Opportunistic Trojans take down Bulldogs in season opener
—Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Sandpoint senior Nick Holland gives a stiff-arm to a would-be Trojan tackler in the Bulldogs’ home-opening loss on Friday night.
—Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Walker Jacobson had a stellar night in defeat, making plays on offense, defense and as a busy punter.
SANDPOINT — The Bulldogs opened both the Goerge Yarno era and the first quarter with a bang, taking an early 7-0 lead in the season opener Friday night against the visiting 5A Trojans.
But Matthew Mills and the Trojans owned the final three quarters, giving new head coach Blaine Bennett his first victory as Post Falls scored the final three touchdowns to earn a hard-fought 22-7 win in a game much closer than the score.
Senior receiver Matthew Mills accounted for all but two of the Trojans (1-0) points, catching two touchdown passes and running for another as the Trojans spread the field and let their playmakers go to work behind their longtime staple fly sweep.
The Trojans’ defensive front seven was stout, controlling the line of scrimmage and holding the Bulldogs’ power rushing game in check with just 106 yards on the ground and 242 overall. Levi Irish was held to just 72 yards on 20 carries, as there were few holes to run through.
On the flip side, the Trojans rushed 46 times for 271 yards, moving the chains behind 115 yards from Kaden Nelson and sharp play from two quarterbacks in Mark Haines and Nate Buer. The physicality and execution of the Trojans, playing their first game since former head coach Jeff Hinz passed away in July, earned the respect of Yarno.
“That team we played tonight is going to be a damn good football team down the road,” claimed Yarno. “They were sharp tonight.”
The Bulldogs (0-1) drew first blood when junior quarterback Robbie Johnson threw a strike on a deep post to T.J. Davis, who beat two defenders on the play and ran untouched into the end zone for a 46 yard score and an early 7-0 lead. The Trojans muffed the ensuing kickoff, but the Bulldogs could not capitalize on the short 28 yard field and turned the ball back over on downs.
The Bulldogs were threatening to score again in the second quarter, but turned the ball over on downs at the Trojans’ 15 yard line, one of a few missed opportunities that proved costly.
Mills turned on the jets on a sweep and raced 30 yards to finish the ensuing 85 yard drive off, and after a two point conversion the half would end with the Trojans leading 8-6.
The biggest play of the game, a momentum-swinging play, came with the Trojans facing a 4th and 13 from the Bulldogs’ 23 yard line. Mills was able to get past the defense and catch a wide open 23 yard strike from quarterback Nate Buer, and after a failed try, led 14-7. Mills would haul in another four yard strike from Buer early in the fourth quarter, and after the two hooked up for a two-point conversion the lead was 22-7.
Two bright spots on defense for the Bulldogs came from linebacker Walker Jacobson and end Zack Alamillo, as the pair were in on nearly every tackle.
“Zack is in the trenches every down, getting after guys. He’s the definition of a Bulldog,” said Yarno, also lauding the play of his middle linebacker. “Walker is flying around and making plays for us.”
The Bulldogs were able to put a nice drive together with just under five minutes left in the game, but were stopped twice from inside the one yard line in an attempt to make it a one-score game. The Trojans’ defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage all game, and came up with two huge stops when they needed them most on the goal line.
Despite the loss, Yarno felt his team competed, which for a team with new starters at nearly every position, should pay off down the road.
“Our kids fought hard,” Yarno said. “You can’t coach effort, and those kids gave effort. They’re doing what we ask of them.”
Sandpoint hosts University High School next Saturday in the second-to-last game before Barlow Stadium is razed starting in October.
Post Falls 0 8 6 8 — 22
Sandpoint 7 0 0 0 — 7
SHS — T.J. Davis 47 catch from Robbie Johnson (Sawyer Seley kick)
PF — Matthew Mills 30 run (Kaden Nelson run)
PF — Mills 23 catch from Nate Buer (run fail)
PF — Mills 4 catch from Buer (Mills catch from Buer)
Team Stats
SHS PF
First Downs
13 13
Rushes-yds
32-106 46-271
Passing yds
136 103
QB
10-27 11-20
Interceptions
0 0
Punts-Ave
7-36 5-32
Fumbles-lost
2-0 2-1
Penalties
4-35 8-55
SHS Running: Robbie Johnson 9-31, Levi Irish 20-72, Zack Alamillo 1-2, Walker Jacobson 1-1, Julian Barajas 1-0 SHS Receiving: TJ Davis 2-59, Levi Irish 1-3, Clayton Fournier 1-14, Nick Holland 1-3, Walker Jacobson 1-18, Julian Barajas 4-40. KOR Walker Jacobson 1-18, Levi Irish 2-54. QB: Robbie Johnson 10-27-0 136 yds,
PF Running: Matthew Mills 2-33, Kaden Nelson 17-115, Nate Buer 4-35, Braden Vaughan 14-49, Mark Haines 5-37, Quin Bennett 1-(-1), Dusty Weeks 1-3 PF Receiving: Michael Mills 1-12, Braden Vaughan 1-(-1), Quin Bennett 2-26, Alan Ballew 2-8, Cody Barber 2-15, Matthew Mills 3-43. KOR — Isiah Gosney 1-25, PR — Isiah Gosney 2-25. QB Nate Buer 5-11-0, 64 yds; Mark Haines 6-9-0, 39 yds