Bulldogs ready for most important game yet date

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint head coach Mike Mitchell gathered his 2-4 team together on Monday and told them the same thing he would have told them if they were sitting there undefeated: None of that matters.

The first of the two games that really count kicks off tonight, when Sandpoint travels to Lakeland (2-5) for the 4A North opener for both teams.

“We’re fortunate in this league, you get a clean slate,” said Mitchell of the upcoming 4A games against Lakeland and Moscow. “Now we can start over.”

Despite three lopsided defeats in the past three games, the Bulldogs received plenty of good news this week, most of it on the injury front. First and foremost, running back Anthony Gold is healthy after a scary neck injury last week. Gold was told by the doctor to rest for seven days, and says his neck is feeling much better.

Returning to action is fullback/linebacker Luther Morgan, an indispensable factor on both sides of the ball. Morgan is the team’s top tackler, and excels as both a lead blocker and power back.

“Having Luther back will help us a lot,” said Bulldogs head coach Mike Mitchell. “He’s the head of our defense, and instrumental in the offense as well.”

Filling in for Gold at running back will be senior athlete Eric Nikssarian, who took most of the carries in practice this week. The athletic two-way player also missed time last week with a back injury, and has looked solid at tailback this week at practice.

Mitchell said it’s the same old Lakeland team, well coached and proficient at what they do. This year they’ve aired it out more than normal, tossing lots of jump balls up to their big 6-foot-4 receiver.

The Hawks and Bulldogs share a handful of common opponents this year: The Bulldogs beat East Valley 35-14, while the Hawks lost 34-7; the Bulldogs beat West Valley 26-19, while the Hawks fell 35-21; and the Bulldogs lost 49-7 to Post Falls while the Hawks lost 42-7.

The Hawks are coming off a 49-27 win over Pullman last week, while Sandpoint has been outscored 160-35 in the past three weeks against tough 5A competition.

None of it matters tonight, however, when the two teams will settle the score on the field.

“We haven’t dominated the line of scrimmage on either side of the ball,” said Mitchell of the recent spate of games. “We need to get back to being a physical football team.”

The game will be webcast live on “www.idahosports.com,” and called live on AM 1400.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Lakeland High School.