Bulldogs battle top team in state tonight
SANDPOINT — Make no mistake about it, the pads will be popping for real tonight when Sandpoint faces host Blackfoot in the quarterfinals of the 4A state playoffs, as two teams with a smashmouth brand of football clash.
The Bulldogs (6-4) feature an offense that ran up more than 700 yards in a 56-7 dispatching of Century last week in the playoff opener, an offense that averages 43 points per game and has been moving the ball at will during a three-game win streak.
The Broncos (8-0) are the No. 1 ranked 4A team in the state, and led by a physical front seven defensively, have yet to give up more than 21 points in a game this season. They have out-scored their opponents this year by an average of 34 to 12. None of that matters to Bulldogs head coach Satini Puailoa, who sees it as an even game on paper.
“They’re solid, but they’re not better than anyone we’ve played. We won’t be outmatched, or outclassed,” says Puailoa. “They’re ranked No. 1, but they haven’t played us yet. I think we match up pretty well. I don’t think they’ve seen a team like us.”
Blackfoot likes to line up in the power I formation, pounding the ball between the tackles with a downhill style similar to the Bulldogs. They also feature a package out of the spread formation, making them tough to defend. They own three wins over 5A opponents in Hillcrest, Skyview and Idaho Falls, and played a similarly tough schedule to the Bulldogs.
“We’ve already played the best teams in 4A — Lake City, Post Falls, Mt. Spokane,” believes Puailoa of the level of competition. “We’ve become so physical. We don’t make mistakes, we don’t go backward.”
Leading the way is junior running back Kyle Perry, who has over 1,400 yards of rushing and 26 touchdowns, averaging a strong eight yards per carry. Midway through the season, teams began to key on Perry, so Puailoa began to find touches in the running game for Tyler Harris, who has become the primary playmaker offensively in a limited role.
Harris averages a gaudy 13.5 yards per carry, when he’s not playing linebacker and returning kicks, and has made life difficult for defensive coordinators. The offense has cut down on mistakes during a dominating three game stretch where they put up 180 points, with Puailoa joking that they really only run four plays.
“We’ve been moving the ball and scoring all year, but we stopped turning the ball over,” said Puailoa. “The Receivers are making better decisions, and the quarterbacks are making better decisions.”
When teams start to commit eight and nine defenders in the box to stop the two-pronged rush attack, the Bulldogs have made them pay in the play action passing game, led by quarterback Nate Loutzenhiser, who has passed for more than 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns. Wyatt McCormick and Matthew Timothy each have eight touchdowns, and have shown big play ability in the passing game, which might be called upon against a stout Broncos’ run defense.
The Bulldogs’ defense gave up just 104 yards of offense last week, and has really gelled down the stretch.
Tyler Harris and Quinn Pearlstein are having all-state caliber seasons at linebacker, teaming with Troy Oliver-Mitton to form a strong unit that provides much of the physical identity. Davan Norris, Jean-Luc Albertson, Colton Engel, Wyatt McCormick, Kaleb Merrill, Brent Buchmiller and Caiden Oliver have played the pass much better as the season has progressed.
“Our defense is starting to come together, play the way it’s supposed to be played,” says Puailoa. “Earlier we were hit and miss in lining up and execution; that’s really been cleaned up.”
Blackfoot has dominated the 4A ranks in recent years, playing for the state championship four times between 2009-2012, winning three state titles. The Broncos beat the Bulldogs in the 2009 state title game in the Kibbie Dome in the two team’s last meeting.
A win tonight will be another step on the journey that Puailoa and his charges started three years ago.
“How do you become a champion? You don’t just show up. They’ve taken on every challenge put in front of them,” said Puailoa of his players. “Hard work, servitude, playing for the guy next to you. They’ve accepted the challenge.”
Kickoff tonight at Blackfoot High School is 5 p.m. PST