Dawgs team wins first round in playoffs

SPOKANE — The Sandpoint 5th/6th grade Jr. Tackle Dawgs No. 3 team ran over West Valley on Saturday en route to a 30-6 win. The Dawgs were strong on both sides of the ball even though they were short two key linemen, Troy Nutt and Marcus Rodriguez, who were both out with the flu.

“We are peaking at just the right time,” said coach Rodriguez. “I was a little nervous being short of personnel but the team came together  beautifully. We had some kids that had to play the entire game with no break. It was our best game to date.”

The Dawgs got off to an early start when on the second play of the game Michael Plaster went 50 yards to pay dirt on a counter play off left tackle behind key blocks by Chris Jones and Zack Alamillo. Plaster also scored six points on extra points (two points per PAT), had two receptions for 13 yards and five tackles defensively. Tyler Presser scored next on a counter play to the right side with Sean Fitzgerald, Justin Guglielmana and Tyron Larson opening a slice of daylight that Presser spun his way through to break open a 20 yard run to the end zone.

Nick Stangel played quarterback in the second quarter and moved his team down the field, setting up Levi Irish for a 20 yard touchdown run. The play was designed as a run around the right side but the West Valley Defense had it sealed off, so Irish changed directions and outran the defense around the left side with a key block from fullback Donovan Nix.        

Guglielmana started off the third Quarter with a fumble recovery that the Dawgs took advantage of with a 65 yard touch down strike from quarterback Bear Youngdahl to Kyle Perry. Youngdahl was 4-6 passing for 90 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. Perry finished with two receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown, and added six tackles and two sacks on defense.

The Dawgs defense was stingy and held West Valley to only one score. Kalib Samsel had a strong defensive effort with four tackles and two sacks. Lane Rasmussen had a key play when he deflected a pass that was a sure touchdown, John Humrich had two tackles at safety and Malcom Curto and Greg Hosterman had one tackle each.

The Dawgs celebrated their first post-season win by chasing down coach Rodriguez with the Gatorade bucket and delivering the shower. The Dawgs take on Ferris next Saturday at 9 a.m. in Spokane for game two of the playoffs.