Whitefish Football Falls to Hamilton Despite Late Surge

The Whitefish Bulldog Football team was back in action, Friday night, as they played host to Hamilton.

Turnovers would doom the Dawgs in this one as Hamilton hung on for the 27-23 victory.

Hamilton would get on the board first as their Quarterback Cooper Weston ran it in from 7 yards out, to give the Broncs the 7-0 lead.

After Whitefish threw an interception, it was Weston again. He then scored from 2 yards out and Hamilton took a commanding 14-0 lead midway through eh first quarter.

It was 14-0 after one quarter.

Whitefish would answer early in the 2nd as Luke Dalen drove it in from 6 yards out. Whitefish would go for 2 and converted thanks to another Dalen rush.

Hamilton would score twice more in the 2nd quarter as Weston threw a pair of touchdown passes. At the half it was Hamilton 27, Dawgs 8. Weston accounted for all four of the Broncs scores and had about 300 yards passing at the half.

Things would shift in the 3rd quarter.

Late in the frame the Dawgs found momentum offensively. Vlad Shestak would gash the defense on a 40 yard end around. Luke Dalen had a big run to put them inside the redzone and a penalty added to it. Cole Moses then found paydirt on a 5 yard run to cut into the lead 27-15 with 2:48 to go in the 3rd.

Fast forward to the fourth, Hamilton has it on the own 1 yard line and instead of punting, they give in to the Whitefish defense, stepping out of bounds for the safety to make it 17-27.

On the ensuing possession Dalen would find Moses for a 47 yard running back screen as Moses took it to the house making the game 27-23.

The Dawgs momentum carried them into the next defensive possession where Jayke Thew would pick off Weston and returned the football to the 40 yard line. 

After Whitefish crossed midfield, the offense would stall. Facing 4th and 7 the Dawgs dialed up the deep route and the pass was overthrown, leading to a turnover on downs. Hamilton was then able to run out the clock.

Whitefish had 5 turnovers in the game, Hamilton with 2.

Stay tuned later for a full photo gallery from Friday nights contes.

The Dawgs finished with 358 yards of offense (197 rush, 161 pass).

Hamilton finished with 457 (333 pass, 124 rush).

Full individual stats below:

H- 14  13  0  0     27

W-  0    8   7  8    23

WHS Rushing:

  Moses- 13 for 80, 1 td

  Dalen-   8  for 47, 1 td 

  Shestak- 2 for 39

  Harmon- 7 for 14

  Nissen-   3 for 9

  Barker-   3 for 8

Hamilton Rushing:

   28 for 124, 2 td

WHS Passing:

  Barker  -  4/9, 88 yds, 1 int

  Dalen-    4/12, 73 yds, 1 td, 1 int

Hamilton Passing:

   Weston- 25/43, 333 yds, 2td, 1 int

WHS receiving

   Shestak- 4 for 78, 

   Moses- 2 for 54, 1 td

   Rainford- 1 for 5

   Anderson-  1 for -1

With the loss Whitefish falls to 0-1 on the season. Hamilton improves to 2-0 with the win.

Up Next: Whitefish Football is back in action, Friday September 12th, as they take to the road to face Corvallis. Catch the call live on 102.7FM & 1240AM Outlaw Country. Kick-off is scheduled for 7pm.