One to Remember: Cats edge Bulldogs 34-31 in game that featured 800-plus yards of offense

It was an October classic.

And the Wildcats came out on top, beating the Whitefish football team 34-31 behind a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter capped off by a 10-yard touchdown throw by Banyan Johnston to Jory Hill with about 33 seconds left.

The crowd went wild.

In a game that featured more than 800 yards of offense, Whitefish struck first as Bulldog quarterback Luke Dalen ran for a 64-yard TD at the 10:14 mark in the first quarter.

The Cats answered with a drive of their own and Trip Ross rumbled in from a yard out to tie it. The Bulldogs answered with a 21-yard field goal, but the Cats added another TD with a 10-yard strike to Hill from Johnston for his first TD of the game early in the second.

Dalen then rushed for another TD, a 5-yarder, but the Cats answered that on a 4-yard TD run by Ross with 1:30 left in the half.

But that was enough time for the Bulldogs to score another TD, as Dalen found Jayke Thew on a 23-yard strike with 21 seconds left in the half as the Bulldogs kept the drive alive on a fake punt.

The kickers were perfect on PATs in the first half as it ended 24-21 Bulldogs.

After all that offense, no one could score in the third. Whitefish had a drive going, but Hill broke up a third down pass to stifle it and the Bulldogs opted to punt.

In the fourth the Cats re-captured the lead when Ross rumbled in from a yard out at the 11:56 mark. The PAT by Ross was blocked.

Whitefish answered as Dalen ran in from 15 yards out to put the Bulldogs up 31-27 with 6:27 left.

It was time for the Cats to put on a long time eating drive and they did just that. Starting at their own 10, the Cats used runs by Ross and Johnston and a 20-yard reception by Hill to move the chains.

As time wound down, Johnston rolled right and found Hill who leapt between two defenders to haul down the game-winning touchdown, 34-31.

“That was just a great drive,” coach Kelly Houle said. “We stuck to our game plan. Just keep doing what we do. Great execution by the kids.”

The Bulldogs had an opportunity to get into at least field goal range, but the Cats defense held tough and time ran out.

Ross had 181 yards rushing, Johnston 117 yards rushing and 96 yards passing. Hill had 6 catches for 69 yards and Hayden Strandberg had two for 19. Ross had two catches for 8 yards.

“Those games are fun to be a part of, sharpen your irons for the playoffs,” Houle said.

The Cats travel to Polson this week and then travel to Libby to wrap up the regular season. Neither team has a winning record, but Polson has been playing better as their quarterback has been getting better each week, Houle noted.

The Cats won’t overlook them.

“They have some good players,” Houle said.

If the Cats win these last two games they’d secure the conference crown and a first-round bye in the state A playoffs and a home playoff game Nov. 6. 

All of this year’s playoff games, even the state championship, are on Friday nights this season.

Tripp Ross finds the end zone during the Wildcats win over Whitefish. Seth B. Anderson Photo

    The CFHS students section waits to rush the field to congratulate their Wildcats after beating Whitefish. Seth B. Anderson Photo
  

    Banyon Johnson makes a breakaway run during the Wildcats win over Whitefish at home. Seth B. Anderson Photo.