Bulldog battler: Whitefish ends season with narrow loss to Frenchtown
KELSEY EVANS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 weeks, 2 days AGO
Whitefish Head Coach Brett Bollweg talks with players at the conclusion of the game Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldogs in the fourth quarter of the Class A semifinals against Frenchtown. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish quarterback Luke Dalen is tackled by the Broncs in the second quarter. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldog Sam Akey fends off Bronc, Brayden Ricci, in the Class A semifinals Nov. 14. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldog fans turn out for the semifinals in Frenchtown. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Vlad Shestak nabs a high five from Coach Brett Bollweg. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldog senior Joey Priegel talks with coaches on the sidelines at the game against Frenchtown Nov. 14. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish's Aaron Anderson's (44) catch gains a few yards. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish PIlot)
Cole Moses breaks away for a 45-yard touchdown run. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Lady Dog cheerleaders hyping up the student section at the semifinals game. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldog student section gets loud at the semifinals game against Frenchtown Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldogs kneel together before returning to the field after halftime. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldogs head to the sideline during the Class A semifinals against Frenchtown. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish senior Jordan Harmon brings down a Bronc. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldog Bear Barker takes command of the ball at the semifinals game Nov. 14. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish's Aaron Anderson's (44) catch gains a few yards. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish PIlot)
Braylon Dunn notches a PAT. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Aaron Anderson hypes up the crowd after Bronc Cole Johnson was ejected from the game. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Action edging towards the 10-yard line. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Aaron Anderson and another Bulldog defending Luke Dalen. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish Head Coach Brett Bollweg talks with players at the conclusion of the game Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish Head Coach Brett Bollweg talks with players at the conclusion of the game Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldogs sing a school fight song at the end of the Class A semifinals on Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish's Aaron Anderson's (44) catch gains a few yards. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish PIlot)
Toughness and class — that’s what the 2025 Whitefish football team was all about this year.
The Bulldogs ended their season with a narrow 23-20 loss to Frenchtown on Friday in what was the team’s first semifinals bid in a decade. The Whitefish team was one of five since 2000 to advance to the semifinals.
“Our guys have been a tough group,” Head Coach Brett Bollweg said. “I’m really proud of them for learning how to fight, no matter the circumstances.”
The Bulldogs ended the year 8-3 overall and second in the conference. Even when down against formidable opponents, they never let a team count them out, as each loss was by no more than three points.
The Bulldogs didn’t enter the season as favorites, but the team improved exponentially through a strong work ethic.
“You could see by the end of the year, for those new to varsity football, that they figured it out,” Bollweg said. “And they figured it out well. It was a long season to get better, and they never wavered.”
That was evident Friday as the Bulldogs never let victory out of their sight, despite the Broncs jumping to an early lead. Whitefish had trouble getting defensive stops, and the Broncs capitalized.
Frenchtown’s Dawson Rodini’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Michaud was followed by a 31-yard field goal by Brett Kleinsmith to leave the Bulldogs trailing 10-0 in the first quarter.
Whitefish responded in the second when Luke Dalen ripped a 71-yard run and followed it with a 9-yard touchdown run, though the PAT was missed.
Frenchtown extended the lead to 17-6 with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Konnor Klimpel to Bailey Corette.
The Broncs began the third with a 15-play drive. With 3:39 left in the quarter, Kleinsmith had another 31-yard field goal, bringing it to 20-6.
Dalen then found Cole Moses for a thrilling 46-yard touchdown that drew the score 20-14, but then the Broncs went back to holding the ball for 19 plays.
The fourth quarter brought a bit of tension. Frenchtown running back Cole Johnson converted on fourth-and-2 from the 12-yard-line and dodged a tackle before getting into some trouble that would lead to his ejection from the game. Right after, the Bulldogs also had a personal foul, putting the Broncs at first down at the Bulldog 24.
The Broncs nudged closer to victory when Brett Kleinsmith hit a 26-yard field goal with 3:51 left in the game.
Dalen refused to be counted out as he fought for yardage. He was successful with a 10-yard TD run with 1:07 left on the clock, and Tait Orme’s PAT was successful, bringing the score to 23-20.
Time ultimately ran out for the Bulldogs, and Frenchtown notched the state championship berth, their first since 2009. The Broncs (10-1) will host defending champion Billings Central (11-0) on Friday.
Dalen would end the night with 144 yards on 12 runs with two TDs and was 9 of 15 passes for 119 yards and a TD. Moses totaled 17 rushing yards and 54 receiving yards.
Despite the tough loss, it was a successful season for the Bulldogs, backed by strong supporters back home.
A robust coaching staff can be credited with the Bulldogs all around growth this season: In addition to Bollweg, the Bulldogs have learned from Ryan Boyle and Chad Ross, offensive coordinators; Randy Ursery, secondary and receivers; Steven Ramos, secondary and quarterbacks; Cole Davidson, junior varsity and d-line; Landon Henderson, junior varsity; Chaffin Ross, linebackers and defense; plus three volunteers, Logan Wynn, Jason Schwaiger and Tanner Benedict.
“It was overwhelming, the amount of support given to us throughout the course of the season,” Bollweg said. “It was humbling to look into the stands on Friday and see how many people from our community were there. We’re just grateful that we get to live and do this in this community.”
Bulldogs in the fourth quarter of the Class A semifinals against Frenchtown. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish quarterback Luke Dalen is tackled by the Broncs in the second quarter. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldog Sam Akey fends off Bronc, Brayden Ricci, in the Class A semifinals Nov. 14. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldog fans turn out for the semifinals in Frenchtown. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Vlad Shestak nabs a high five from Coach Brett Bollweg. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldog senior Joey Priegel talks with coaches on the sidelines at the game against Frenchtown Nov. 14. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish's Aaron Anderson's (44) catch gains a few yards. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish PIlot)
Cole Moses breaks away for a 45-yard touchdown run. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Lady Dog cheerleaders hyping up the student section at the semifinals game. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldog student section gets loud at the semifinals game against Frenchtown Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldogs kneel together before returning to the field after halftime. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldogs head to the sideline during the Class A semifinals against Frenchtown. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish senior Jordan Harmon brings down a Bronc. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldog Bear Barker takes command of the ball at the semifinals game Nov. 14. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Braylon Dunn notches a PAT. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Aaron Anderson hypes up the crowd after Bronc Cole Johnson was ejected from the game. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Action edging towards the 10-yard line. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Aaron Anderson and another Bulldog defending Luke Dalen. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish Head Coach Brett Bollweg talks with players at the conclusion of the game Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldogs sing a school fight song at the end of the Class A semifinals on Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
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