Bears wear down Bulldogs in league opener
(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Sandpoint junior Lance Harrison breaks up a pass intended for a Moscow player in the Bulldogs’ loss to the Bear on Friday night.
(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Dillan Mitton once again had a big night on the ground for the Bulldogs, but it wasn’t enough as the Bears owned the fourth quarter.
SANDPOINT — With visiting Moscow suiting up just 22 players, many of whom played both ways, it was clear that Sandpoint’s game plan was to wear them down and grind out a Homecoming win.
But the Bears, behind the playmaking of 5-9 sophomore quarterback Chad Redinger, had different ideas, scoring 21 unanswered points in the final quarter to claim a 39-21 win over the Bulldogs in a 4A Inland Empire League opener on Friday night at Barlow Stadium.
The Bears (2-5, 1-0 4A IEL) took the opening drive down and took an early 6-0 lead on a 17 yard touchdown strike from Redinger.
The Bulldogs (1-6, 0-1 4A IEL) answered on the ensuing possession with a nice drive of their own, taking a 7-6 lead after a one yard plunge from Dillan Mitton, who carried the rock 35 times for the second straight game, earning a tough 149 yards in the process.
A Ryan Roos interception ended the Bears’ next drive, and a sack by Karsen Fournier led to a punt on their following drive, as the Bulldog defense got stops early.
Alex Stockton came up big on the next drive, catching a pass in the flats and rambling for 42 yards, setting up a 29 yard run for the big 240 pound H-back, who finished the game with seven carries for 122 yards to go with the 42 yard catch. A Dylan Peterson kick made the score 14-6 Sandpoint.
Moscow drove down the field and seemed headed for a score when Sandpoint corner Riley Anderson made a great pick at the goal line, slicing in front of the receiver to save a would be score.
Redinger, who completed 25-36 passes for 327 yards and also rushed for 95 yards, scored before the half to cut the deficit to 14-12 heading into half. Athletic, fast and able to extend plays with quick feet, he proved a one-man wrecking crew.
Mitton carried the ball seven times on the first drive of the third quarter, and with the help of a diving 37 yard catch by Hunter Elliott, the Bulldogs put a pretty drive together. Quarterback Jaxon Pettit sold a nice fake to Mitton, then scampered seven yards on the bootleg to catch the pylon for a 21-12 lead.
The Bears, who didn’t have much size and opted to spread the field out with some vertical passing, answered when Redinger scored the second of his five touchdowns to close the gap to 21-18 at the end of the third quarter.
It was all Bears from there, as they would capitalize on a Mitton fumble and an onside kick recovery to score the final 21 points of the game in a tough fourth quarter for the home team.
The Bulldogs are at Lakeland next Friday in what is a must win game to make the playoffs.
MHS 6 6 6 21 — 39
SHS — 7 7 7 0 — 21
MHS — Brekken Mower 17 yd pass from Chad Redinger (kick fail)
SHS — Dillan Mitton 1 run (Dylan Peterson kick)
SHS — Alex Stockton 29 run (Dylan Peterson kick)
MOS — Redinger 6 run (pass failed)
SHS — Jaxon Pettit 7 run (Dylan Peterson kick)
MOS — Jacob Cardwell 3 yd pass from Redinger (Moscow kick)
MOS — Redinger 7 run (Moscow kick)
MOS — Redinger 7 run (Moscow kick)
MOS — Derek Rauch-Edwards 3 run (Moscow kick)
SHS MOS
First Downs
15 18
Rushes-yards
48-286 26-104
Passing yards
135 327
QB
8-13 25-36
Interceptions
0 2
Punts-Ave
2-31 2-77
Fumbles-Lost
2-1 1-0
Penalties
2-27 9-75
SHS Rushing: Alex Stockton 7-122, Dylan Mitton 35-149, Jaxon Pettit 5-(-4), Declan Plummer 1-19
MOS Rushing: Chad Redinger 15-95, Derek Rauch-Edwards 5-6, Logan Shears 2-(-9), Jonah Ellis 1-7, #33 3-5
SHS Receiving: Dylan Mitton 1-20, Hunter Elliot 2-43, Alex Stockton 1-42, Ryan Bloomberg 2-23, Declan Plummer 2-7
Kickoff Returns: Caleb Fingel 1-11, Christian Niemela 1-14, Dylan Mitton 1-13.