Bulldogs to 'let actions speak louder than words'

New coach returns to lead alma mater

By ERIC PLUMMER

Sports editor

SANDPOINT — New head coach. New read option offense. New 3-4 defense. New coat of paint in the weight room. New connection to the past.

There’s an unmistakable newness and feel around the Sandpoint football program, as native son Ryan Knowles is returning home to coach his former high school team. Knowles moved east after starting four years at defensive end for the University of Idaho, spending the last 12 years as an assistant coach at Colgate University in New York. Knowles replaces George Yarno after a two year stint.

Knowles’ father John Knowles was a longtime assistant coach at Sandpoint, and Ryan was a teenager when he helped build the Project 92 building in honor of the late Tucker Taylor, whom he looked up to as a youth. He also remembers the late David Lyon, who died in Afghanistan in 2014.

But more importantly, he wants his players to remember the two former Bulldogs, wants them to take pride in being a Bulldog, just like he did, and just like Taylor and Lyon did.

“I came home, and I didn’t come here as a stop along the chain. We’re building this thing for the long haul, a 10 to 20 year plan,” said Knowles, adding how he wants his program to be regarded. “Confident and classy. The boys know what they’re doing, and do it confidently. I’m going to knock you down, roll you, and go back in the huddle and do it again. Let actions speak louder than words.”

The Bulldogs finished 3-7 last year, but went 2-0 in league play after cutting their teeth and taking their lumps against a heavyweight schedule, eventually falling to Middleton 42-10 in the playoffs.

Knowles is excited about his new read-option offense, which is chock full of weapons and will be tested early against a schedule with five of the first six games coming against 5A or Greater Spokane League opponents.

Pulling the trigger at quarterback will be junior Preston Pettit, an accurate passer who sees the field well. Quarterback injuries last year pressed Pettit into action and he came up big in league play, throwing for a school record 377 yards and five scores against Moscow. He finished the year with 839 yards passing and seven touchdowns.

“He’s Cool Hand Luke. Great decision maker, doesn’t get rattled,” described Knowles of his signal caller. “We’ll keep it simple for them so they can execute.”

Knowles calls his receiving corps the biggest strength of the offense, with four players boasting big play ability. One of them is senior Hunter Elliott, who has plus measurables and could be poised for a breakout season.

“I don’t know how they’re going to stop Hunter. He’s 6-2, with a 37 inch vertical. Good luck, you better put somebody in the alley,” said Knowles. “He beat one of the best corners at the Eastern Washington camp multiple times. We’ll feed the beast.”

Ditto for Alex Stockton, who could also be primed for huge numbers after switching sides of the ball, sort of. Stockton caught 13 passes for 143 yards and two scores last year, when he earned 4A Inland Empire League Defensive Player of the Year honors for his dominant play at linebacker.

A highly-skilled three sport athlete, he’s got size and speed that will be difficult for linebackers or safeties to match up with, and fits the mold of the new breed tight end weapon in football.

“He’s a mismatch at 6-4, 250, he’s going to be physically dominant,” described Knowles. “He can catch the ball and run.”

Knowles will also try to get the ball in the hands of Declan Plummer, who rushed for three second half touchdowns in a 35-30 win at Raymond, and also threw for two scores in a six point loss to 5A Lewiston, finishing with 436 yards passing in a backup role last year. He clocked an electronic 4.53 in the 40 at the BSU camp this summer, and will switch to slot receiver as a senior while backing up Pettit at quarterback.

Also a big play threat is junior receiver Christian Niemela, as Knowles will try to spread the touches around and get his athletes into space.

“Decco has speed at slot and Niemela is athletic,” said Knowles. “We’ll get them the ball, they’re going to do fun stuff.”

Senior Dillan Mitton will carry the load at running back, as the all-league player looks to build on a strong junior season. Mitton rushed for 492 yards on 97 carries, and also had 233 yards receiving while scoring six touchdowns. He came up huge against Lakeland, accounting for 344 yards from scrimmage and scoring three times in a breakout performance.

“Dillan is a hard runner, perfect for a zone run,” claimed Knowles. “He can bend, bang or bounce, we’re looking forward to him doing all three.”

Senior Caelan Darling could also get some touches in the running game, and sophomore Braden Kappen has looked good in practice.

No running game can thrive without the horses up front, with senior guard Cole Ducken (5-11, 295) leading a sizable group of new varsity linemen that includes Keihl Hutchings (6-2, 280), Connor Hutchings (5-11, 280), Isaiah Caralis (5-9, 195) and Brandon Casey (6-6, 235).

“Ducken is our leader. He can tell guys what to do, get guys lined up, they look to him for answers,” said Knowles. “Branden Casey is a huge human, he’ll get guys down on the ground. Kiehl and Connor are both strong and big.”

Leading the defense will be a pair of returning all-league linebackers in senior Payton Cox and junior Tyler Lehman. Cox had a strip sack and touchdown return against Raymond, and finished the season playing on both sides of the ball at running back.

The pair will join senior Caleb Fingel and sophomore Tag Benefield to form what Knowles feels is the strongest position in the Bulldogs’ new 3-4 scheme.

“Payton is aggressive, wants to be physical, a tough guy. Lehman is hungry, he wants to be great,” lauded Knowles. “Our linebackers run and they hit; that’s what linebackers need to do, get to the ball in a bad mood.”

For them to make plays, the three defensive tackles must plug gaps and occupy blockers to make a 3-4 work. It’s another strong position group with seniors Karsen Fournier and Thomas Aleto joining 6-foot-6, 220 pound nose guard William Treadaway in the trenches.

Fournier is more than just the leader of his position group.

“Karsen is the leader of the defense. If you’re facing some adversity, he’ll say ‘suck it up guys, let’s go,’” said Knowles. “I’ll ride with him.”

A shutdown corner is a weapon in football, as taking the other team’s best receiver out of the game can dictate outcome as much as any one position on the field.

The Bulldogs have a good one in Riley Anderson, an excellent cover corner with great ball skills in the air. He’ll team with fellow senior Brayden Payne to lock down their islands. Senior safeties Tristan Plail and Billy Brackett will provide the last line of defense, with Knowles admitting there’s a lot of DBs fighting for playing time early in the year.

Garrett Chandler will handle the kicking duties and Payton Cox the punting duties, as both were solid in the same roles last year.

Talent will obviously take you places, but so can teamwork in a game like football, and Aleto feels the Bulldogs are good to go on both fronts.

“A family mentality, well knit and tight. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, have each other’s back,” described Aleto. “We’ve put in the work, the physical aspects. It’s mentally knowing our strengths and where we’re supposed to be.”

Sandpoint football has always been about the power run game, and Ducken is eager to employ some ground and pound on opponents, knowing it helps open up the passing game.

“I think we’ll be able to run well, with a power running back and a good O-line. We have good pass pro, keep a nice pocket,” said Ducken. “I think we’ll do pretty good things this year, I’m excited. We’ll stick to our jobs and get stuff done.”

Knowles has laid out concrete and simple goals: run for 100 yards every game, hold the opponent under 100 yards rushing, avoid turnovers and create turnovers. He also wants to win the IEL, and win at least one playoff game.

He loves the lunch pail mentality that he remembers from his time as a Bulldog player. Some things never change.

“These kids work hard. That’s what I expect from Sandpoint,” said Knowles, noting his team’s credo. “Protect, not bully. Embrace who we are. It’s combat. We’re not the bullies, we’re the protectors.”