Bulldogs On The Road To Success
Author: Eliza McLaughlin, MT43 News Correspondent
Fall sports kicked off last week, and the Townsend Bulldogs wasted no time taking their place on the winners’ podium.
Football
The first of many Friday night football games took place in Thompson Falls where the Bulldogs faced off against the Blue Hawks.
After losing in the quarterfinal match in the 2021 playoffs, the Bulldogs showed that they are geared up and ready to play with a season opening 58 to 24 win.
Senior Dawson Sweat led the team with five touchdowns. Sweat was followed in touchdowns by Senior Ridger Jones who secured two for the team. Sophomores Deegan Mattson and Sawyer Horne each ran one touchdown.
Senior, and starting quarterback for the Bulldogs, Ryan Racht threw two touchdowns for the team, caught by Sweat and Jones. By the end of the showdown, Racht had thrown 214 passing yards.
“We played really good against Thompson Falls,” Racht told MT43 News. “We had a lot of new faces and it was cool for everyone to show what they can do.”
The Bulldogs will host their first home game for the season against the Florence Falcons on Friday, September 2 at 7:00 p.m.
“It is going to be a really good game this week against Florence. Their quarterback, running back and defensive line are spots where they really stand out,” Racht said. “They are a great team and we are excited to compete against them.”
Volleyball
The Lady Bulldogs volleyball team also launched into their 2022 season on Friday, August 26 at the Choteau Tournament.
For two days, the Bulldogs battled to claim the title of tournament champions.
On day one, the team conquered the Wolf Point Wolves, the Bigfork Valkyries, the Shelby Coyotes and the Manhattan Christian Eagles. The Bulldogs split sets with the Choteau team, and qualified for the gold round heading into Saturday play.
The Lady Bulldogs volleyball team will host their first home game against the Whitehall Trojans on September 1 at 4:00 p.m. and then participate in the Manhattan tournament on September 3.
Cross Country
Both the boys and girls cross country teams traveled to Boulder on Saturday, August 27 to participate in a opener race against the Jefferson Panthers, the Whitehall Trojans, the Three Forks Wolves and the Harrison Wildcats.
The Lady Bulldogs followed in the rhythm of their peers, taking first as a team with 24 points. The boy’s team, led by Senior James Pitassy with a time of 19:56, placed third among the schools with 65 points.
Pitassy, who finished in 10th, was followed by Junior Aidan Easter in 13th with a time of 21:31. On his heels was Sophomore Teagen Martin in 15th with 21:44. Senior William Lynde and Sophomore Ross MacDonald wrapped up the Bulldog lineup with a 17th and 19th finish in 22:47 and 23:13, respectively.
Although Jefferson’s Renae Parker was the first among the girls to cross the finish line on Saturday, she was followed closely behind by Broadwater’s Sophomore, Memphys Meier, in second and Senior, Justene Santi, third. Meier finished in 22:21 and Santi in 22:48.
Sophomore, Kaelyn Sangray, was the next to finish for the Lady Bulldogs, claiming seventh place in 24:17.
Sophomore, Abigail Wickens, followed close behind in eighth place with a time of 24:27.
Senior, Sydney Forrey, took 14th among the girls, finishing in 27:44. Sophomores, Scarlett Mcdaniel and Carsyn O’Dell, brought the Lady Bulldogs competition to a close with a 15th and 17th place finish in 28:45 and 33:19, respectively.
The Bulldog cross country teams will travel to Belgrade on Thursday, September 1 before returning to the Gallatin Valley on September 10 to race in Bozeman.
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PhotoCredit: Eliza McLaughlin
Image 2 Caption: Bulldog Football in Thompson Falls. Photos: Eliza McLaughlin.
Image 3 Caption: Bulldog Football in Thompson Falls. Photos: Eliza McLaughlin.
