Wildcats handle Bulldogs in nonleague affair

(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior Declan Plummer had a couple positive runs in his pair of second half series at quarterback.

(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior Alex Stockton finished both his runs and catches with authority on Friday night.

| September 15, 2018 1:00 AM

(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior Alex Stockton finished both his runs and catches with authority on Friday night.

SPOKANE — Once again, a slow start proved costly for Sandpoint, which turned the ball over early and had trouble stopping a strong Mt. Spokane squad, as the Wildcats jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead and coasted to a 56-6 win over the Bulldogs in nonleague football Friday night at Joe Albi Stadium.

Mt. Spokane (3-0) scored on its first drive for an early 7-0 lead. On the ensuing drive, a Mt. Spokane lineman closed on backpedaling Bulldog quarterback Jaxon Pettit and knocked the ball out of his hands, scooping and scoring for any early 14-0 lead and momentum less than halfway through the first quarter.

The Wildcats tried an onside kick and recovered, but missed a field goal after the Bulldogs (1-3) came up with a defensive stop in the red zone.

On the next drive, Pettit fumbled and gave the Wildcats a short field, which they turned into a 21-0 first quarter lead. The Bulldogs offense had trouble sustaining drives and staying on the field, and the Wildcats dominated time of possession in the first half, finishing another drive and taking a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter.

The Wildcats would turn a Pettit interception into another score, heading into halftime with a 35-0 lead after dominating on both sides of the ball.

Defensive highlights for Sandpoint included a sack by lineman Connor Hutchings, a nice stick at the goal line by corner Riley Anderson, a beautiful pass break up by safety Ryan Roos to save a touchdown, and a 15 yard sack by Payton Cox, who slammed All-GSL quarterback Brady Hill to the turf.

The Wildcats built a 49-0 lead after scooping up a fumble and rumbling 75 yards with a running clock in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the final minutes when Dillan Mitton scored on a one-yard run.

Bulldog offensive highlights included some tough carries from Alex Stockton, who also caught three passes for 39 yards and multiple times carried defenders for extra yards in a game where they were tough to come by.

Sandpoint travels south to face Lewiston next Friday.

SHS 0 0 0 6 — 6

Mt.S 21 14 7 14 — 56

Mt. S — Kannon Katzer 10 run (Ethan Torhjelm kick)

Mt. S — Josh Osso 31 fumble recovery (Torhjelm kick)

Mt. S — Grayson Bowles 1 run (Torhjelm kick)

Mt. S — Tommy Madill 15 pass from Brady Hill (Torhjelm kick)

Mt. S — Kannon Katzer 1 run (Torhjelm kick)

Mt. S — Kannon Katzer 11 run (Torhjelm kick)

Mt. S — Matt McNitt 75 fumble recovery (Torhjelm kick)

Spt — Dillan Mitton 1 run (kick fail)

Mt. S — Jeter Schuerman 3 run (Torhjelm kick)