Bulldog Determination

It was the summer of 2023 and Carson Gulick was at a crossroads.

He could stay at Glacier High and play for one of the better Class AA programs in Montana, but not at quarterback. Or he could wander 15 miles north. 

“There were some personal decisions, for sure,” the Whitefish senior said this week. “I had the decision to either come here, or stay. 

“I thought it would be the best decision for me, and maybe re-spark my love for the game of football — and give me a chance to experience both sides of the ball.” 

Gulick is the quarterback for the Whitefish Bulldogs, who are 6-3 entering Friday night’s home playoff game with Bigfork. Drafted into the position in middle school, it figured he would have a hard time beating out Jackson Presley, who transferred to Glacier from California last summer as an already highly-recruited sophomore. 

Presley, a Boise State commit, helped the Wolfpack reach the AA championship game last November; this season Glacier is 8-1. 

Whitefish hasn’t put up quite as many wins, but Gulick has fit in and excelled. 

“I was told a couple days beforehand that this could happen,” Whitefish football coach Brett Bollweg remembered. “And he shows up about two and a half weeks before the season starts.  

“He came in quiet and humble and worked his tail off and earned his spot in the lineup pretty quickly.”  

Gulick played right away at safety in 2023 while Mason Kelch began the season starting at quarterback. The next two games saw the two split the snaps; by game four Gulick was starting and helping the Bulldogs beat rival Columbia Falls. 

This season the 6-foot-3 righthander has thrown for 1,431 yards and 16 touchdowns and run for another 494 yards and seven scores.  

“Carson has been, since Day 1, a really phenomenal worker,” Bollweg said. “He loves the work, and he loves the effort you have to put in to be successful. That’s what got him to this point.” 

As for his athleticism, check the film from Whitefish’s Sept. 13 outing against Corvallis. Trailing most of the game, the Bulldogs jumped in front when Gulick tore of a twisting, 66-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown run.  

“We ran speed option and he pulled it and took off,” Bollweg said. “It was great. 

“He’s got toughness. When big things are happening he wants to be the guy. It’s a great trait of his character, who he is and what he wants to become.” 

The Bulldogs held off Corvallis 21-20, then dropped tough games to Columbia Falls (3-0) and defending State A champion Dillon (19-13).  

A 42-22 win over Bigfork on Oct. 4 began their current four-game win streak. 

Gulick follows the fortunes of the Wolfpack, by the way.  

“I still have quite a few friends at Glacier,” he said. “I love to go down and support them when I can.” 

But he doesn’t look back. 

“It’s been awesome for me. It gave me a chance I wouldn’t get many other places. It gave me a chance to get an offer from Montana Western,” he said.  

Carroll College and Montana Tech have also shown interest, and Bollweg feels anyone would be happy to have Gulick. 

“He is definitely a Saturday player as far as I’m concerned,” Bollweg said. “I know he’ll have a great career in college. He’s athletic enough and talented enough that wherever a coach finds a spot for him at the nest level, he’s going to do extremely well.” 

He’ll get more reps Friday with the Bulldogs, with whom he has built several relationships. 

“My best friends are the linemen,” he asserted, before adding he has grown close with running back Riley Zetooney — he of the 9.1-yards per carry average — and receivers CJ Thew and Calvin Eisenbarth. 

“I really love this team,” Gulick said. “I believe we have a shot at going to the championship, and I think everyone else believes it. If you believe in something, you go chase it.”