Bulldogs in high spirits after 42 – 22 win against Bigfork

KELSEY EVANS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years AGO

Junior Jordan Harmon tackling v. Bigfork on Friday, Oct. 4. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Bulldog band players at the homecoming football game on Friday, Oct. 4. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

2024 Whitefish High School homecoming King Jeffrey Sagen and Queen Charlotte Perkins. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Homecoming court nominees Riley Zetooney and Kaydence Blackwell prepare to walk onto the field during halftime on Friday, Oct. 4. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

A strong windstorm barreled through an hour before the game, but the skies cleared and the stands filled in time for kick off at the homecoming football game Friday, Oct. 4. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Junior Jordan Harmon tackling v. Bigfork on Friday, Oct. 4. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Whitefish took on Bigfork at the Dog Pound on Friday, Oct. 4. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

The Whitefish football team is in high spirits after a momentous 42 – 22 win against conference foes Bigfork on Friday at the homecoming game.

“It was a fun one. We did about everything that I could have hoped. I’m pleased with how the team played well on all facets of the game. Hopefully, it’s a launching point for us,” said Brett Bollweg, head coach for Whitefish.

The Bulldogs are now 3-3 overall and 3-2 in Western A.

CJ Thew, who shot 78 at the State A golf tournament earlier that afternoon, sandwiched two TD catches around a 98-yard return of the second-half kickoff. That return put the Bulldogs up 21-6. Before that, he caught a 1-yard TD pass from Carson Gulick, set up by Gulick’s interception near the Whitefish goal line and 92-yard return.

“We joked that CJ, playing a game in the middle of his state golf tournament, touched the ball five times. And three times were touchdowns, and one was an interception. I’m super impressed with how he’s handled everything,” Bollweg said.

Riley Zetooney had 10 rushes for 134 yards for Whitefish, including a 56-yard scoring burst in the second quarter; Scotty Dalen hauled in a 41-yard TD pass from Gulick in a wild fourth quarter. “It’s fun to watch Zetooney run hard – he's worked hard to get here,” Bollweg said.

Gulick ran 18 times for 101 yards and had a 3-yard scoring run. He was 11 of 20 passing for 116 yards and three scores.

“It felt like Friday night we reached the potential where we know we can play at. There’s a growing feeling of what we’re capable of doing.

“Our coaches did a phenomenal job preparing our kids all week, both offensively and defensively, as well as making in-game adjustments,” Bollweg said.

Bulldog band players at the homecoming football game on Friday, Oct. 4. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

2024 Whitefish High School homecoming King Jeffrey Sagen and Queen Charlotte Perkins. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Homecoming court nominees Riley Zetooney and Kaydence Blackwell prepare to walk onto the field during halftime on Friday, Oct. 4. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)