Photos: Whitefish football downs Libby

KELSEY EVANS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 hour, 17 minutes AGO

Royer Blackwell (22) tackle. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Whitefish senior Austin Alton #3 at Memorial Field on Oct. 16. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Sophomore Beck Moses (2) gains yards before being tackled. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Whitefish's Owen Aldridge successful PAT. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Whitefish cheerleaders at the home game against Libby Friday, Oct. 16. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Bulldogs attempt to stop Libby's pass. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Bulldog Leo Bungener (79) fends off a Libby Logger at Memorial Field Friday. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Whitefish Bulldogs vs. Libby Loggers Friday, Oct. 16. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Luke Dalen breaks loose for a 39 yard TD run. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Whitefish cheerleaders at the home game against Libby Friday, Oct. 16. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Whitefish football made easy work of Libby at Memorial Field on Friday, defeating the Loggers 53-8.

The Bulldogs built a 39-0 lead, and several younger players hit the field before Libby scored its sole touchdown of the night in the third quarter. The Loggers’ roster fields 19 athletes, about half of the total of Whitefish’s roster.

Whitefish was on the board early after Vlad Shestak returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown. Whitefish recorded two safeties, including one by Keenan Curtiss, and received a 15-yard TD pass from Luke Dalen to Shestak.

Sam Rainford scored on a 7-yard run, Curtiss added a 15-yard touchdown rush, Dalen broke loose for a 39-yard scoring run, Shestak added a 15-yard touchdown run, and Beck Moses capped the scoring with a 21-yard touchdown run.

Dalen was perfect through the air, completing all six of his pass attempts for 61 yards and a touchdown. Moses completed 2 of 4 passes.

Vance Schwaiger led Whitefish with 60 rushing yards on seven carries, while Moses carried 10 times for 39 yards and a touchdown. Rainford added 25 yards and a score on two carries, Dalen rushed once for a 39-yard touchdown, Curtiss gained 17 yards and a touchdown, Shestak scored on his lone carry, and John Stephens added 16 rushing yards.

Along with his punt-return score and 15-yard rushing TD, Shestak caught two passes for 19 yards and another TD. Brody Forthofer led the Bulldogs with 28 receiving yards on two catches, while Austin Alton added an 11-yard reception. Rainford caught two passes, and Dalen also recorded a reception.

The Bulldogs are 7-1 overall and 3-1 in Northwest A. They now turn their attention to the last regular season game Friday against Bigfork. The Vikings are 2-5 overall and 2-2 in league.

“Bigfork runs the ball well, and we need to meet that challenge,” said Coach Brett Bollweg.

Friday is senior night. The 10 seniors have added value to the program in a lot of different ways, Bollweg said.

“They have taken on their own identity,” he said. “They haven’t tried to be somebody that they aren’t, and I respect and love that about them.”

Friday will be the last scheduled game played at Memorial Field, although the Bulldogs could host a playoff round at home, depending on the outcome. After the senior walk on Friday, community members who have played on the field will be invited to do a final walk across the turf.

“I’m sad to see it go because it feels like a big part of us,” Bollweg said of the field. “So many community members come out and support us because it’s what they’ve always done. You can get nostalgic about it – as we should, there are a lot of great memories on that field.”

Whitefish senior Austin Alton #3 at Memorial Field on Oct. 16. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)