WHITEFISH - There was no panic, just a sense of urgency.

Whitefish was down and time was running out in the semifinal round of the Class A soccer playoffs on Saturday at Smith Field.

Corvallis was hanging on to a flimsy 1-0 advantage and packing it in on defense in an effort to hold off the relentless Bulldog attack.

Then, with just over 11 minutes to play Whitefish coach O'Brien Byrd figured the time was right to move senior Matt Danczyk up front.

A minute later, Danczyk blasted a shot from 30 yards past Corvallis goalie David Illgenfritz, who had been a tough nut to crack.

Seven minutes later, Anto Daoud broke the tie with another goal to give Whitefish a hard-earned 2-1 victory.

"I had faith in these guys," Byrd said.

"They could have fallen apart. The pressure is on us in the waning moments of the game.

"There is no one better than Matt Danczyk to step up and tie the game." continued Byrd.

"He's got that type of character. He's a captain and a leader."

It marked the second week in a row Whitefish had to rally for a playoff victory. The Bulldogs fell behind Livingston 1-0 last Saturday at Smith Field, but regrouped in time for a 2-1 triumph.

"You could see a complete emotional turnaround," Byrd said after Danczyk's goal.

"They (Corvallis Blue Devils) started to crack."

Corvallis finally broke a scoreless tie two minutes into the second half. The Blue Devils, who had very few scoring opportunities up to that point, cashed in from short range on a shot by Seth Pelkey.

"When you go up 1-0, the other team has to score so they come with everybody," Corvallis coach Brock Hammill said.

"We played a little more conservative."

It almost worked.

"It looked like we could ride it out at the end," Hammill said.

"That's the only time we've given up two goals in a game (this year)."

"We came from behind again, two weeks in a row," Byrd said.

"It (Corvallis) was the best team we played all year. It was the best game we played this year."

Whitefish (10-3-1) will now host Billings Central (11-1-1) on Saturday for the state championship. Game time is noon.

Billings Central advanced with a 2-1 victory over Libby on Saturday in Billings.

"I'm looking forward to it," Byrd said of facing Central again. "What sweep opposition."

Billings Central has beaten Whitefish the last two times they have met - in the semifinals last year 3-2, and in the third game of this season 4-1. Both of those outings were in Billings.

Whitefish is in the state final for the fourth time in seven years. The Bulldogs won state titles in 2006 and 2007.

Corvallis 0 1 - 1

Whitefish 0 2 - 2

CORVALLIS - Seth Pelkey (Aaron Jessop), 42:00

WHITEFISH - Matt Danczyk, 70; Anto Daoud (Jack Steele), 77:00

Shots on goal - Corvallis 5, Whitefish 11

Corner kicks - Corvallis 1, Whitefish 4

Goalie saves - Corvallis 7 (David Illgenfritz), Whitefish 5, (Alex Whitaker)

Fouls - Corvallis 13, Whitefish 5

Cards - Corvallis 1, Whitefish 2

Billings Central 2,

Libby 1

BILLINGS - Kevin Klee's goal at 61 minutes proved to be the difference as Billings Central knocked off the defending state champions.

Libby (10-4-0) tied the match just before the first half ended on a goal by Crawford Dinning.

Billings Central (11-1-1) got off to a fast start with a goal four minutes to play off the foot of Cory Miller.

Libby 1 0 - 1

Billings Central 1 1 - 2

LIBBY - Crawford Dinning (penalty kick), 39:00

BILLINGS CENTRAL - Cory Miller (Mike Eggen), 4:00; Kevin Klee (Mikey Wall), 61:00.

Shots on goal - Libby 5, Billings Central 11

Corner kicks - NA

Goalie saves - Libby 9 (Lewis Brossman), Billings Central 4 (Cody Linde)

Fouls - NA

Cards - NA