 mark. The Bulldogs won their final three games of the season after putting a big scare into No. 4 Polson. The Pirates survived that contest on Sept. 30, 53-32, and are unbeaten on the season.
Stevensville enters play as the No. 2 seed from Southwestern A. The Yellowjackets finished 6-2 overall, 3-2 league.
Stevensville closed out regular-season play last Friday losing to Corvallis 18-15 in Corvallis.
Whitefish survived a home league battle with Frenchtown, winning 18-12.
"Stevensville is a lot like us," Ross said.
"They have a great quarterback in Caleb Vance, where as we have two (Connor Donahue and Chris Forrest) and great receivers (like us).
"I think we match up well with their (offensive) line," Ross continued.
"If we can control the line of scrimmage and contain him (Vance), we have a great shot at winning the game."
Vance last week was 11 of 27 passing for 174 yards.
Donahue was 8 of 15 for 88 yards and a touchdown. Forrest was 7 of 16 for 155 yards.
For the season, Donahue is 65 of 120 for 1,177 yards and 11 TDs. Forrest is 71 of 137 for 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns.
Forrest was also one of the team's top rushers with his 7.50 yard per carry average. He totaled 480 yards on 64 carries and rushed for seven touchdowns.
Logan Harwood and Gage Vasquez were Nos. 1-2 in league receiving best on yards per catch. Harwood finished with a 21.43 average (30 receptions for 643 yards and 10 touchdowns) while Vasquez was next at 17.67 (36 receptions for 636 yards and two TDs).
"Offensively, were not worried about scoring points," Ross said.
"We're gonna score. We just need to be able to play better defense. Defense has been a little more of a struggle than offense. If we play responsible football, everyone has a responsiblity, everyone does their job, (we should be OK)."
Ross said there has been plenty of excitement at the school and around town this week.
"Especially coming off last year," he said.
"The kids are excited, so is the coaching staff. The community is excited and that's neat to see. It's great to be a part of small town football."
This the lone Class A playoff contest being played today.
The other three contests - Hamilton at Libby (1 p.m.), Lewistown and Laurel (2 p.m.) and Miles City at Livingston (1 p.m.) is set for Saturday.
Billings Central, Dillon, Havre and Polson have first-round byes.