Sandpoint hosts Rigby in 4A playoff semi on Saturday
SANDPOINT — A pair of posters, the brainchild of offensive line coach Crosby Tajan, adorn the wall of the Sandpoint weight room.
One reads “Bow down peasant Bulldogs to the men of Troy,” a reference to the Rigby Trojans’ mascot, while the other asks “Are you Rigby fast?” and shows a pic of the reigning 4A state track champions.
The posters are meant to serve as motivation for Saturday’s 4A playoff semi-final tilt between the No. 2 ranked Trojans (7-3) and the No. 3 ranked Bulldogs (7-3), although riling up the troops shouldn’t be too difficult with the biggest playoff game since 2009 on tap.
It’s also the final game ever played in front of the 70 year-old wooden bleachers of venerable Barlow Stadium, which will be demolished in the near future. That alone is worth coming out to watch the game.
At stake is a berth in the 4A state championship, which will be played next week at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow. Bulldog head coach Satini Puailoa said controlling the line of scrimmage on offense will be the key to picking up a win.
“We know we can throw it, but we’ve got to run the ball,” said Puailoa. “If that happens, we’re playing again next week.”
The Bulldogs have reeled off six straight wins in dominant fashion, the closest being last week’s 34-13 drubbing of Kuna in the quarter-finals.
While the running game was relatively slowed down by the Kavemen, seniors Davan Norris and Wyatt McCormick-Cox more than picked up the slack, hooking up for the first four touchdowns of the game. McCormick-Cox is finally healthy, and it’s no secret that the Rigby coaches watched the film of him shredding Kuna, and will pay him proper attention.
McCormick-Cox has 930 yards receiving to go with 13 touchdowns on the year, gaudy numbers posted despite being hampered by injuries for much of the season.
“I don’t know where he’d be at if he was healthy,” claimed Puailoa of his 6-foot-2, 190 pound pass catcher. “He’s a different cat. You can cover him, and he’s still going to catch the ball.”
Norris broke two of Paul Nieman’s 1997 school records for passing yards and touchdowns last week, with 2,175 yards and 23 touchdowns, and will look to add to the totals on Saturday. With seniors Jake Timothy and Logan Magro both capable targets, there are plenty of weapons at Norris’s disposal.
The biggest question mark on offense will be who shoulders the bulk of the rushing load, with Kyle Perry, Michael Plaster and Levi Irish sharing touches in a backfield by committee.
Defensively, the Bulldogs are peaking at the right time. After opening 1-3 against what Puailoa described as four playoff games to open the season, the defense has been stellar. The variety of offenses they’ve faced has prepped them well for a playoff run.
“Our guys don’t give a damn what you do on offense. We line up and do our job,” said Puailoa. “They’ve seen a lot of different stuff. Just need to do your job and trust the guy next to you.”
Rigby features one of the best quarterbacks in the state in senior Hayden Livingston, who has passed for more than 1,500 yards and run for more than 1,000, a true dual threat player out of the read option.
“Their QB is really talented, he’s their best athlete,” described Pauiloa. “He’s the key to what they do. We need to keep him in the pocket. If he’s going to beat us, make him do it from the pocket.”
Like the Bulldogs, all three of the Trojans’ losses are to quality opponents, including respectable defeats against Madison, Skyline and Hillcrest. Madison, which beat Coeur d’Alene by 10 points last week, and Madison have just two losses between them, and both are still alive in the 5A state playoffs.
Rigby blew out 4A power Blackfoot 43-13 last week to earn a spot in the semis. Saturday’s game is incredibly even on paper, and one local football fans won’t want to miss.
“We’re a senior-dominated team,” said Puailoa. “We have a bunch of guys that can make plays.”
Kickoff is Saturday, at 1 p.m. at Barlow Stadium.