Bulldogs storm back to claim 21-20 win

| September 5, 2008 9:00 PM

SANDPOINT - With just under three minutes left in the game, Sandpoint trailed Colville 20-7 and it appeared for all intents and purposes that the Bulldogs were headed to a frustrating defeat Friday night in their home opener at Barlow Stadium.

Then the momentum turned - and did it ever.

Sandpoint would score 14 unanswered points in a thrilling final two minutes, capping a wild and improbable comeback and securing a 21-20 non-league win.

Down 20-7, Sandpoint quarterback Jake Semones found Brandon Lawrence with a nine-yard lofted pass into the back of the end zone. A missed extra point brought the score to 20-13, with just 1:51 left, and the Bulldogs were unable to recover the ensuing onside kick attempt.

Then senior Ricky Lang made the play of the game - or plays of the game, as it were. With Colville looking to run out the final 1:42 on the clock, Lang managed to rip the ball loose from the Colville quarterback on a keeper, then fell on the fumble for the pivotal turnover.

Infused with new energy and with the crowd suddenly coming to life, Semones threw two quick strikes to get the Bulldogs (1-1) down to the 15 yard line, where they were then helped by a blatant pass interference call. On the next play, Semones lofted the ball into the corner of the end zone to Mike Hubbard, who came down and managed to wrestle it out of the Colville defenders hands as they hit the ground.

With momentum on their side and a shaky kicking game to that point, Sandpoint head coach Mike Mitchell opted to play for the win, putting the ball in his senior quarterback's hands on the two point conversion. Semones rolled right, then cut up when a seam developed for the go ahead score.

Colville (1-0) quarterback Jade Dorman, who had kept the Indians in the game to that point, drove his team down to the 15 yard line with 12 seconds left. A big sack by defensive end Micah Allard proved to be another crucial play made by the Bulldogs' defense. The Indians were forced try a 40 yard field goal as time expired, just missing three-feet wide to the left, setting off a wild celebration for Sandpoint.

"What I'm most proud of is the heart. In two games, these guys have shown some heart," said a happy Mitchell after the game. "Our whole team is trying to learn to finish."

And finish they did, as the entire sideline was chanting the word at the end of the game.

Colville led 7-0 at halftime, after putting together an 89 yard drive in the second quarter. Sandpoint was plagued by dropped passes and missed opportunities for most of the game.

Ben Fisher scored on a four yard run late in the third quarter to tie the game at 7-7. Then Colville had what looked like it might be the deciding play of the game, an 87 yard touchdown pass from Dorman to Kjell Perry to put the Indians ahead 14-7. Dorman would score on a four yard run in the fourth quarter to make it 20-7 after their missed extra point, which ultimately proved costly. It remained 20-7 until the momentum swung the Bulldogs' way in the final two action-packed minutes.

Sandpoint travels south to take on Middleton next Friday.

SHS 0 0 7 14 - 21

Colville 0 7 7 6 - 20

CHS - Dustin divis 1 yd run (Jordan Anderson kick)

SHS - Ben Fisher 4 yd run (Semones kick)

CHS - Kjell Perry 87 yd pass from Dorman (Jordan Anderso kick)

CHS - Jade Dorman 4 yd run (kick blocked)SHS Brandon Lawrence 9 yd pass from Jake Semones (kick fail)

SHS - Mike Hubbard 8 yd pass from Jake Semones (Semones run)

Team Stats SHS CHS

First Downs 16 11

Rushes-yds 37-126 41-228

Passing Yds 216 167

Passing 15-22-0 7-13-2

Punts-Ave 3-29 2-36

Fumbles - lost 0-0 3-1

Penalties - yds 5-35 3-20.5

Individual stats

QB: SHS Jake Semones15-21-0, 216 yds; Brandon Lawrence 0-1-0, 0 yds; CHS Jade Dorman 7-12-1, 167 yds; Jordan Anderson 0-1-1, 0yds

Running: SHS Jake Semones 15-(-19), Ricky Lang 4-8, Ben Fisher 10-90, Cody Hecker 8-47; CHS Dustin Divis 9-21, Jade Dorman 7-32, Brock Dots 12-98, Kjell Perry 11-61, Tristan Fox 2-16

Receiving: SHS Ben Fisher 1-13, Ricky Lang 1-23, Shawn Visintin 4-47, Brandon Lawrence 3-31, Mike Hubbard 6-93, John 1-9

KOR Returns: SHS Mike Hubbard 3-45, Tristan Fox 1-17, Jared Fisher 1-13, Other 1-13

Defense: Tackles-Assits Brandon Lawrence 3, Coleman Frank 7-3, AJ Smith 3, Micah Allard 4, Ricky Lang 3, Ben Fisher 7, Raymond Lee 2, DJ McIntire 1, Austi Posey 1, Shane Kidd 6-2, Lloyd Hammack 1, AJ Cook 2, Cody Hecker 3. Ricky Lang 1 Fumble Recovery, Brandon Lawrence 1 Interception