Too many turnovers and untimely penalties led to an unexpected and upsetting outcome for Montesano as the Bulldogs lost to Freeman 28-21 in a 1A State first-round playoff game on Friday at Jack Rottle Field in Montesano.

The Bulldogs (10-1 overall) committed five turnovers in the game and had multiple drive-killing penalties to dig themselves a 21-0 hole by halftime. It was a deficit Monte would never dig itself out of.

Monte appeared to get off on the right foot when senior defensive back Bode Poler intercepted a pass from Scotties senior quarterback Luke Whitaker on Freeman’s first drive of the game, but Monte’s subsequent drive stalled out and was forced to punt.

Freeman running back Kanoa Rogan then broke loose for an 81-yard run that got the ball down to the Monte 5-yard line. A few plays later and after a Scotties false-start penalty, Freeman found the end zone on a halfback pass from Sage Gilbert to Whitaker for a 7-0 lead.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Freeman quarterback Luke Whitaker (3) hauls in a touchdown pass against Montesano defenders Terek Gunter (17) and Mason Rasmussen during Monte’s 28-21 loss a 1A State first-round playoff game on Friday in Montesano.

Montesano followed with a promising drive to the Scotties 26-yard line, but a Bulldogs holding penalty was followed by an interception of quarterback Tyson Perry’s pass to end Monte’s scoring threat.

Montesano’s next drive advanced toward midfield, but Perry was sacked and fumbled on a third-down play, with the Scotties defense recovering the ball.

The Bulldogs’ fourth drive of the first quarter ended in just two plays after Perry’s second intercepted pass of the game, but the Montesano defense held firm and forced another Scotties punt to keep the score at 7-0 after one quarter.

Monte’s first drive of the second quarter drove into Freeman territory thanks in large part to the hard-nosed rushing of senior running back Gabe Bodwell. But the drive ended after another Monte penalty led to a punt.

Freeman doubled its lead one possession later, going up 14-0 on an inside slant pass from Whitaker to receiver Vance Coyner.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano linebacker Felix Romero (15) tackles Freeman running back Kanoa Rogan during a 28-21 loss in a 1A State first-round playoff game on Friday in Montesano.

Monte’s next drive ended in disaster after Freeman defensive back Nash McLean intercepted a Perry pass and returned it to the Bulldogs 13-yard line.

Three plays later, Whitaker hit receiver Sage Gilbert with an 11-yard touchdown pass to put Freeman up 21-0 with 3:55 to go in the first half.

Monte took the opening kickoff of the second half and once again drove to midfield, but the drive stalled after a false-start penalty on a 3rd-and-short play led to a punt, thwarting another promising Monte drive.

The Bulldogs’ next drive ended with a lost fumble at the Scotties’ 35-yard line.

Freeman took advantage of the miscue, driving downfield and scoring when backup quarterback Logan Schultz – playing in place of an injured Whitaker – rolled out and sailed a jump-ball pass to 6-foot-6 receiver Colton Wells, who came down with the ball for a 28-0 lead with 4:54 left in the third quarter.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano defender Tyler Johansen (24) pressures Freeman quarterback Logan Schultz during a 28-21 loss in a 1A State first-round playoff game on Friday in Montesano.

Monte finally put a complete drive together in the final minutes of the period, scoring on a 1-yard run by Bodwell to trim the deficit to 28-7 with just under a minute to go.

Early in the fourth quarter, Monte drove inside the Scotties red zone, but Perry was sacked on a fourth-down play to end the threat.

Monte cut the lead to 28-14 when Poler scored on a 20-yard pass from Perry with 2:46 left to play and – after the Bulldogs defense held Freeman to a three-and-out – got to within a touchdown when Perry hit receiver Mason Rasmussen on a 24-yard pass to the front pylon, giving Monte a shot – albeit a slim one – at completing an improbable comeback.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano senior Bode Poler (22) finds running room during a 28-21 loss to Freeman in a 1A State first-round playoff game on Friday in Montesano.

With just 30 second left in the game, a Monte onside kick attempt was recovered by Freeman, which then ran out the clock on Montesano’s season.

Despite outgaining Freeman 369 total yards to 278, five Montesano turnovers proved to be the difference in the game.

“They kind of just did to us what we’ve done to everybody else,” Montesano head coach Terry Jensen said. “You’ve got to bring your A-game in the playoffs and if you don’t, you’re susceptible to going home and that’s what they did to us tonight. They outplayed us.”

Montesano rushed for 248 yards on the evening, with Bodwell carrying the load with 32 rushes for 177 yards. The 1A Evergreen League MVP finished his senior season with 1,444 yards on the year.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano running back Gabe Bodwell (44) stiff arms Freeman linebacker Cody Cayce during a 28-21 loss in a 1A State first-round playoff game on Friday in Montesano.

Seventh-seeded Montesano also had 16 first downs to nine for No. 11 Freeman, and totalled seven more passing yards than the Scotties.

But three interceptions – all in the first half – and two lost fumbles led to a plus-4 turnover margin in favor of Freeman.

Jensen said he was proud of how his team fought back on a night when so little seemed to go right.

“I’m proud of our kids for how we battled and came back. We could’ve rolled over,” he said. “I think defensively, we played well. … They played pretty well all game. … We just ran out of time and that’s the way it is in football.”

With the unexpected early exit out of the postseason, Jensen said the loss “is going to hurt,” but praised the character and legacy his senior class leaves behind.

“I’m really proud of this group. Great leadership, great seniors,” he said. “I always say if you leave the program better than when you started, you’ve done you’re job and they’ve certainly done that. Just a super group of kids to work with. We’ve got some good young kids coming up and I hope they learn from this class.”

Freeman 7 14 7 0 – 28

Montesano 0 0 7 14 – 21

Scoring

First quarter

F – Whitaker 13 pass from S. Gilbert (Dickerhoof kick), 7:01

Second quarter

F – Coyner 13 pass from Whitaker (Dickerhoof kick), 6:11

F – S. Gilbert 11 pass from Whitaker (Dickerhoof kick), 3:55

Third quarter

F – Wells 16 pass from Schultz (Dickerhoof kick), 4:54

M – Bodwell 1 run (Romero kick), 0:57

Fourth quarter

M – Poler 20 pass from Perry (Romero kick), 2:46

M – Rasmussen 24 pass from Perry (Romero kick), 0:30

Passing leaders: Freeman – Whitaker 10-18-1-78, Schultz 2-9-0-36. Montesano – Perry 10-23-3-121.

Rushing leaders: F – Rogan 23-115, Whitaker 6-29, Schultz 6-27. M – Bodwell 32-177, Poler 4-32, Perry 8-14, Romero 7-25, Gunter 3-0.

Receiving leaders: F – S. Gilbert 5-51, Wells 2-58, McLean 2-5.

M – Poler 3-61, Rasmssen 2-30, Johansen 1-6, Gunter 1-1, C. Crites 1-23.