Bulldogs earn playoff berth with 2OT thriller

by Eric Plummer Sports Editor
| October 30, 2010 7:00 AM

SANDPOINT — The Bulldogs picked a heck of a time to try their first field goal of the season, as senior Cole Fuhrman split the uprights from 30 yards away for the winning field goal in Sandpoint’s thrilling 31-28 win over Moscow on Friday night at Barlow Stadium.

The Bulldogs (4-5, 2-0 4A IEL) earned the right to host a first round playoff game next week, facing Skyview of Nampa, the second seed out of the Boise area.

The Bulldogs held a comfortable 21-7 lead and were dominating the Bears (6-3, 1-1 4A IEL) heading into the fourth quarter, before Moscow mounted a comeback to force overtime.

“Wow, that’s all you can say, just a great effort by the kids,” said Sandpoint head coach Mike Mitchell after the game. “I thought it (the win) was slipping away. They (Moscow) came back on us.”

The Bears struck first after the Bulldogs fumbled on the second play of the game, when quarterback Jake Helbling scored from two yards on a keeper for an early 7-0 lead. Both teams were plagued by early turnovers, with Moscow losing two fumbles and throwing a pick, while the Bulldogs also lost two fumbles.

Sandpoint quarterback Brandon Hawkins got his team on the board early in the second quarter, when a big second effort led to a two-yard scoring plunge after a reverse pass from Eric Nikssarian got his team to the goal line, tying the game at 7-7.

The Bulldogs wasted little time taking the lead in a dominating third quarter, when Hawkins ran for 13 yards and threw a 14 yard strike to Fuhrman, setting up a 45 yard run by Anthony Gold, who returned to the lineup with 128 yards on 28 tough carries.

The Bulldogs defensive line was dominating the game for a while, and after another Moscow punt, Nikssarian would score from two yards out to make it 21-7 heading into the fourth quarter.

Luther Morgan had several booming punts for Sandpoint, crucial plays in a game of field position in the second half.

Helbling took the game over in the fourth quarter, leading the Bears on two touchdown drives, before running back Justin Parkins broke two tackles and scored a pivotal two-point conversion to tie the game at 21-21.

Nikssarian made a beautiful interception, his second of the game, to preserve the tie and force a Kansas City overtime.

Hawkins hit Nikssarian for a six yard touchdown on the first possession, before Moscow answered with a touchdown to force a second overtime.

Hawkins, who had maybe his best all-around game of the season, intercepted a Helbling pass, which set up Fuhrman’s game-winning field goal, and earning the Bulldogs a home playoff game next Friday night against Skyview.

SHS 0 7 14 0 10 — 31

MHS 7 0 0 14 7 — 28

Mos — Jake Helbling 2 run (Helbling kick)

SHS — Brandon Hawkins 1 run (Fuhrman kick)

SHS — Anthony Gold 45 run (Fuhrman kick)

SHS — Erik Nikssarian 2 run (Fuhrman kick)

Mos — Roby Jung 7 catch from Helbling (kick fail)

Mos — Justin Harkins 11 run (Harkins kick)

SHS — Nikssarian 6 catch from Hawkins (Fuhrman kick)

Mos — Justin Parkins 1 yd run (Helbling kick)

SHS — Fuhrman 31 Field Goal

SHS Mos

First Downs 14 15

Rushes-yds 50-201 39-172

Passing yds 97 120

QB 10-20-0 14-30-4

Punts-Ave 5-45.6 4-41

Fumbles-Lost 2-2 2-2

Penalties-yds 7-43 1-15

SHS Rushing: Anthony Gold 28-128, Eric Nikssarian 4-18, Luther Morgan 6-13, Brandon Hawkins 11-43, Ben Schmid 1-(-1)

SHS Receiving: Jacob Clad 1-14, Cole Fuhrman 2-25, Joe Duarte 1-9, Erik Nikssarian 2-14, Anthony Gold 2-14, Luther Morgan 2-21

QB Brandon Hawkins 8-18-0, 89 yds. Ben Schmid 0-1-0, 0. Erik Nikssarian 1-1-0, 8 yds. Jake Helbling 14-30-4, 120 yds

MHS Rushing: Justin Parkins 27-66, Lane Brooks 2-20, Jake Helbling 10-86.

MHS Receiving: Kyle Snyder 1-19,Justin Parkins 1-8, Roby Jung 5-51, Sam Lewis 1-(-5), Aaron Donaldson 1-8, Kyle Morgan 2-19, Lane Brooks 1-21, Logan Brooks 2-(-1)

KO Returns: Justin Parkins 2-27