Irish runs wild as Bulldogs rout Timberwolves

SANDPOINT — Irish eyes were smiling, both on the field and among the chain crew, as Sandpoint junior running back Levi Irish broke out with a monster game to lead Sandpoint over Lake City 48-19 Friday night at Barlow Stadium.

Irish, getting his first start at tailback, erupted for 298 yards on 29 carries, scoring on touchdown scampers of 23, 58, 13 and 39 yards. The quick and shifty back also had three touchdowns called back, or his night could have been even bigger.

Like all good running backs, he praised the offensive line of Travis Davis, Alex Feyen, Marcus Rodriguez, Carlos Collado and Tyrell Murray for helping pave the way to a huge breakout night with some road-grading blocking.

“I knew my hogs were going to do it for me and we were going to win this game,” said Irish, whose dad Rusty was a standout running back at Sandpoint and now part of a chain crew that also includes grandpa Cliff Irish. “It’s all them, all the hogs.”

It was another big night offensively for the Bulldogs (3-3), who ran up 587 yards of total offense in the second game since switching back to the more downhill power I.

The win breaks a five game winning streak in the series for the Timbervolves, and serves notice that Sandpoint will be a handful to deal with in the 4A ranks. Sandpoint head coach Satini Puailoa knew the Timberwolves (1-5) were banged up with injuries, and hoped his team could build off a rout of East Valley last week.

“Those guys (Timberwolves) are going to compete. Tumwater is really good, and they were right there with those guys. They beat Shadle Park, and are a lot better than East Valley,” said Puailoa, happy to see the power running game picking up steam. “It feels like the season just started for us offensively. Our ability to run the ball tonight started with the offensive line. He (Levi) just ran more than his dad did. He keeps getting one up on his dad.”

The Bulldogs struck first with a 34 yard dime from Davan Norris to Wyatt McCormick-Cox to take an early 6-0 lead. Lake City answered with a 47 yard strike from backup quarterback Matt Duchow to Cameron Chun to take a short-lived 7-6 lead. Puailoa called Duchow a great athlete, and knew keeping him contained would be huge for the defense, which held the Timberwolves to just 263 yards on the night.

“Our guys kept that guy (Duchow) in check,” said Puailoa, lauding the play of Norris, who finished an efficient 13-16 for 220 yards and two scores under center. “We’re doing things with Davan that we’ve never been able to do. They (Timberwolves) were so afraid of McCormick-Cox that they didn’t bring their safeties up in the run game.”

Irish broke the game open with a huge second quarter, accounting for 120 yards and three scores to help the Bulldogs take a 27-7 halftime lead. Logan Magro kept things going in the third quarter with a 37 yard catch from Norris, before Irish capped a run of 35 unanswered points with his fourth score of the game.

Duchow stopped the bleeding with a two yard scamper for a score, and Dakota Kielblock scored from five yards out for the final score of the game for Lake City, which will look to get healthy before league play begins.

Sandpoint now turns its attention to a league opener next Friday against Lakeland. A scary thought is that all-state running back Kyle Perry will be back healthy, giving the Bulldogs another weapon in an emerging offense. Puailoa said the results on the field are borne of hard work.

“Four years ago we couldn’t do this. These offensive linemen have been in the weight room for four years, and they’re all fast,” he said. “I’m excited to see what happens down the road. The best football has yet to be played.”

Robbie Johnson had an interception, and Sam Johnson was creating havoc in the backfield for the Bulldog defense, which continues to gel along with the offense.

Sandpoint hosts Lakeland next Friday in a 4A Inland Empire League opener.

SHS 6 21 14 7 — 48

LC 7 0 6 6 — 19

SHS — Wyatt McCormick-Cox 32 pass from Davan Norris (kick fail)

LC — Cameron Chun 47 catch from Matt Duchow (Kobe Murphree kick)

SHS — Levi Irish 23 run (Cox pass from Norris)

SHS — Irish 57 run (Mike Plaster kick)

SHS — Irish 13 run (kick fail)

SHS — Logan Magro 37 catch from Norris (Plaster kick)

SHS — Irish 29 run (Plaster kick)

LC — Duchow 2 run (pass fail)

SHS — Plaster 10 run (Plaster kick)

LC — Dakota Kielblock 5 run (pass fail)

SHS LC

First Downs 18 11

Yds Rushing 47-367 33-119

Passing yds 220 144

QB 13-16-0 13-20-1

Punts-Total 0-0 5-160

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0

Penalties 5-50 5-65

SHS Rushing: Levi Irish 29-298, Norris 3-(-20), Plaster 8-64, Magro 3-11, Colton Muldoon 2-13, Walker Jacobson 1-1

SHS Receiving: Walker 1-10, Logan Magro 7-117, Mike Plaster 2-29, Wyatt Cox 3-50

SHS KOR: Magro 1-15

SHS PR: Clayton Fournier 2-36

SHS QB Norris: 13-16-0, 220 yds, 2-TD passes

LC Rushing:Dakota Kielblock 9-76, Matt Duchow 19-29, Austin McMaster 1-5, Ram Lettau 2-3, Cameron Chun 1-2, Kobe Murphree 1-4

LC Receiving: Brady Davis 1-13, Ben Bomar 1-6, Brandon Stapleton 2-15, Austin McMaster 3-2, Cameron Chun 1-47, Dakota Kielblock 1-13, Jason Pierard 2-31, Phil Blank 2-17

LC KOR: Dawson Schramm 1-3, Cody Garza 3-92, Dakota Kielblock 1-11

LC QB: Matt Duchow 13-30-1 144 yds 1-TD pass