Another Friday under the lights, another convincing win for Montesano.

As I was formulating my thoughts for this week’s column, it struck me how spoiled Bulldogs fans are.

I would include myself as a spoiled fan….and a spoiled local media member.

Many prep football fan bases – or any football fan bases for that matter – would be thrilled by blowout victories, even over bad teams, but in Montesano that type of dominance has become a way of life.

Before we start trying to compare this team to great Montesano football teams of the past, and before we start trying to project how far this team will be able to make it in the post-season, let’s take just a moment to pause and appreciate what we have witnessed so far.

In the opener, The Bulldogs persevered through a fantastic individual performance by a next-level athlete (Aberdeen’s Kylan Touch) and the loss of an all-leaguer (Dakoyta Reninger) to injury to close out a 21-point win over a Class 2A team.

The following week, Montesano started fast against another 2A team (Sequim) with a plethora of returning all-league skill players and, despite losing two of its best skill players to injuries (Carson Klinger and Kobe Gallinger) cruised to a 41-6 victory.

Last Friday, The Dogs stepped up defensively while their offense started slow, then scored 40 points in less than 12 game-minutes to secure a 3-0 start to the season with a 47-0 drubbing of Castle Rock.

The bar has been set high, but what these players and coaches have done through the first three weeks deserves to be recognized.

Players go down with injuries and the next man on the depth chart steps up and fills his role. The coaching staff makes necessary adjustments to the game plan based on available personnel and adjustments by the opposing defense.

Good job, fellas.

Now, let’s compare this team to great Bulldog teams of the past and project how far they can make it in the post-season.

Just kidding.

I would like to take a quick moment to thank Bulldogs sophomore Sam Winter for making me look smart.

In last week’s column, I said Winter would be a star and he responded immediately by scoring three touchdowns – one rushing, one receiving and one on a fumble recovery – the day after that paper hit the newsstands.

Thanks, Sam.

Winter has stepped into the role vacated by Reninger, who was Montesano’s secondary offensive weapon last year and was hyped as part of the three-headed monster of returning senior skill players – along with Carson Klinger and Trevor Ridgway – who were going to carry this team in 2017.

Thus far, Winter has not disappointed. I am excited to see how he will improve as the season goes on and what he will be able to do the next couple of seasons.

I also was encouraged by the performance of the Bulldog defense, which seems to get a little bit better and a little bit faster each week.

Ridgway has displayed the ability to throw the ball down field with accuracy, which will be a big deal down the stretch. The more times deep completions end up on film, the more opponents will have to worry about deep passes, which should help open things up in the running game when the competition gets tougher.

This week’s opponent is Rochester, who has been a bit of a push over in the past. However, this game may not be a layup for Montesano.

The Warriors (2-1) beat Charles Wright by two scores, 21-7, last week and opened the season with a 23-20 win over Tenino. Rochester’s only loss this season was to Class 3A Hudson’s Bay, 34-7.

This contest will be the Bulldogs’ last tune-up game before their league opener at undefeated Forks – I know that sounds weird, but I promise it’s true – on Sept. 29.