Bulldogs and Broncos battle tonight in title game

SANDPOINT — By both coaches’ admission, tonight’s 4A state championship game will feature two teams that are very similar, and if high school football had Vegas-style odds, this would be one of those pick ‘em games.

To understand just how similar the two teams are, one need only to listen to the respective coaches.

Here is what Blackfoot Broncos coach Stan Buck had to say about Sandpoint: “Sandpoint’s a physical team like us,” said Buck. “It’s going to come down to execution, field position, turnovers and big plays. They’ve got big play makers, they’re running backs are very good, and the quarterback throws the ball really well.”

Here is what Sandpoint Bulldogs coach Mike Mitchell had to say about the Broncos: “They’re a very good wide open throwing option kind of team,” said Mitchell. “Both teams play good defense, and they (Blackfoot) run a real offense, like us. The last couple of weeks we’ve been playing the groundhog stuff, now we get to cover people.”

Mitchell likened the Broncos spread option offense to that of Oregon. Senior quarterback Anthony Clarke has 1,328 yards rushing, and has thrown for more than 1,100 yards on the year. The dangerous run-pass threat has 13 touchdowns on the season. Senior running back Chris Percy has 749 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns, and 6-2, 200 pound Julio Flores is the Broncos’ prime receiver.

It’s a safe bet the Broncos haven’t faced a defense all year as good as Sandpoint’s, which is allowing less than one touchdown per game during a six-game win streak. It’s also a safe bet that defensive backs Anthony Gold, Brandon Lawrence, Erik Nikssarian and Sean Hogan will be eager to face some passes again, after doing essentially nothing but tackling in wins over Middleton and Hillcrest. Junior linebacker Luther Morgan likes his team’s chances in tonight’s matchup.

“I like ‘em, they’re looking pretty good,” he said, lauding the team-first play of the defense. “There’s not one person on defense that doesn’t come through. When we work as a team, no one can beat us.”

Offensively, the Bulldogs are as healthy as they’ve been all season. Mitchell said running back Cody Hecker “is back in high gear,” and with Ben Fisher and Anthony Gold, gives the Bulldogs three talented options carrying the ball. Field conditions have kept the Bulldogs fairly one-dimensional the past two weeks, and Mitchell plans to let quarterback Daniel Charvoz throw more to create balance, as they won’t be able to just run over a big and fast Blackfoot defense.

The only common opponent on the two team’s schedules was Hillcrest. Sandpoint beat the Knights 20-8, and Blackfoot suffered its only loss of the season falling 26-24 to the Knights. Mitchell said his team had a great week of practice is pumped up and ready.

“It isn’t going to be easy, but we have a chance to do it if we pull it all together,” said Mitchell of winning the school’s second state title, and first since 1997. “Two really similar teams, so I expect a good game. I hope a lot of people come down to watch this one.”

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.