Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Whitehall junior Braden Smith pushes away a Eureka defender in action last Saturday.
Senior quarterback Braden Larsen holds onto the ball after scoring the games first touchdown last Saturday in a semifinal matchup in Eureka.
One of the best seasons in Whitehall High School football history came to an end last Saturday in Eureka.
After taking a 7-6 lead into halftime, the Trojans (10-2) were outscored 30-0 in the second half of their 37-6 MHSA Class B Semifinal matchup against the home standing Lions.
Following the game, an emotional head coach Dan Lacey discussed the amazing accomplishments of the 2016 Whitehall/Harrison squad.
"The experience was awesome. I hope these kids realize how much they accomplished not just as football players, but as young men," Lacey said. "They really turned this community around and got them to be excited and gave them something to really rally around. It didn't end the way we wanted, but they played their hearts out and that's all we can ask for."
Things would start well last Saturday for the Trojans, who scored the first points of the game with 3:21 left in the first quarter on a fourth and goal when quarterback Braden Larsen ran it in to the end zone for a one-year touchdown.
Whitehall would hold the 7-0 lead until Eureka scored with 15 seconds left in the first half on a one-yard run from Cannan Smith. The Trojans stuffed the Lions on the two-point conversion and took a 7-6 lead into the halftime.
The third quarter however belonged to Smith and the Lions. The senior running back scored four touchdowns in the quarter, on his way to 207 yards rushing.
Despite trailing 33 to 7 at the end of the third, Lacey said much like his team had all season long, they kept fighting to the end.
"We just came up short tonight," he said.
The game Saturday was the last for the nine seniors on the 2016 Trojans squad.
Braden Larsen, Andrew Simon, Erik Reinschmidt, Jacob Flynn, Colton Noyes, Kyle Romerio, Braxtyn Armstrong, Jack Racicoit and Tony Hudspeth all played their last football games for Whitehall Saturday in Eureka.
In an interview after the game Saturday, Lacey said he hadn't talked to the senior's years yet, but it will be tough.
"I spent a lot of time with those kids and respect what they've done for the program. They defiantly left a legacy," he said.
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