Bulldogs earn All-State recognitions, Moses MVP

The Whitefish Bulldogs had several players named to the Northwest A All-State team last week, as voted on by the region's coaches. Bulldog Cole Moses was selected as the Northwest A defensive MVP.

Moses had 60 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks while leading Whitefish in defensive points. He also rushed for a league-best 916 yards and was all-Northwest A first team at running back as well as linebacker. 

Earning first team honors is senior tight end/linebacker Aaron Anderson, senior defensive lineman Creed Scott and senior O-lineman Sam Akey, as well as junior receiver/corner Vlad Shestak and sophomore o-lineman Leo Bungener.  

Junior quarterback Luke Dalen was selected as second team offense, with 872 yards this season.  

Senior o-lineman Anderson Barrile was second team. Also earning honors is junior Jayke Thew and seniors Jordan Harmon and Sam Nissen.  

The Bulldogs lost to the Frenchtown Broncs 23-20 in the semifinals. The Broncs would go on to win their first state championship since 2009.  

Division champs, Columbia Falls, also had five first-team All-State selections, and the offensive MVP, junior quarterback Banyan Johnston, who threw for 2,396 yards and 26 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.  

Bigfork had two All-State picks and Libby and Polson, one each.   

All-Northwest A  

First Team Offense  

QB: Banyan Johnston, jr.    Columbia Falls*  

RB: Cole Moses, sr.    Whitefish*  

RB: Treker Hickey, sr.    Bigfork*  

WR: Vlad Shestak, jr.    Whitefish*  

WR: Easton Brooks, sr.    Columbia Falls*  

TE: Holden Emerson, sr.    Polson*  

TE: Aaron Anderson, sr.    Whitefish*  

OL: Sam Akey, sr.    Whitefish*  

OL: Holland Jantzen, sr.    Bigfork*  

OL: Brody Bulette, sr.    Polson  

OL: Landon Quimby, sr.    Columbia Falls  

OL: Leo Bungener, so.    Whitefish  

MVP: Banyan Johnston, Columbia Falls  

First Team Defense  

DL: Creed Scott, sr.    Whitefish*  

DL: Cody Haggard, sr.    Polson  

DL: Daniel Contreras, jr.    Columbia Falls*  

DL: Lincoln Ledingham, jr.    Bigfork  

ILB: Trip Ross, jr.    Columbia Falls*  

ILB: Aaron Anderson, sr.    Whitefish  

OLB: Treker Hickey, sr.    Bigfork  

OLB: Cole Moses, sr.    Whitefish*  

CB: Vlad Shestak, jr.    Whitefish  

CB: Jory Hill, jr.    Columbia Falls*  

S: Tristan Andersen, sr.    Libby* 

S: Holden Emerson, sr.    Polson 

MVP: Cole Moses, Whitefish  

*-denotes All-State selection.  

Second Team Offense  

QB: Luke Dalen, jr., Whitefish; Tristan Andersen, sr., Libby.  

RB: Tayden West, sr., Bigfork; Trip Ross, jr., Columbia Falls.  

WR: Jory Hill, jr., Columbia Falls; Branson Holzer, sr., Libby;  Daniel Contreras, jr., Columbia Falls.  

OL: Tristan Anderson, jr., Columbia Falls; Creed Scott, sr., Whitefish; Kaden Kaber, sr., Columbia Falls; Anderson Barille, sr., Whitefish; Walker Willis, sr., Bigfork.  

Second Team Defense  

DL: Sam Akey, sr., Whitefish; Jayke Thew, jr., Whitefish; Tristan Anderson, jr., Columbia Falls.  

ILB: Ian Thom, sr., Libby; Sam Nissen, sr., Whitefish.  

OLB: Jordan Harmon, sr., Whitefish; Kyler Voermans, so., Columbia Falls.  

CB: Ollie Buzzell, sr., Bigfork; Easton Brooks, sr., Columbia Falls.  

S: Hayden Strandberg, jr., Columbia Falls; Sam Rainford, jr., Whitefish; Tamret Savik, sr., Bigfork.  

Honorable Mention  

Cooper Akey, S, sr., Whitefish; Dexter Anderson, DL, jr., Bigfork; Layton Burland, OLB, jr., Ronan; Jaxson Cadwell, ILB, so., Columbia Falls; Dane Carleson, ILB, sr., Bigfork; Quinn Kerr, K, jr., Bigfork;  Gabe Kosters, OLB, sr., Libby; Isaac Lamere, WR, sr., Libby; Boe Miles, CB, sr., Libby; Gabe Plevel, OLB, sr., Columbia Falls; Austin Savik, WR, sr., Bigfork; Cooper Wayman, OL, so., Ronan. 

    Whitefish running back Cole Moses (23) picks up yardage on a run in the first quarter against Butte Central in a Class A playoff game at Memorial Field on Friday, Oct. 31. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider