Sandpoint Bulldogs off to a great start

SANDPOINT — "Off and running" would best describe the way Sandpoint opened the 2004 football season as they defeated Nampa 27-6 at Barlow Stadium Friday night.

On the first play of the night, Sandpoint quarterback Erik DeMers sprinted 68 yards for the Bulldog's first touchdown of the year.

"Obviously, the first play of the game was a great way to start off our season," said Sandpoint head coach Sean Dorris. "The second series, we had a great drive and took it down the field on them."

A fumble recovery in the end zone by tight end Ben Mitchell, followed by a two-point conversion by fullback Nathan Knaggs, put Sandpoint up 14-0.

"Our defense played great all day, which is what we expected," Dorris said.

Highlighting the defensive effort in the second quarter was defensive back Blake Mahler who ran back an interception for the third touchdown of the game. Mahler then capped it off with a field goal to make it 21-0.

"We made some bad mistakes, missed some blocking assignments and really kind of got flat there for a while," he added. "We got up 21 points and didn't play at the same intensity that we did at the beginning of the game. So we need to make sure that doesn't happen again."

With the momentum turned down a notch, Nampa put together a couple decent defensive stands to stay in the game heading into the half. A 41-yard touchdown run in the third quarter by Nampa's Zack Heath served as a wake up call to the hosting Bulldogs.

"Overall, I'm real pleased with the performance of the kids," said Dorris. "It was real gutsy."

In the fourth quarter, Knaggs capped off a drive with an 8-yard touchdown for the final tally.

Sandpoint tailback Dan Parrish was knocked out in the first half of the game with a mild concussion. Wide receiver Erik Stoll suffered an injury to his left leg in the third period.

"Without Dan, basically we had to change up out game plan a little bit because he is the guy we like to get the ball to."

Sandpoint (1-0) plays the Central Valley Bears in Veradale on Friday.

Nampa 0 0 6 0 — 6

Sandpoint 14 7 0 6 — 27

Spt — DeMers 68 yd run (kick fail)

Spt — Mitchell Fumble Recovery end zone (Knaggs run)

Spt — Mahler 32 yd Interception return (Mahler kick)

Nam — Heath 41 yd run (kick fail)

Spt — Knaggs 7 yd run (kick fail)

Team Stats Spt Nampa

First Downs 15 7

Yds running 40-209 29-130

Yds receiving 64 33

Total Yds 273 163

QB 7-13 3-10

Int 0 2

Fumbles 0 1

Penalties 5-45 2-20

Individual Stats Sandpoint

Running: Hecker 2- -2, Parrish 10-57, Knaggs 12-64, DeMers 16-90

Receiving: Mitchell 1-2, Lovell 2-21, Mahler 3-41, Hecker 1-0

Punt returns: Mahler 2-26

KO returns: Mahler 1-13, Hecker 1-14

Punts: 3-90, 30 yd ave

Individual Stats Nampa

Running: Prieto 7-59, Fabela 2-3, Heath 10-42, #25 4-16, Rivera 5-10, Trejo

1-1

Receiving: Bagley 2-24, Febela 1-9