Bulldogs claim 41-21 victory

RATHDRUM — The Sandpoint Bulldogs were without their star running back due to injury, but senior Eric Nikssarian did his best Anthony Gold impersonation.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Nikssarian, moved to tailback from wide receiver this week, rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries as the Bulldogs beat the Lakeland Hawks 41-21 on Friday night in the 4A Inland Empire League football opener for both teams.

“Eric’s really a good athlete, and we just moved him to tailback,” Sandpoint coach Mike Mitchell said. “I know we probably bruised some feelings of kids, but I thought he did a great job. It was a great performance by him. The line blocked well up front, and I thought our defense played well tonight. And we really specialize in special teams, and I thought our kickoff team was great all night long; they kept them in bad field position.”

Brandon Hawkins directed four consecutive touchdown drives for Sandpoint (3-4, 1-0 4A IEL), and also returned punts and had one interception.

“I thought he played a great game,” Mitchell said.

Sandpoint forced five turnovers, including four interceptions, two by Jacob Clad. Luther Morgan, who rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries, had the other pick.

Lakeland (2-6, 0-1) scored on its first drive, but Sandpoint stopped the Hawks on their next four possessions, two ending in turnovers. Lakeland closed to within 34-21 on Cory Thorne’s 3-yard run with 8:55 left, but two plays later, Morgan squirted up the middle 65 yards for a touchdown to put the game out of reach.

Gold, who suffered a neck stinger last week against Post Falls, may see some action next Friday when Sandpoint plays at Lake City. But the bigger game for Sandpoint is on Oct. 29, when the Bulldogs play host to 4A IEL foe Moscow in a game that could decide the league’s lone berth to the state playoffs.

Sandpoint     7    14    13    7    —    41

Lakeland     6    0    7    8    —    21

LL — Cory Thorne 3 pass from Troy Carr (kick failed)

Spt — Luther Morgan 5 run (Cole Fuhrman kick)

Spt — Eric Nikssarian 25 run (Fuhrman kick)

Spt — Nikssarian 3 run (Fuhrman kick)

LL — Gaige Grey 29 pass from Carr (Cody Vandever kick)

Spt — Morgan 8 run (kick failed)

Spt — Nikssarian 15 run (Furhman kick)

LL — Thorne 3 run (Hunter Arno pass from Carr)

Spt — Morgan 65 run (Fuhrman kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Spt, Nikssarian 26-163, Morgan 13-110, Hawkins 6-53. LL, Carr 7-5, Kedish 10-25, Thorne 8-18, Cederblom 8-14.

PASSING — Spt, Hawkins 2-8-1-50. LL, Carr 17-30-4-165.

RECEIVING — Spt, Morgan 2-50. LL, Arno 5-51, Thorne 3-25, Grey 7-75, Kedish 1-12, Cederblom 1-0.