Pettit, Davis go off as Bulldogs top Bears

MOSCOW — Sophomore quarterback Jaxon Pettit and senior receiver T.J. Davis came up huge in the most important game of the season, leading Sandpoint to a 47-32 win over Moscow in 4A Inland Empire League football Friday night at Moscow High School.

Pettit finished 11 of 25 passing, but many of his completions were for huge gains, as he finished with 377 yards passing and five touchdowns in an efficient performance.

The Bulldogs (3-6, 2-0 4A IEL) claimed the league title, and with it a first round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Bears (2-6, 0-2 4A IEL) gave the Bulldogs all they wanted, leading 26-23 at half time, but it was all Sandpoint in the second half.

“My hat’s off to Moscow. That’s a dang good football team,” said Bulldogs head coach George Yarno. “We came out in the second half, and our quarterback threw some amazing balls.”

Senior T.J. Davis, one of the top hurdlers in the state and a nice target at 6-foot-6, caught second half touchdown passes of 75 and 56 yards among his five catches for 189 yards, helping the Bulldogs outscore the Bears 24-6 in a dominating second half.

“They loaded the box, and that meant man coverage,” said Yarno of Moscow’s defense. “It’s tough to keep up with T.J. Those receivers played great.”

Dillan Mitton started the scoring with a 39 yard scamper, running in a two point conversion for an early 8-0 lead. He would see little daylight, as Moscow loaded the box with eight and nine players at times to stop the run, but still managed 131 yards on 22 carries.

Moscow answered with 14 straight points, before Bulldog junior receiver Hunter Elliot won a jump ball at midfield and raced 50 yards to paydirt for a 75 yard score. He finished with 111 yards on his two catches, the first of which gave the Bulldogs a 15-14 lead. Sophomore Garrett Chandler continues to be a bright spot at kicker, hitting all five extra points and a 32 yard field goal despite heavy winds.

The Bears again scored two straight times to take a 26-15 lead after both tries failed. Sandpoint answered when Davis out-maneuvered the DB for a deep ball and raced 75 yards for a score. Alex Stockton then made a beautiful one-handed catch on a jump pass from Pettit in the third quarter for a 29-26 lead.

Stockton had another big game, intercepting a pass late and also converting two big first downs as the up-back on fake punts.

Julian Barajas hauled in a perfectly thrown deep ball for a 73 yard score, and Davis took caught a slant pass and raced 56 yards for the final score, as the big plays saved the day for the opportunistic Bulldogs.

Riley Anderson, Tyler Lehman and Payton Cox had some nice plays defensively, and now the Bulldogs can rest up for two weeks and get everyone healthy for a home playoff game.

“We’re going to prepare and work our tails off. We’ll welcome whoever comes up here,” said Yarno. “Anything can happen in the playoffs.”

Sandpoint 8 15 7 17 — 47

Moscow 14 12 0 6 — 32

Spt — Dillan Mitton 39 run (Mitton run)

Mos — Kibling 3 run (Clary kick)

Mos — Cardwell 6 catch from Broenneke (try failed)

Spt — Hunter Elliott 76 catch from Jaxon Pettit (Garrett Chandler kick)

Mos — Rausch-Edwards 15 catch from Broenneke (kick blocked)

Mos — Cardwell 12 catch from Broenneke (try failed)

Spt — T.J. Davis 75 catch from Pettit (Chandler kick)

Spt — Alex Stockton 3 catch from Pettit (Chandler kick)

Mos — Broenneke 1 run (kick blocked)

Spt — Julian Barajas 73 catch from Pettit (Chandler kick)

Spt — Chandler 32 field goal

Spt — Davis 56 catch from Pettit (Chandler kick)

Icardo, Stevens lead Clark Fork past Lewis County

CLARK FORK — Theo Icardo powered in three first half touchdown runs, and Wade Stevens accounted for three second half touchdowns, leading the Wampus Cats to a 40-24 win over Lewis County on Friday night in White Star League football in Clark Fork.

Stevens finished with 100 yards passing and 75 yards rushing, while Bryan Moore hauled in 92 yards receiving. The two were both honored on Senior Night, in their last home game as four-year varsity starters. Icardo added 69 yards rushing, and Josh Constantin had 97 yards rushing.

“Tonight was Senior Night, we wanted to send them out in style. The first half was tight, a four point game, we made some adjustments at half and did a good job of controlling the line of scrimmage,” said Cats head coach Brian Arthun. “Ty Ballard and Charlie Abbot sustained blocks and opened up holes for Theo and Josh.”

Ballard also had an interception, and Moore and Icardo both recovered fumbles for the Wampus Cats (3-5, 3-4 WSL), who were eager to play an more even opponent after tough losses to Deary and Kendrick.

“Lewis County was big and physical,” claimed Arthun. “I think we wore them down a little bit in the second half.”

Clark Fork is at Mullan next Friday at 3 p.m. in the season finale.

Lewis County 0 16 0 8 — 24

Clark Fork 12 8 12 8 — 40

CF — Theo Icardo 7 run (pass fail)

CF — Icardo 5 run (run failed)

CF — Icardo 2 run (Stevens to Moore)

CF — Wade Stevens 22 run (Icardo run)

CF — Stevens 6 run (run failed)

CF — Cameron Garcia 8 catch from Stevens (run failed)