Football’s second season is here and Whitefish hopes for treats and not tricks against Butte Central in a win-or-go-home matchup on Halloween Friday, while Bigfork heads to Hamilton for the first round.

In Class B, Eureka hosts Fairfield Saturday to open their playoff run. 

The Bulldogs return home thanks, in part, to an 11-point comeback against the Vikings a week ago, and coach Brett Bollweg says his team has come into practice this week reinvigorated. 

“Our guys have come with new life and new energy in all the right ways,” Bollweg said. “Getting to play on our home field is a big deal for them, another chance to play at home and to be together. These guys love being together, so it's pretty fun.” 

Bollweg says he’s preparing his team the same way he has all season. 

“It's a matter of these guys taking ownership of things, and we can do all we want as coaches,” Bollweg said. “But at the end of the day, the guys are the ones that get to play on Friday and they know it.” 

The Maroons bring in a talented roster headlined by an athletic quarterback, senior Ryan Peoples, that Whitefish needs to be prepared for. 

“He does a really nice job with his feet, creating opportunities for him to make big plays,” Bollweg said. “We're going to have our hands full containing him.” 

Peoples has 19 touchdowns and 1,618 yards through the air this season. 

His favorite targets are Joshua Sutton and GG Fantini; both receivers have four touchdown catches in 2025. Sutton leads the team with 68 receiving yards per game. 

Whitefish will need Cole Moses to continue his backfield play, the senior averages 93.1 yards per game rushing. He has seven touchdowns. 

Quarterback Luke Dalen leads the team with 11 rushing scores, he has added eight through the air. 

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to play Laurel in the quarterfinals. 

Elsewhere, Bigfork makes the trip down to Hamilton to face the Broncs Friday evening at 7 p.m. 

The Vikings make their third straight appearance in the Class A playoffs after returning back from Class B in 2023. 

Leading the way in the backfield for Bigfork is Treker Hickey, rushing for 827 yards and nine touchdowns. 

Next to Hickey is quarterback Cole Schmit, who has found the end zone 11 times through the air. 

Hamilton comes into Friday’s game off a pair of dominating victories where they outscored opponents by a combined 103-10. The lone loss for the Broncs came to Frenchtown 21-14. 

Cooper Weston has accounted for 24 touchdowns for Hamilton, 16 through the air and eight on the ground. 

His favorite target is senior Jackson Lubke, who averages 92.3 yards receiving and has caught four touchdowns while rushing for three more. 

The winner travels to take on Billings Central in the quarterfinals. 

In Class B, Eureka opens the playoffs as the second seed in the west, hosting Fairfield in a first round matchup Saturday at 1 p.m. 

The Lions and Eagles met back in week one with Eureka taking a 32-0 win, but Lions coach Kenny Kindel expects a much different opponent this week. 

“We will have our hands full, have a lot of respect for that town and that football program,” Kindel said. 

Kindel says the Lions need to be ready to stop junior quarterback Brock Peace and junior receiver Saber Allen. 

“We are just scouting them well, and I don't want to give away too much, but we will be prepared for them,” Kindel said. 

Peace has 17 touchdown passes this season, while Allen is averaging 37.8 yards receiving. 

The Lions offense runs through Rogan Lytle, the senior quarterback leads the team with 107.6 rushing yards per game and 10 scores. Through the air, Lytle has 12 touchdowns and 749 yards.