Weight room confidential: Meet the LBs and DBs
This is the first in a three-part series as Daily Bee sports editor Eric Plummer sits down in the Sandpoint weight room and talks shop with the Bulldog football players as they prepare to battle in the state championship game on Saturday against No. 1 ranked Bishop Kelly.
Part 1 — Linebackers and defensive backs.
Cast of characters: Sam (outside) linebacker Walker Jacobson; Mike (middle) linebacker Paul Sundquist; Will (outside) linebacker Jackson Diercks; left corner Colton Engel; right corner Caiden Oliver; free safety Clayton Fournier; and strong safety Robbie Johnson.
• What’s the strength of the group?
“Chemistry,” answers Fournier, a junior who was moved from linebacker to safety early in the season and has flourished ever since. “We know each other, and we pretty much feed off each other.”
Oliver, a physical corner, says the defense is all about everybody doing their job.
“Corners are on an island,” describes Oliver of the Bulldogs’ man coverage. “Stay on our guy, don’t worry about the run.”
Senior linebacker Paul Sundquist, the unofficial leader of a stingy defense that has grown by leaps and bounds during the season, used one word to answer the question.
“Physicality. We run downhill and meet guys in the hole, and we’re physical about it,” says Sundquist, noting it will be essential to slow down the power running game of Bishop Kelly. “They’re a run-first team. We’ve got to match their physicality, make them go to their weaker plays, their pass plays.”
While physical, there’s another trait that jumps out on game days, a trait embodied by senior backer Jackson Diercks.
“We’re pretty fast for linebackers across the board,” claims Diercks, who brings a ton of energy to the field. “Usually, when the offense has the ball, the linebackers can’t get there. We can get the edge.”
• What sticks out most when you think of head coach Satini Puailoa?
“He’s dedicated,” answers Engel, one of four players to use the same exact word for their head coach, who spends who-knows-how-many hours stewarding players to a shot at the state title.
“Intensity,” describes Oliver. “He’s like a player in the game. He’s jacked, he lives through us in the games.”
Sundquist, one of the many seniors who started the journey four years ago when Puailoa returned to steward the program, a program he previously led to its only state title in 1997 and a program that had fallen on hard times, summed up his coach in reverential tones.
“He’s loyal to us,” says Sundquist. “His confidence is through the roof, and it makes us more confident.”
That confidence will come in handy for Johnson, the only sophomore on the team getting consistent playing time. He began the season as the JV quarterback before being summoned to start on varsity at safety, and come Saturday in the Kibbie Dome, he’ll be asked to take on 260-pound pulling guards as well as cover speedy receivers.
“I’m very nervous,” admits the playmaking Johnson, and it’s a safe bet he won’t be alone, as even seniors get butterflies in the stomach for the state championship. “Next year I’ll be more of a leader.”
• So Coach Puailoa, the players gave the lowdown on you, what stands out to you about each of them?
Engel: “His athleticism has gone through the roof. He’s got a 35 inch vertical, and invested in the weight room. He’s been asked the last two weeks to cover the best receiver.”
Oliver: “Tough as nails. A farm-strong kid. Caiden is our boundary guy.”
Johnson: “Hard-nosed kid that likes to compete. Natural born football player.”
Fournier: “Can cover ground and come up and hit. Has come of age, playing with no fear.”
Diercks: “The guy has a motor. So much energy. Strong, quick and smart.”
Jacobson: “Just football smart. He could play quarterback, running back, wide receiver, he’s just a football player.”
Sundquist: “Conductor of everything. So damn smart, knows where everybody is supposed to be.”
Tune in tomorrow for part two of the three-part series, as we get up close and personal with the big uglies, also knows as the offensive and defensive linemen.