Whitefish vs. Dillon: 1st Round Playoff Preview

The Whitefish Bulldog Football team opens postseason play at home Friday night, welcoming one of the most storied programs in Class A football to Memorial Field.

The Class A playoff bracket gets underway with a matchup between the Whitefish Bulldogs and the Beaverhead County Beavers of Dillon. And while the Beavers bring a proud tradition and plenty of championship experience to the table, the Dawgs have put together a season that gives them every reason to believe they can make a run of their own.

Whitefish enters the contest at 8-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play, earning the No. 2 seed out of the Northwest A. Dillon comes in at 4-4 overall and 3-2 in Southwest A play, claiming the No. 3 seed.

As we get set for Friday night's playoff opener, hear from Bulldog captains Luke Dalen (QB/DB) and junior lineman Braylon “Big Bad” Dunn (OL/DL), as they preview the matchup with Dillon.

There's a reason Beaverhead County is considered one of the premier programs in Class A football. The Beavers have built a championship tradition that few programs can match, winning nine state titles between 2000 and 2023. That includes three championships in four seasons from 2013 through 2016, with their most recent state title coming in 2023.

But that history doesn't make the Beavers invincible. Whitefish knows what it takes to beat Dillon when everything is on the line. The Bulldogs defeated the Beavers 17-13 in the 2015 Class A State Championship game, proving that the tradition and the trophies don't decide what happens between the lines.

Now, Dillon comes to Whitefish for the opening round of the playoffs, facing a Bulldog squad that has been productive on offense, tough on defense and confident all season.

The numbers help tell the story. Whitefish is averaging 41.4 points and 378.1 total yards per game, compared to Dillon's 30 points and 328.4 yards per contest. The Dawgs have also been stingy defensively, allowing just 112 points through nine games — an average of about 12.4 points per game.

Whitefish has shown it can move the football in multiple ways, averaging 203.2 rushing yards per game while adding another 174.9 through the air. Quarterback Luke Dalen has been a major part of that success, averaging 258.9 total yards per game and leading an offense that has consistently found ways to put points on the board.

Dillon brings a dangerous playmaker of its own in Canin Christiansen, who averages 241.3 total yards per game. The Beavers have the ability to put pressure on a defense, meaning Whitefish will need to tackle well, limit big plays and make Dillon work for every yard.

For the Dawgs, the formula is straightforward: establish the run, take advantage of opportunities through the air, and let a defense that has been stingy all season set the tone.

The postseason brings a different level of intensity, and the Bulldogs know that a strong regular season only matters if they can carry that success into November. With home-field advantage, a balanced attack and a defense that has consistently limited opponents, Whitefish has an opportunity to make a statement in its playoff opener.

Dillon brings the championship pedigree. Whitefish brings an 8-1 record, home-field advantage and a team that has earned the right to believe it belongs in the championship conversation.

It's the Dawgs versus the Beavers in the opening round of the Class A playoffs, Friday night at Memorial Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Catch all the action with live play-by-play on Outlaw Country:

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The regular season is behind them. The stakes are higher. And the road to a state championship starts Friday night in Whitefish.