Bulldogs score huge win
SANDPOINT - It's not often a two-point safety decides a game, but that may have been the case Friday night in Sandpoint's 22-21 win over Moscow in a pivotal 4A North League showdown at Barlow Stadium.
Sandpoint defensive end A.J. Smith, who had a huge game defensively, tackled the Moscow ball carrier in the end zone for a safety just over three minutes into the game, and the points ended up being crucial in keeping Sandpoint's playoff hopes alive.
Save for a huge Moscow momentum swing in the second quarter, when the Bears (6-2, 1-1 4A North) scored 21 quick and unanswered points, Sandpoint (4-4, 1-0 4A North) dominated the action from start to finish.
"That safety was big," said Sandpoint coach Mike Mitchell. "I thought we did a lot of good things tonight."
Ben Fisher, who rushed for 98 yards on 22 carries, scored on touchdown runs of 11 and three yards as a sharp Sandpoint offense built an early 16-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
Moscow quarterback Zach Hull scored on a five yard keeper to get Moscow on the board and start their momentum swing. Bears safety Jake Helbling jumped an underneath route and intercepted Jake Semones, returning it 40 yards for the score to make it 16-14. Hull would add a 17 yard quarterback keeper for a score after a muffed punt by Ben Fisher to give the Bears a 21-16 lead over the stunned Bulldogs.
Sandpoint took the ensuing drive and drove 65 yards for a score to regain the lead. Semones rolled left and threw a perfect strike on the run to Jonas Cafferty for a 31 yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs ahead 22-21 before half time. Semones and Cafferty hooked up twice on long completions in the game.
Neither team would score in the second half as Sandpoint's defense achieved its goal of stopping Moscow's Jayson Washington, who ran wild over Lakeland the week before. It seemed like every time he touched the ball, there were multiple defenders ready to take him down, holding the lightning-quick scat back to just 63 yards on 12 carries.
"That's what we had to do," said Mitchell, whose game plan was to contain Washington, and control the clock.
Leading 22-21 on the final drive, Ricky Lang and Fisher gashed the Bears' defense to keep the clock moving and salt the game away. A big pass interference call on Mike Hubbard on 4th down with under a minute left sealed the game.
Sandpoint plays at Lakeland next Friday, looking to secure a win and tie Moscow for the 4A North League title.
MHS 0 21 0 0 - 21
SHS 10 12 0 0 —22
SHS - Smith Safety
SHS - Fisher 11 run (Hubbard pass from Fisher)
SHS - Fisher 3 run (run failed)
MHS - Hull 5 run (Lewis kick)
MHS - Helbling 34 yd Interception (Merickel kick)
MHS - Hull 17 run (Merickel kick)
SHS - Cafferty 31 catch from Semones (pass failed)
SHS Rushing: Ben Fisher 22-98, Ricky Lang 6-31, Jake Semones 8-17, Cody Hecker 3-17
MHS Rushing: Myke Washington 12-51, Zach Hull 7-35, Jayson Washington 12-63
SHS Receiving: Jonas Cafferty 2-58, Sean Visintin 2-20, Ben Fisher 1-14, Jordan Hammack 1-11, Mike Hubbard 2-35
MHS Receiving: Zach Hull 1-14