Bulldogs bulldoze Bears 55-34 on emotionally-charged night

SANDPOINT — There were some amazing numbers to behold on Friday night at Barlow Stadium.

The Bulldogs rushed for more than 500 yards while holding the Bears to just eight, both teams combined for 47 points in the third quarter alone, and Tyler Harris scored on touchdowns of 73 and 86 yards.

But the only number that really mattered, the number everyone will remember years from now, was 64, as Sandpoint retired the number of former player David Lyon during an emotional halftime ceremony.

When it was all said and done, the Bulldogs imposed their will on the Bears, notching a convincing 55-34 win to most likely earn a spot in the playoffs.

“We wanted to come out and dominate this game, and that’s what we did,” said Bulldogs head coach Satini Puailoa, who was perturbed that the Bears did not come out at halftime and honor Lyon, who was killed in Afghanistan last December. “We gave them the option to come out at half and they didn’t want to. We decided then that we were going to grind some meat tonight, and that’s what we did.”

The Bulldogs (4-4, 1-1 4A IEL) played smash-mouth football from the first whistle to the last, running a whopping 62 times for 516 yards, gashing the overmatched Bears (2-6, 0-2 4A IEL) often and stringing together numerous long drives.

Kyle Perry had a season-high 224 yards rushing on 26 attempts to go with two scores, running through some nice looking holes created by the offensive line.

“Love the hogs,” said Perry, who also had a pair of touchdowns called back by penalties. “We just ride behind them all night. That’s how we do it.”

The Bulldogs unveiled a new offensive wrinkle, with quarterback Nate Loutzenhiser running the option with great success. Harris took a pitch, got the edge, and turned on the jets for a 73-yard touchdown to kick off the scoring. Wyatt McCormick hauled in a 50-yard strike from Loutzenhiser for a quick 15-0 lead in the second quarter.

Loutzenhiser added a six yard scoring scamper and Michael Plaster kicked the first of his two field goals on the night for a comfortable 25-7 halftime lead.

At halftime, Bob, Jeannie, Sean and Dana Lyon, along with a host of former teammates, had every No. 64 jersey in Sandpoint handed to them at half by current players at all levels. The two jerseys that David Lyon wore as an all-state offensive and defensive lineman in 2002 were also presented to the family. Sandpoint junior Carlos Collado wore the No. 64 jersey, with Lyon’s name on the back, in the first half, before taking it off and presenting it to the family at half.

“It was definitely an honor,” said Collado. “I’ve know Sean since I was a sophomore, and doing that for the family was an honor.”

Harris returned the opening kickoff of the second half for an 86-yard score, kicking off a wild, back and forth third quarter that saw the teams combine for 47 points.

After Moscow scored two unanswered touchdowns to cut the lead to 32-21, a failed onside kick gave the Bulldogs a short field, and Perry capped a drive with his first touchdown.

Troy Oliver-Mitton then nabbed an interception on the next possession, returning it 30 yards for a pick six, and the rout was essentially on. Perry added a 37-yard score, and Plaster a 44-yard field goal to cap the scoring.

Provided Lakeland beats Moscow next week, a likely scenario, the Bulldogs will host a first round playoff game on Halloween. Offensive lineman Billy Webber, who helped his team dominate the line of scrimmage, is pleased with the prospect of hosting a playoff game.

“We knew it would happen,” said Webber. “All the work we put in in the summer.”

Fellow lineman Josh Suto was rightfully proud of how the offensive line owned the trenches.

“We’re Moscow’s worst nightmare tonight,” he said.

Sandpoint hosts a team from Lethbridge next Friday, and if all goes well, will host a playoff game the following week.

SHS    15  10  27  3 — 55

MOS    7   0   20   7 — 34

SHS — Tyler Harris 73 run (Quinn Pearlstein run)

SHS — Wyatt McCormick 51 catch from Nate Loutzenhiser (Mike Plaster kick)

MOS — Jack Akey 15 catch from Devan Carscallen (Clary kick)

SHS — Loutzenhiser 6 run (Plaster kick)

SHS — Plaster 31 field goal

SHS — Harris 86 kick off return (Plaster kick)

MOS — Chad Robertson 6 catch from Devan Carscallen (Clary kick)

MOS — Chad Robertson 19 catch from Carscallen (Clary kick)

SHS — Kyle Perry 3 run (kick fail)

SHS — Troy Oliver-Mitton 30 interception (Plaster kick)

MOS — Akey 7 catch from Carscallen (kick fail)

SHS — Perry 37 run (Plaster kick)

MOS — Robertson 8 catch from #14 (Clary kick)

SHS — Plaster 44 field goal

SHS        Mos

First Downs                19        13

Yds Rushing                62-516        11-8

Passing yds                92        137

QB                    7-11-0        25-41-1

Punts-Ave                none        4-39

Fumbles-Lost    

4-2        2-2

Penalties                13-145        4-26

Rushing Sandpoint: Tyler Harris 8-108, Kyle Perry 26-224, Nate Loutzenhiser 12-22, Tyler Presser 11-71, Matt Timothy 3-39, Colton Muldoon 2-22

Rushing Moscow: Jacob Trujillo 4-3, Devin Carscallen 6-8, Seth McNeel 1-(-3)

Receiving Sandpoint: Matt Timonth 4-28, Wyatt McCormick  3-65

Rec

Kickoff Returns: Tyler Harris 2-119, Quinn Pearlstein 2-19, Kyle Perry 1-27