Bulldogs down Tigers for first win
RATHDRUM — Senior A.J. Buratto recorded his fourth straight 100 yard game and scored twice, and junior receiver Chase Rodriguez returned from injury to finish with 126 yards receiving and a touchdown, leading Sandpoint to a 19-13 road win over Timberlake on Friday night in the first meeting ever between the two schools.
The offensive line of Tim and Todd Pays, Nik Feyen, Andrew Dubnicka and Miller McCall continues to emerge as a force for the Bulldogs, paving the way for more than 200 yards on the ground with some road-grading blocking. Buratto finished with 123 yards on 21 carries and fullback Matt Lockey added 61 yards on 12 carries.
Sandpoint head coach Satini Puailoa has preached learning to how to win and changing the culture and mindset of the Bulldogs, who won for just the second time in the past 13 games. Friday night marked the first step toward that goal.
“The kids really needed this, and I think it’s going to help them down the stretch,” said Puailoa. “I’m proud of the effort of the kids, and I like how we’re progressing.”
Buratto got the Bulldogs (1-3) on the board first by finishing a drive with a four yard plunge, before Preston Rhodes answered for the Tigers (1-3) to tie the game at 7-7 early on.
Rodriguez, who injured his shoulder early in the season opener and missed most of three games, then hauled in a 37 yard strike from Nick Prindiville to put the Bulldogs ahead 13-7 in the second quarter. The 6-foot-5 receiver finished with seven catches on the night, and team with Thomas Edwards, who grabbed three catches for 48 yards, to help the Bulldogs make up for the absence of receiving Tommy Fury.
Prindiville was once again efficient, completing 11 of 17 passes for 178 yards, making the Tigers’ defense pay for stacking the box to stop the power running game. A couple of interceptions and fumbles once again made things closer than they needed to be, but that’s part of the learning process for a young team.
“The kids are learning on the fly, and at times we looked like we’re going to look,” said Puailoa. “There’s things we want to do, but we’re not quite ready to do them. We’ll continue to improve.”
Dakota Rice rumbled in from nine yards out to give the Tigers a 14-13 lead heading into half, but it was all Sandpoint in the second half. Buratto scored his second touchdown of the game early in the third quarter for the final score, and from there the defense absolutely took over, shutting down the Tigers wing-T attack.
Alex Charvoz, who seems to have a nose for the football, nabbed his fifth interception of the season in the second half, part of a stellar defensive effort. The Tigers could muster only 181 yards of total offense on the night, less than half of the Bulldogs’ 368 yards from scrimmage.
“The defense played the best game of the year,” said Puailoa. “I think we wore them out.”
Sandpoint hosts Cheney on Friday, looking to push through for another win.
Timberlake 7 7 0 0 — 14
Sandpoint 13 0 6 0 — 19
Spt — Buratto 4 run (Pearlstein kick)
TL — Preston Rhodes 2 run (Keegan Scott kick)
Spt — Rodriguez 39 catch from Prindiville (Kick failed)
TL — Dakota Rice 9 run (Scott kick)
Spt — Buratto 6 run (run failed)