Lutz, Loutzenhiser, Roop lead JVs to winning record

SANDPOINT — Turnovers, penalties, rain and mud proved too much for the Sandpoint JV football team to overcome on Saturday, as the Bulldogs fell 18-0 to Lakeland in the season finale at Barlow Stadium.

The  Sandpoint JV was comprised of all sophomores, while many of the JV teams in the area play juniors, and finished the season with a 5-4 record.

The Hawks, whose JV team went undefeated, capitalized on two fumbles at Sandpoint’s own 25 and 30 yard lines in the first quarter, scoring touchdowns to take an 18-0 lead early in the second quarter. The rest of the game was played between the 30 yard lines in the heart of the muddy field as neither team was able to score.

Quarterback Nate Loutzenhiser threw for more than 1,000 yards, completing 74-141 with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Gabe Lutz was just 60 yards short of reaching 1,000 yards rushing on the season, leading the team with nine touchdowns. Curtis Roop amassed 539 yards on 89 carries, providing an inside power running game while scoring eight touchdowns.

Mathew Timothy was the go to player in the aerial attack, averaging 16 yards per catch with 496 receiving yards on 31 receptions to go with four touchdowns. Other key personnel who stepped up big all year were Brandon Carlin and Mathew Knott. None of these stats would have been made possible without a solid o-line led by Billy Webber, Dane Loutzenhiser, Nate Stangel, Ryan Navarro and Josh Suto.

The defense was a strong point all season, giving up only 262 yards per game. Dylan Kuzmich led the way at middle linebacker behind a run stopping duo in Jeff Kappen and Mason Spielman. The outside run game was hampered by defensive end Rob Oakley and outside linebacker Troy Olliver-Mitton (TOM). The defensive backfield, which stopped the run and passes all year, was led by Tanner Jacobson, Jackson Russo and Jean-Luc Albertson.