Bulldogs fall short in bid for state title
MOSCOW — Down 29-9 late in the third quarter of the 4A state championship game, many teams might have mailed it in, but not Sandpoint, which battled back to give themselves a chance at a game-winning drive, but it wasn’t meant to be as the Bulldogs fell 29-23 to the Broncos Friday night in the Kibbie Dome.
The Bulldogs (9-3) scored the game’s final 14 points, and were marching for the winning touchdown in the final two minutes, but could not convert on 4th and 15 at midfield.
“Our kids played great all year,” said Sandpoint coach Mike Mitchell after the game. “I don’t think we played like we can play in the first half. That didn’t look like our defense tonight, but I’m pleased with the effort of the kids to get here (state final).”
The play of the game for Sandpoint came when running back Ben Fisher hit Brandon Lawrence for a 47-yard touchdown on a double pass, to bring the Bulldogs to within six points with 10 minutes left in the game. Fisher caught a bubble screen, then heaved a perfectly thrown ball before getting blasted by defenders. Brandon Lawrence had gotten behind the defense and waltzed in for the score, which ignited the crowd.
“I had a guy in my face and just threw it up,” said Fisher of the play. “I didn’t even know what happened, but I heard the roar of the crowd.”
Cody Hecker had scored the second of his two touchdowns on the day five minutes earlier, to bring the Bulldogs to within 29-16. Hecker finished with 57 yards rushing, as the Bulldogs had to spread the field and throw in the second half to come back. Daniel Charvoz and Mike Hubbard hooked up time and time again to move the chains, with Hubbard hauling in 97 of Charvoz’s 164 passing yards.
Arguably the biggest play of the game came on the first offensive play of the second half, when Broncos quarterback Anthony Clarke rolled right and kept the option, racing 80 yards down the sideline to pay dirt, giving his team a 21-9 lead.
“I got a great lead block, saw a seam and took it, and never looked back. I knew I had the speed,” said the athletic Clarke, who rushed for 107 yards. “I was on the team that won two years ago, and it feels good to come back.”
Broncos receiver Julio Flores seemed to break the Bulldogs’ back time and time again, out-jumping defenders to come up with crucial catches for first downs. He finished with 155 yards on nine catches, and provided the perfect complement to the hard running of Chris Percy, who churned out 146 yards on 26 carries.
“We need Chris, he makes a big difference in our offense,” said Broncos coach Stan Buck. “The kids made plays when they had to to win the game. It got exciting toward the end.”
Blackfoot drew first blood in the opening quarter when Logan Chidester finished a 48 yard drive with a one-yard scoring plunge. The touchdown was set up by an interception and 40 yard return by Beau Hoskins, who got quick redemption after muffing a punt and giving Sandpoint good field position.
The Bulldogs answered on the ensuing drive when third-string tailback Anthony Gold got some touches and instantly brought energy and excitement to the crowd with some quick and darting runs. The Bulldogs marched 78 yards on the drive, capped off when Cody Hecker reversed course and scored easily from seven yards out to tie the game at 7-7.
On the Broncos’ next drive, two false starts forced a punt from their own 10 yard line, and the snap sailed over the punter’s head and out of the end zone for a Sandpoint safety. The decidedly partisan Bulldogs’ crowd was making plenty of noise in the dome.
Mike Hubbard had a great return on the ensuing kick, giving the Bulldogs the ball at the Broncos 30 yard line, but the drive stalled when they couldn’t convert on fourth and inches.
Then senior receiver Julio Flores took over, hauling in a beautiful 22 yard catch along the sideline before the Broncos turned the ball over on downs. After a Sandpoint three and out, Flores made another leaping catch, high-pointing the ball on a 43 yard snag down to the five yard line. Chris Percy finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown, giving the Broncos a 14-9 halftime lead.
The win marks the second state title for Blackfoot, which also won in 2007.
Blackfoot 7 7 15 0 ? 29
Sandpoint o 9 7 7 ? 23
Blk ? Logan Chidester 1 run (Luis Oseguera kick)
Spt ? Cody Hecker 7 run (Daniel Anderson kick)
Spt ? Safety
Blk ? Chris Percy 1 run (Oseguera kick)
Blk ? Anthony Clarke 80 run (Oseguera kick)
Blk ? Percy 7 run (Percy run)
Spt ? Brandon Lawrence 47 catch from Ben Fisher (Anderson kick)
Spt ? Hecker 12 run (Anderson kick)
Rushing: Spt ? Fisher 10-37, Gold 5-42, Hecker 13-57, Hubbard 1-3, Charvoz 4 (-5), Morgan 1 (-1). Blk ? Clarke 11-107, Percy 26-146, Allen 1-4, Chidester 2-2.
Receiving: Spt ? Gold 1-16, Lawrence 2-60, Gingerich 2-29, Hubbard 6-97, Fisher 1-7. Blk ? Flores 9-155, Chidester 1-17, Walker 1-10.
Passing: Spt ? Charvoz12-28-1, 164, Fisher 1-47. Blk ? Clarke 11-18-0, 180.