Sandpoint, CdA clashing in battle of undefeated teams
SANDPOINT — Riding a wave of confidence after three solid wins to start the season, Sandpoint will try and stay atop said wave in its stiffest test of the season tonight when undefeated Coeur d’Alene comes to town, the first of three consecutive tough games against 5A schools for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs (3-0) are firing on all cylinders so far this season, averaging more than 30 points per game offensively, while the starting defense has allowed just one touchdown in each game. Head coach Mike Mitchell said while his team hasn’t beaten “weak sisters” in Lake City, Colville and Middleton, tonight’s opponent is a slight step up the food chain.
“Coeur d’Alene is the best team we’ve played,” said Mitchell, whose squad follows the Vikings with road games against Post Falls and Lewiston. “It will be a measure of where we are.”
An Idahosports.com poll has the Bulldogs ranked second in the state among 4A teams, and Coeur d’Alene, which beat Lakeland 57-7 and Moses Lake 22-13 to start the season, ranked fifth in the 5A ranks.
The Vikings (2-0) and quarterback Ryan Dunton like to throw the football, gaining all but 17 of their 248 total yards last week through the air in a come-from-behind win over Moses Lake. To slow the Vikings down, Mitchell hopes his team can continue its masterful ball control offense, which has just one turnover on the season.
“We’re pretty tough to defend ourselves,” he said. “The best place for a good QB to be is on the bench. If we can keep him (Dunton) off the field it gives us our best chance.”
Quarterback Daniel Charvoz has seven touchdown passes and zero interceptions on the year, aided by a potent running game that sets up the play action. Cody Hecker and Ben Fisher will continue to get the lion’s share of the carries, running behind some stout lead blocking by fullback Luther Morgan.
The Vikings’ defense relies heavily on blitzes, trying to wreak havoc on opposing blocking schemes. Such aggressiveness can be a two-edged sword, especially against a balanced offense.
“If you don’t pick it up it can be a negative,” said Mitchell of the blitzing. “If you pick things up, with the backs we have, there could be some big plays.”
The linebacking corps of Shane Kidd, Ray Lee and Luther Morgan continues to spearhead a stingy defense, which has given up just one play of more than 50 yards on the season. Defensive ends Cody Hecker and A.J. Smith are generating pressure off the corners, and ball-hawking corner Sean Hogan is averaging an interception a game.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m., at Barlow Stadium.