Bulldogs bounce Badgers for Homecoming win
Win final home game of the season, and final game at old Barlow Stadium
By ERIC PLUMMER
Sports editor
SANDPOINT — The Bulldogs provided a perfect send off for the iconic wooden bleachers at Barlow Stadium, riding the powerful legs of senior running back Levi Irish and taking care of business with a 43-7 dispatching of Bonners Ferry on Friday night in Homecoming football action.
The 65 year-old wooden bleachers, built in the early 1950s by Sandpoint coaching legend Cotton Barlow, will be torn down starting next week. The Bulldogs (2-2) made sure they went out in the style, shaking off a slow start to eventually wear down the 3A Badgers (0-4), who brought some fight and played nothing like their record.
“I want to thank the Badgers for coming down and playing us. The first game ever here was Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry,” said Bulldogs head coach George Yarno, who earned his first home win. “We’re a bigger school with more kids. They gave us one heck of a game.”
The Badgers took the opening drive and marched for nearly five minutes, led by strong running from Nick Sabin, before quarterback Kaleb Stockton scored from two yards out for a surprising early 7-0 lead.
Sandpoint missed a field goal on the next drive, before Nick Holland made a diving interception to get his team the ball back. Robbie Johnson then found T.J. Davis for a 41 yard strike on the ensuing play, tying the game at 7-7. Johnson would finish 16-24, for 199 yards and three passing touchdowns on the night.
Senior cornerback Cole Hooper added an interception on the next drive, returning the ball to the two yard line, where Johnson called his own number and scored on a keeper to make it 14-7.
The Badgers kept things close, and late in the second quarter Davis made huge play on fourth down, reaching behind himself to snag a pass for an 11 yard score, and a 21-7 lead heading into half. It could have been even worse, but a highlight reel punt return by Clayton Fournier was called back, and Walker Jacobson ended the half with a booming 61 yard punt.
With much more depth, it was only a matter of time before the Bulldogs wore the Badgers down. Austin Greene and Jacob Cometto each scored their first touchdowns of the season, and Levi Irish, who carried 24 times for a bruising 225 yards, added the final score late in the game.
“We got things rolling in the second half. We can start to wear people down with our numbers. We get the guys in the weight room, and you can see it in the third and fourth quarter,” claimed Yarno, whose team struggled at times, especially with penalties. “We had some adversity. Most of all the kids had fun and got a win on Homecoming.”
Senior Erik Suhr capped a Senior Night with the third interception of the game, as the Badgers failed to complete a pass on the night.
Sandpoint hits the road next weekend to face Lewiston, one of the top 5A teams in the state.
Bonners Ferry 7 0 0 0 — 7
Sandpoint 14 7 7 15 — 43
BF — Kaleb Stockton 2 run (Stockton kick)
Spt — T.J. Davis 41 catch from Robbie Johnson (Sawyer Seley kick)
Spt — Johnson 2 run (Seley kick)
Spt — Davis 11 catch from Johnson (Seley kick)
Spt — Austin Greene 2 catch (Seley kick)
Spt — Jacob Cometto 2 run (Seley kick)
Spt — Levi Irish 2 run (Walker Jacobson catch from Nick Holland)
SHS BF
First Downs
15 7
Yds Rushing
38-294 39-173
Passing Yards
221 7
QB
17-25 1-4
Interceptions
0 3
3Punts-Ave
1-61 4-34
Penalties
11-115 8-50
SHS Rushing: Levi Irish 24-225, Jacob Cometto 8-34, Walker Jacobson 2-7, Robbie Johnson 3-9, Andrew Webster 1-19
SHS Receiving: Andrew Webster 1-5, Austin Greene 2-26, Taran McLaughlin 6-84, Spencer Bassett 4-33 Julian Barajas 2-21, TJ Davis 2-52
SHS Returns: KOR Walker Jacobson 1-11, PR Clayton Fournier 2-7
BF Rushing: Nick Sabin 16-82, Evan Wasmere 11-73, Kaleb Stockton 6-(-3), Mat Varelman 3-12, Christ Sabin 2-9 Issac Lavala 1-0,
BF Receiving: Chris Sabin 1-7
BF Returns: Kevin Abel KOR 4-70.