Whitefish’s comeback falls short to Hamilton
KELSEY EVANS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 1 month AGO
Bulldog Junior Vlad Shestak (5) runs the ball in the third quarter against Hamilton. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldog Junior Vlad Shestak (5) runs the ball in the third quarter against Hamilton. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Luke Dalen runs the ball at a Sept. 5, 2025 home game against Hamilton. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot).
Bulldog senior Cooper Akey (12) takes down Hamilton's Treyzen Frost (6) at the Dog Pound on Friday, Sept. 5. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Junior Bear Barker at the home game vs. Hamilton Sept. 5. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Cheerleader Piper Marbarger on top at the home football Sept. 5. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Young rising cheerleaders having fun on the sidelines at the home football Sept. 5. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldog Junior Vlad Shestak (5) runs the ball in the third quarter against Hamilton. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
The Whitefish Bulldog football team (0-2) stepped up the energy for a second half-comeback at the Dog Pound on Friday, but still ended with a loss, 23-27, to the Southwest A Hamilton Broncs (2-0).
Last year, the Bulldogs bested Hamilton in their matchup 27-7, but this year, the Broncs were back with a vengeance, soaring to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
“All credit to Hamilton,” Coach Brett Bollweg said. “They brought a level of intensity that we weren’t able to match right out of the gate.”
Hamilton is a well-coached team, and the game was a competitive non-conference matchup that gave a good opportunity to grow and learn on the fly, Bollweg said.
“I’m proud of the way the team came back, showed grit and toughness, to fight in the second half. The best part is we get the chance to go out on Friday and do it all over,” he said.
Junior quarterback Luke Dalen had a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He totaled eight carries for 47 yards, was 4-12 for passing and had one interception.
Junior Bear Barker played as quarterback as well and was 4-9 on passing for 88 yards with one interception. He also had three carries for 8 yards.
Hamilton had two more touchdowns in the second quarter, bringing their lead to 27-8, before the Bulldogs turned a switch. The comeback for the Dogs started when senior Cole Moses had a 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
In total, Moses rushed 13 times for 80 yards. On receiving, he had another touchdown and two catches that gained 54 yards.
“Cole Moses continues to impress all of us. Offensively and defensively, he’s a stud. We’re happy with his growth,” Bollweg said.
Junior Vlad Shestak rushed two for 39 yards and received four times for 78, and senior Jordan Harmon rushed seven for 14.
Whitefish also picked up two points from a safety when a Hamilton punter backed into the end zone in the fourth quarter.
Across the team, several young players are doing a great job stepping into their new roles, Bollweg said.
Sophomore Leo Bungener and senior Johnny Calles are both new to the offensive line and have fully embraced their positions.
On the defensive line, senior Creed Scott has really stepped up.
“Creed has a motor. He wants to go as hard as he can, as much as he can,” Bollweg said.
The Bulldogs will be on the road this week, playing Corvallis Friday at 7 p.m.
Hamilton 14 13 0 0 - 27
Whitefish 0 8 7 8 - 23
Luke Dalen runs the ball at a Sept. 5, 2025 home game against Hamilton. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot).
Bulldog senior Cooper Akey (12) takes down Hamilton's Treyzen Frost (6) at the Dog Pound on Friday, Sept. 5. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Junior Bear Barker at the home game vs. Hamilton Sept. 5. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Cheerleader Piper Marbarger on top at the home football Sept. 5. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
Young rising cheerleaders having fun on the sidelines at the home football Sept. 5. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)ARTICLES BY KELSEY EVANS
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