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Trojans look to bounce back

After a tough start to the 2018 season, the Whitehall/Harrison High School football team will look to bounce back when they host Missoula Loyola Friday night.

The Trojans fell 34-0 last Saturday to Colstrip, a game that was added to the schedule late last week and took place at Rocky Mountain College in Billings.

The Colts were originally scheduled to play Wolf Point, who cancelled the game. Colstrip officials contacted Whitehall head coach and athletic director Dan Lacey about the possibility of the two teams playing.

There would be bad news to start the game for the Trojans when senior all-state quarterback Max Feight went down with a knee injury early in the first quarter.

"It's always unfortunate when an injury occurs especially on our first offensive drive of the year. We don't know a whole lost about the injury yet. We just know Max is sore and wants to do whatever he can to help the team win," said head coach Dan Lacey.

Junior Devin Woody would take over for Feight at quarterback, and finished the game six of 14 passing for 63 yards and three interceptions.

Lacey said Woody is still grasping the offense they run so he was proud of him stepping in and taking charge.

"That's a lot to ask out of someone who didn't get a lot of reps at quarterback during camp. He plays receiver also so most of his reps came at receiver," he said.

The game was scoreless at the end of the first quarter before a strong second quarter from the Colts put them in the control and gave them a 20-0 lead at half.

Lacey said some positives he took from the game is that on defense they had a goal line stand, also stopped the Colts two other times on fourth down, and forced them to punt three times.

Senior Sawyer Keener was the teams leading tackler with 18. Clint Parks added 10 tackles and Eli Reynolds had a six.

Keener was the top rusher for Whitehall with 70 yards on 15 carries. Payton King was the leading receiver with two catches for 38 yards. Parks had two catches for 24 yards, and Cade Briggs had one catch for 18 yards.

Going into the game against Loyola, Lacey feels his team under the direction of Woody will need to do a better job on offense and this will give the defense a break.

He is looking forward to getting to play a Rams team who made the state finals in 2016 and the semifinals in 2017.

"Loyola is a game we have wanted for a long time. We are excited about going out and competing with one of the top programs in the state. I look forward to the opportunity and we will have the kids ready to go Friday night," Lacey said.

 

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