Dogs lose to Alberta team

RAYMOND, Alberta — Facing the No. 2 ranked team in the province of Alberta, a bevy of different Canadian rules and field dimensions and a running back who's headed to the University of Calgary next year, Sandpoint was able to hold tough for a half, before falling 42-20 to Raymond on Friday night.

The game was considered an exhibition, so it won't count on the Bulldogs' overall record, but it will certainly be a game they won't soon forget. A 110 yard field with 20 yard end zones, entire backfields in motion before the snap, 12 players on defense and a one-yard buffer for defensive lineman were but a few of the differences Sandpoint had to adjust to.

It marked the third time this year Sandpoint has played the No. 2 ranked team, including earlier matchups with Lake City and Lewiston. For a half, the Bulldogs more than held their own.

Jake Semones got the scoring started with a two-yard run to give Sandpoint a 6-0 lead after a missed extra point. When the Bulldogs were on offense, Raymond had to remove one of its players.

Raymond (6-0) running back Storm Bartsoff, who was recruited by BYU, Utah State and Utah among others before signing closer to home, scored the first of his three touchdowns on the night to give Raymond a 7-6 lead.

Semones would hook up with receiver Mike Hubbard on a 10 yard strike to put Sandpoint up 12-7 after a failed two-point conversion. Hubbard and Semones were clicking all night, including hook ups of 43 and 36 yards to provide a spark for the Bulldogs offensively.

Raymond would reel off 21 uncontested points to build a 35-12 lead early in the fourth quarter before Semones and Hubbard connected on their second touchdown of the night, a six yard strike to close the score to 35-20 after the two again connected for the two-point conversion.

Defensively, the Bulldogs had trouble keeping up with the Comets' 12 player offense, which featured four running backs and lots of pre snap motion by multiple players in the backfield. The defensive line also had to play a yard off the line of scrimmage, per Canadian rules, which proved a tough adjustment.

A.J. Smith, Coleman Frank, Raymond Lee and Jonas Cafferty each made some nice individual plays, but had trouble containing Bartsoff, a four sport standout who threw a 17 yard touchdown pass to end the scoring.

Sandpoint has a bye next Friday, allowing for extra preparation for the two most important games of the season against Moscow and Lakeland.

Sandpoint   6   6     0     8 — 20

Raymond    7   7   14   14 — 42

SPT — Semones 2 run (kick failed)

RAY — Bartsoff 4 run (Oler kick)

SPT — Hubbard 10 catch from Semones (try failed)

RAY — Baker 23 catch from Prince (Oler kick)

RAY — Bartsoff 11 run (Oler kick)

RAY — Bartsoff 50 run (Oler kick)

SPT — Hubbard 6 catch from Semones (Hubbard from Semones)

RAY — Ralph 17 catch from Bartsoff (Oler kick)