Bulldogs show big improvement in loss to Trojans
SANDPOINT — A punishing 15-play, 80-yard drive on the first possession of the second half staked Sandpoint to a brief 13-10 lead, but Post Falls had an answer and then some, rallying for a hard-fought 31-13 win over Sandpoint on Friday night at Barlow Stadium.
Post Falls junior running back Patrick Agueros was a workhorse for the Trojans (1-1), carrying 26 times for 204 yards, much of it to keep the chains moving in the second half and help his team regain momentum.
“He stepped up big tonight and the O-line did a good job up front,” said Post Falls coach Jeff Hinz, who liked how his team responded. “Sandpoint challenged us a little bit, and we came out and responded in the second half.”
The Bulldogs (0-2) showed huge improvement from their season-opening loss to East Valley, going toe to toe with a 5A school in a game that was much closer than the score indicated.
Fullback Matt Lockey and running back A.J. Buratto combined for 37 carries for 186 yards, producing some punishing runs and helping the Bulldogs sustain drives and keep the game close.
The Bulldogs were driving late in the fourth quarter looking to pull to within 24-20, when Post Falls safety Curtis Triplett intercepted a Nick Prindiville pass at the goal line and sprinted 100 yards for the final score of the game.
“You can see that we’re coming, but the score didn’t indicate it because of the end,” said Bulldogs head coach Satini Puailoa. “Our guys are learning how to prepare and compete, but they don’t know it yet.”
After a scoreless first quarter, Post Falls took the lead early in the second quarter when quarterback Joey Pfennings scrambled 15 yards to pay dirt. Sandpoint had a quick answer, when quarterback Nick Prindiville completed his second double pass of the drive to Tommy Fury for a 30 yard score. Both times Prindiville swung a quick pass to Buratto, who threw back to the quarterback.
Timmy Meuller gave the Trojans a 10-7 lead before the half with a booming 45 yard field goal that would have easily been good from 55 yards out.
The Bulldogs’ 15 play drive to start the second half was classic smash-mouth football, and it looked for a brief moment like momentum had turned.
“We had those guys reeling, they were on their heels,” said Puailoa of the drive, lauding his team’s physicality. “We need to get to the next level and finish a game.”
Post Falls had a quick answer on the ensuing possession, when Agueros capped a quick 55 yard scoring drive with an 11 yard run to give the Trojans the lead back at 17-13. Agueros would add another scoring run early in the fourth quarter for a 24-13 lead.
Hinz credited an interception by Braden Davenport with helping quell the Bulldogs’ momentum in the second half, one of three interceptions on the night by the Trojans.
Nick Prindiville was sharp once again for the Bulldogs, keeping his team in the game right up until the final interception return by Davenport sealed the deal.
The Bulldogs’ defense was excellent against the pass, holding the Trojans to just 51 yards through the air, as Alex Charvoz intercepted his third pass on the year and Kevin Hill notched his first pick.
Sandpoint is at West Valley on Friday.
SHS 0 7 6 0 — 13
PF 0 10 7 14 — 31
PF — Joey Pfennings 15 run (Tim Meuller kick)
SHS — Tommy Fury 30 pass from Prindiville (Quinn Pearstein kick)
PF — Tim Mueller 45 Field Goal
SHS — Matt Lockey 1 run (kick fail)
PF — Patrick Agueros 11 run (Mueller kick)
PF — Patrick Agueros 8 run (Mueller kick)
PF — Curtis Triplett 99 interception (Mueller kick)
Team Stats SHS PF
First Downs 20 12
Rushes-yds 59-186 38-266
Passing Yds 163 51
QB 9-18-3 4-12-2
Penalaties-yds
7-65 6-55
SHS Rushing: AJ Buratto 20-105, Matt Lockey 17-81, Dean Knaggs 2-(-1), 7-(-17), Cody Miller 2-18, Devin Hancock 1-0 PFRushing: Patrick Aguerros 26-204, Mason Lickfold 4-11, Marc Conradi 3-32, 3-3, Joey Pfennigs 1-15
SHS Receiving: Matt Lockey 1-18, Tommy Fury 4-47, Thomas Edwards 9-98
QB SHS Nick Prindiville 9-17-3, 163yds; Nick Nelson 0-1-0, 0yds PFReceiving Michael McKeown 1-20, Austin Buschbacher 1-15, Austin Hensley 2-16
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