Timberwolves power past Bulldogs on Homecoming

SANDPOINT — Lake City rode the powerful legs of running back Grant Clark, got a trio of sacks from linebacker Brayden Pollow and dominated time of possession in the second half en route to a 31-14 win over Sandpoint during Homecoming under the Friday Night Lights at Barlow Stadium.

Clark finished with a hard-earned 186 yards on 30 carries to lead Lake City (2-3), scoring three touchdowns and setting a physical tone, as the Timberwolves ran 39 times for 217 yards, while holding the Bulldogs to just 31 yards rushing on 26 carries.

Clark got his team on the board first with a 46 yard scamper, hitting a seam and outrunning the defense to paydirt just two plays after Sandpoint tried a fake punt at midfield and was stopped short.

Senior receiver Julian Barajas continues to be a bright spot for the Bulldogs, hauling in a strike on a go route for a 70 yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. Barajas has now caught a touchdown in four straight games, and finished a stellar night with 163 yards on four catches.

Clark would strike again from 44 yards out to put his team up again, and a 25 yard field goal at the end of the half from kicker Marco Rojo gave Lake City a 17-7 halftime lead.

Sandpoint would have cut the lead to three points before the field goal, but a 32 yard screen pass for a score by Dustin Norris was called back for holding.

On the first second half possession, Pollow registered a strip sack to create a big turnover, and a few plays later Pollow cashed in the drive with points, hauling in an 11 yard pass from quarterback Bryce Buttz for a 24-7 lead early in the third quarter.

Aided by a 44 yard run from Payton Cox, the Bulldogs put a nice drive together, capped by Robbie Johnson’s one yard plunge to cut the lead to 10 with four minutes left in the third quarter. Johnson, hobbling on a sprained ankle for much of the game, did what he could to keep his team in the game.

The ensuing drive would prove to be a back-breaker for the Bulldogs, as Lake City marched 80 yards in a methodical 14 play drive, bleeding more than six minutes off the clock before Clark would score his third rushing touchdown for insurance, as the Bulldog defense began to tire late.

Trailing 31-14, the Bulldogs used two pass interference calls and a personal foul to threaten late, but Lucas Briner picked up another sack that all but clinched the game, also ending Johnson’s night.

Sophomore Jaxon Pettit relieved Johnson on the final drive, hooking up with Barajas on his first pass before getting intercepted on the next to end the game.

The Bulldog defense got a lift from juniors Brock Kluver and Caleb Fingel, each of whom picked up tackles for loss and showed a nose for the football, while Dillan Mitton had an interception to stop a first half drive deep in their own territory. The loss of linebacker Alex Stockton, who missed the second half to injury, proved costly, as Lake City seemed to move the chains at will.

Sandpoint hosts Eastmont next Friday.

Lake City 7 10 7 7 — 31

Sandpoint 7 0 7 0 — 14

LC — Grant Clark 46 run (Marco Rojo kick)

Spt — Julian Barajas 70 catch from Robbie Johnson (Garrett Chandler kick)

LC — Clark 44 run (Rojo kick)

LC — Rojo 25 field goal

LC — Brayden Pollow 11 catch from Bryce Buttz (Rojo kick)

Spt — Robbie Johnson 1 run (Chandler kick)

LC — Clark 17 run (Rojo kick)

SHS LC

First downs 8 12

Rushes-yds 26-31 39-217

Passing 184 140

QB 7-21-1 14-20-1

Punts-Ave 2-27 4-35

Penalties 2-10 10-100

Rushing

LC: Grant Clark 30-186, Zane Lettau 6-26, Bryce Buttz 1-7.

SHS: Dustin Norris 5-(-1), Robbie Johnson 16-(-25), Alex Stockton 1-1, Julian Barajas 1-0, Payton Cox 3-56

Receiving

SHS: Alex Stockton 1-4, T.J. Davis 1-15, Julian Barajas 4-163.

LC: Brent Clark 2-9, Travis Jerome 8-81, Mason Morrow 2-28, Brayden Pollow 1-11, #38 1-11