Balanced Bulldogs power past Kavemen

SANDPOINT — There are understatements, and then there is the quote Wyatt McCormick Cox gave after helping lead Sandpoint to a convincing 34-13 win over Kuna in the quarterfinals of the 4A Idaho State playoffs Friday night at Barlow Stadium. 

After hauling in seven catches for 198 yards and four touchdowns, the senior receiver promptly deflected any praise to his teammates, a humble response that speaks volumes about the kind of team Sandpoint runs out on the field on Friday nights.

“I didn’t do anything special except catch the ball and run,” said McCormick-Cox, who now has 13 touchdowns to go along with a heaping helping of modesty. “The lineman and running backs did all the work.”

As good as the offense was for the Bulldogs (7-3), and it was as sharp as it was balanced with 260 yards passing and 185 rushing, the defense might have stolen the show, holding the Kavemen (7-4) scoreless until two late scores in the fourth quarter.

On Kuna’s first offensive series, the Bulldogs’ defense came downhill and attacked, setting a physical tone and never letting up. Kuna’s first nine possessions ended by way of punt, downs or interceptions. The Kavemen tried to establish a ground game, but the Bulldogs’ defensive line was clearly winning the battle of the trenches, holding Kuna to just 107 yards rushing on 38 attempts.

Clayton Fournier nabbed the first of three picks on a tipped pass, Colton Engel grabbed another on the last play of the first half, and Paul Sundquist made the biggest defensive play of the season with a pick at the goal line, as Kuna was trying to cut into a 20-0 third quarter lead and gain momentum.

“This is one of the best defensive performances I’ve seen on this field,” praised head coach Satini Puailoa. “The work, the film study, this was a good football team and we dominated them.”

Davan Norris continues to light up defenses with a vertical passing game, finishing 13 of 20 for 260 yards and four touchdowns, and equally important, no turnovers. He now has 23 touchdowns, eclipsing Paul Nieman’s school record of 22 set in 1997, and 2,175 yards, also passing Nieman’s school mark of 2,112.

Norris and McCormick-Cox looked like they were playing pitch and catch, or 7 on 7, just shredding the Kavemen defense almost at will while accounting for all three first half scores. The final hookup went for 65 yards after McCormick-Cox broke a tackle on an out route and raced to the end zone, staking the Bulldogs to a 27-0 after his fourth score.

“That was one of the best pass performances we’ve seen since (Brett) Taylor and (Caleb) Bowman,” said Puailoa, strolling down memory lane.

Like all good quarterbacks, Norris lauded the play of his hogs up front, who gave him ample time to pass and kept the back of his jersey white on a muddy night.

“The linemen did an excellent job, I was only hit one time tonight,” praised Norris. “Wyatt ran excellent routes.”

After Orrin Cleere scored on a four yard plunge to put Kuna on the board, Michael Plaster had one of the best runs of the night, spinning out of crowd of tacklers and rambling 39 yards for the Bulldogs’ final score, as Kuna would add a late touchdown pass to cap the scoring.

The No. 3 ranked Bulldogs now turn their attention to No. 2 ranked Rigby, which throttled traditional 4A power Blackfoot 43-13 in a quarterfinal matchup. Rigby will now make the long bus ride to Sandpoint for a semi-final clash, which will be played either Friday night or Saturday afternoon, and will mark the final game played in front of the iconic wooden bleachers.

Kyle Perry moved the chains with 97 yards rushing, and Plaster finished with more than 100 yards in his eight touches in the passing and running game. After six consecutive wins in dominating fashion, the Bulldogs are looking like a tough out in the playoffs.

“We’ve been practicing like we play,” said Plaster. “Grinding in the weight room, doing everything we have to do to win.”

SHS 13 7 0 14 — 34

KHS 0 0 0 13 — 13

Spt — Wyatt McCormick-Cox 10 catch from Davan Norris (Michael Plaster kick)

Spt — McCormick-Cox 56 catch from Norris (kick fail)

Spt — McCormick-Cox 46 catch from Norris (Plaster kick)

Spt — McCormick-Cox 65 catch from Norris (Plaster kick)

Kuna — Orinn Cleere 4 run (kick good)

Spt — Plaster 39 run (Plaster kick)

Kuna — Jake Johnson 51 catch from Ben Rewe (kick blocked)

Team Stats SHS Kuna

First Downs 11 14

Yds Rushing 33-185 38-107

Passing yds 260 204

QB 13-20 14-28

Interceptions 0 3

Punts-Ave 3-36 4-39

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-0

Penalties 8-57 2-10

SHS Rushing: Kyle Perry 17-97, Mike Plaster 6-64, Davan Norris 3-6, Levi Irish 4-3, Tyler Presser 3-15

SHS Receiving : Wyatt Cox 7-198, Mike Plaster 2-45, Logan Magro 1-0, Jake Timothy 3-17

Kuna Rushing: Matt McLean 1-3, Orrine Cleere 5-5, Dustin Taylor 17-57, Ben Rewe 8-7, Josh Rumsey 5-32, Kyler Ray 1-3

Kuna Receiving: Kyler Ray 2-18, Cody Trautman 1-18, Jake Johnson 5-105, Matt McClean 5-51, Jerome Miller 1-12

Returns: SHS KOR: Kyle Perry 1-19, SHS PR: Colton Engel 1-10; Kuna KOR Cody Trautman 3-38, Josh Rumsey 1-21, Kuna PR Cody Trautman 3-8