Injuries, sickness plague Spartans in loss to Kellogg
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Junior running back Coby Rogers fights for a first down during the game against Newport on Sept. 12.
KELLOGG — Priest River football head coach Jared Hughes was looking forward to league play, but injuries and sickness ruined that excitement as the Spartans (0-6, 0-1 IML) lost their league opener 40-6 to Kellogg last Thursday.
“We are already outnumbered, undersized, younger and less experienced than our opponents,” Hughes wrote in an email. “Then we lost three players before the game to a family trip, the flu and a concussion. Then we lost two more starters at the beginning of the second quarter with a neck strain and possible concussion.”
The shorthanded Spartans fell behind early, surrendering 33 first half points to Kellogg. But with its top running back, junior Coby Rogers, out with the flu, Priest River was able to find some success in the fourth quarter as sophomore Kameron Salesky rushed for 54 yards on five carries.
Senior quarterback Caden Brennan was able to find the end zone late in the game on a 2 yard touchdown run to help the Spartans avoid being shut out by Kellogg.
On the defensive side of the ball, Priest River struggled without leading tackler Coby Rogers as they missed 23 tackles in the game. Senior Bradley O’Brien led the team with 13 tackles and Salesky added 11.
“Our kids continue to play hard, but we have a lot of work and growing to do to get better,” Hughes wrote. “Kellogg is a good team that played well. They also showed great sportsmanship playing their JV kids most of the second half when we were down so many players. This week we play a great Timberlake team. We will be adjusting our lineups and game plan to give us the best chance possible to compete.”
The Spartans will play at Timberlake 7 p.m. Friday.
Priest River 0 0 0 6 — 6
Kellogg 20 13 7 0 — 40
First quarter
KEL — Taylor Bush 14 yard run (kick good)
KEL — Taylor Bush 9 yard run (kick good)
KEL — Brandon Miller 1 yard run (kick failed)
Second quarter
KEL — Brandon Miller 30 yard pass to Tyler Oertli (kick good)
KEL — Taylor Bush 4 yard run (kick failed)
Third quarter
KEL — Taylor Bush 15 yard run (kick good)
Fourth quarter
PR — Caden Brennan 2 yard run (kick failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Priest River
PASSING — Caden Brennan, 0-11-0-2-0
RUSHING — Kameron Salesky, 5-54. Teagun Holycross, 4-6. Jesse Poisel, 6-2. Caden Brennan, 9-0.