Titans hammer Bulldogs to spoil home opener
SANDPOINT — It was a tough home opener for the Bulldogs, who struggled on both sides of the ball in a 52-7 loss to Greater Spokane League foe University on Friday night at Barlow Stadium.
The Bulldogs (0-2) had a tough time sustaining drives and getting stops, and against a big and physical team with playmakers on the edges, it added up to a tough night for the home team.
University (1-0) got the scoring started after a Jaxon Pettit interception led to a short field, and Kyle Duplessis hauled in the first of his three touchdowns and nearly 200 yards receiving on the night for a 7-0 lead.
After a three and out, the Titans drove 70 yards for a touchdown, then Duplessis hauled in a 69 yard strike from quarterback Gavin Wolcott for a 22-0 lead.
Chris Taylor broke a couple of tackles on the ensuing possession and raced 70 yards for a score, giving his team a 28-0 lead, and after Pettit’s second interception of the half, the Titans kicked a field goal and went into halftime with a comfortable 31-0 lead.
The Titans finished the game with 278 yards rushing and 211 passing, and were able to both sustain drives and score with the big play. The game finished with a running clock in the fourth quarter.
“We gave up way too many rushing yards. Turnovers, big plays, everything we talk about we didn’t do any of it,” lamented Bulldogs head coach Ryan Knowles, who will get his team back to work next week and go about improving. “They’re the same guys we came to the game with. I’ve seen teams respond just fine, it’s up to them.”
Alex Stockton finished with 94 yards receiving, most of which came on a late 77 yard strike from Pettit to avoid the shutout, and Declan Plummer caught four passes for 43 yards to help move the chains offensively.
The Bulldogs struggled to move the ball on the ground, with Dillan Mitton carrying 18 times for 42 yards against a physical and stout front seven. All told, the Bulldogs finished with just five first downs on the night, and just 22 yards rushing as a team.
The Titans would capitalize on a Pettit fumble to take a 38-0 lead in a mostly even third quarter, before adding a pair of late fourth quarter rushing scores.
Stockton also had a sack and a batted pass from his defensive end spot, Karsen Fournier had a tackle for loss and Ryan Roos batted a ball down in the end zone for some defensive highlights.
Payton Cox was a bright spot at punter, pinning the Titans back deep twice, including a 57 yard blast down to the six yard line. He finished with a 41 yard average on five punts.
Sandpoint hosts Raymond, from Canada, next Friday.
University 14 17 7 14 — 52
Sandpoint 0 0 0 7 — 7
Uhi — Kyle Duplessis 39 catch from Gavin Wolcott (Kaden McAllister kick)
Uhi — Isaad Matt 10 run (McCallister kick)
Uhi — Duplessis 69 catch from Wolcott (run good)
Uhi — Chris Taylor 70 run (kick failed)
Uhi — McCallister 20 field goal
Uhi — Duplessis 30 catch from Wolcott (McAllister kick)
Uhi — Taylor 10 run (McAllister kick)
Spt — Alex Stockton 70 catch from Jaxon Pettit (Garrett Chandler kick)
Uhi — Marquise Milton 3 run (McAllister kick)
SHS UH
First Downs 5 15
Rushes-yds 29-22 42-285
Passing yds 168 211
QB 14-23 8-15
Interceptions 2 0
Punts-Ave 5-41 4-35
Penalties 2-10 8-85
Rushing UHigh: Ashton Beach 5-23, Chris Taylor 19-187, Gavin Wolcott 5-(-22), Isaac Matt 5-31, Tyler Bishop 1-3, Bryson Moore 3-35, Marquise Milton 1-12, Quintin Little 2-13
Rushing SHS: Dillan Mitton 18-42, Christian Niemela 3-(-6), Declan Plummer 3-(-2), Alex Stockton 1-(-1), Jaxon Pettit 5-(-11)
UHigh Receiving: Larry Kennedy 1-16, Kyle Duplessis 7-195.
Receiving SHS: Declan Plummer 4-43, Dillan Mitton 2-(-3), Hunter Elliott 2-9, Alex Stockton 3-94, Christian Niemela 3-25.
KOR: Christian Niemela 3-60, Dillan Mitton 4-71 .
Kyle Duplessis 1-13, Marcus Roberson 1-15