Bulldogs play host to Lake City

SANDPOINT — The best high school football team in the state is coming to town. Sandpoint will host the reigning 5A state champion Lake City Timberwolves tonight, looking to take their best shot at ending the champ's 14 game winning streak.

Fresh off a 35-3 thumping of 5A Boise High School last week, Sandpoint (1-2) is at full strength and will no doubt be playing loose, with nothing to lose, knowing they'll have to be at their best to have a chance against the No. 1 ranked Timberwolves (3-0).

"Lake City is on a roll," said head coach Mike Mitchell. "They execute well, have a good running back and are sound everywhere you look. We can't turn the ball over once and will have to play error free."

Senior Mat Lawrence, hobbled by a broken foot the last two weeks, will play linebacker, punter, tight end and even some quarterback. The 6-foot-3, 240 pound versatile player is one of the best in the Inland Empire League when healthy, and will need a big game tonight.

"We'll use him more and more," said Mitchell of Lawrence, who is still not fully recovered. "He's not a 100 percent, but his 90 is really good."

The key to the game will be stopping Lake City's veer option attack, no easy task as they execute it to near perfection. Bulldogs' defensive coordinator Doug Semones has prepped his team all week, but that will only get you so far.

"You can identify it, but you still have to get off blocks and tackle," he said of stopping the option. "It's assignment football, we'll have to stop the dive first."

Ryan Armbruster will guide the Bulldogs offense, looking to continue his steady play of late. Junior Jake Semones, along with Lawrence, will also get a series or two at quarterback.

"Offensively we've got to dominate the clock," said Mitchell of the gameplan. "We won't push them around, but will have to stay balanced with the run and pass. We can't give them anything."

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Barlow Stadium.