Pirates right the ship

The Polson football team completed an undefeated regular season with a 38-24 comeback victory at Whitefish on Friday night.

Saddled with their first halftime deficit of the season, Polson (9-0) scored four touchdowns to rally past the Bulldogs in the Dawg Pound.

With the victory, the Pirates claimed the Northwest A conference title, a No. 4 seed in the Class A playoffs that begin Saturday and a first-round bye to rest up for a home game in Round 2.

Taxed by a pass-conscious Bulldog defense, Wilson ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns. The junior quarterback still got his touchdown passes — three, giving him 41 on the year — but his ability to run and shoot was a difference maker.

“They had a great defensive game plan and tried to take away the pass,” said Wilson, who had almost as many carries (23) as passes (24) Friday. He completed 18 for 198 yards. “We were patient and passed it when we could. But our line did a good job blocking on the run. … Keyen Nash (33 rushing yards) had a great game. Our run game was on point today.”

The game saw seven lead changes: Whitefish led 3-0, 10-7, 17-13 and 24-19. The latter came on Ty Schwaiger’s 17-yard scoring run at 5:06 of the third quarter.

Polson answered, Wilson tearing off a 21-yard run ahead of a 4-yard TD pass to Alex Muzquiz. The Pirates led for good, 25-24, and got the ball back on a rare Whitefish 3-and-out.

Then, facing a fourth-and-12, Wilson made the play of the game — he rolled right for a rugby-style punt and instead flung a pass to Colton Graham for a 23-yard gain.

“We’re not a big punting team, but we get the ball in my hands and I can punt it,” Wilson said, then added: “Not very well. I got lucky on that first one (a 36-yarder in the first quarter).”

From there he converted another fourth down with a short pass to Graham, then capped the drive with a 16-yard run around right end.

It was 31-24 with just 4:26 left in the game. Whitefish gave up the ball up on downs with 2:16 left, got the ball back on downs at 1:07 and with 36 seconds remaining Wilson — him again — picked off a fourth-down Fynn Ridgeway pass and sped 30 yards for the pick-6.

The Bulldogs, getting 140 yards rushing for Schwaiger and another 92 from Ridgeway, held up well.

“That was a great high school football game,” Whitefish coach Chad Ross said. “Hundred percent. Loved it.

“We know Jarrett Wilson is a great quarterback. We dropped the defensive ends off and frustrated him a little bit. He ran the ball a lot, and a couple missed tackles — that’s something we need to clean up — and maybe a play here or there and it’s a great day.”

Graham had eight catches for 103 yards, including a 32-yard score. Wilson had a hand in all six TDs.

“He does such a great job, we have all the faith in his decision making,” Polson coach Kaden Glinsmann said. “You saw that here tonight. He’s a special young man and I tell you what, it’s just a pleasure coaching him. I just can’t wait to see what these next couple of weeks bring us.”

Polson’s closest game prior to Friday night was a 42-14, 28-point victory at home against nonconference foe Havre on Oct. 8.

The Pirates enter the playoffs as the No. 4 seed, one of four teams to earn a first-round bye. The others are No. 1 seed Laurel (8-0) , No. 2 Hamilton (8-0) and No. 3 Fergus (7-1).

Polson will host a quarterfinal game the following weekend against the highest remaining seed at a time and date to be determined. Their most likely opponent is No. 5 Billings Central (6-2). Other possibilities, in order of likelihood, are No. 6 Whitefish (6-2), No. 7 Sidney (4-4) or No. 8 Columbia Falls (6-2).

Polson and Billings Central have one common opponent this season in Havre. The Rams defeated the Blue Ponies 37-7, while Polson won 42-14.

Polson 38, Whitefish 24

Polson – 0 – 13 – 12 – 13 – 38

Whitefish – 3 – 14 – 7 – 0 – 24

W – Ryder Barinowski 25 Field Goal

P – Robert Perez 11 pass from Jarrett Wilson (Kaden Nelson kick)

W – Fynn Ridgeway 5 run (Barinowski kick)

P – Wilson 7 run (kick failed)

W – Bodie Smith 19 pass from Ridgeway (Barinowski kick)

P – Graham 32 pass from Wilson (conv. failed)

W – Ty Schwaiger 16 run (Barinowski kick)

P – Alex Muzquiz 2 pass from Wilson (conv. failed)

P – Wilson 17 run (conv. failed)

P – Wilson 32 INT return (Nelson kick)

RUSH – P31-174 (Wilson 23-140, Nash 7-34, Fisher 1-6), W40-201 (Schwaiger 24-128, Ridgeway 15-70). PASS – P (Wilson 18-24-198), WF (Ridgeway 2-11-28-1). RECEIVE – P 18-198 (Graham 8-103, Perez 5-61, Muzquiz 3-17, Fisher 1-18, Dumont 1-(-)1), WF (Smith 2-28). INT – P (Wilson 1-32). SK – P1 (Braunson Henriksen).

— Daily Inter Lake reporter Fritz Neighbor contributed extensively to this article.