Spartan football unable to breakthrough against Badgers

PRIEST RIVER — For the second week in a row the Spartan football team was held scoreless, falling 45-0 to Bonners Ferry last Friday night.

Four interceptions prevented Priest River from getting much going on offense.

"Bonners Ferry was a good team with several great athletes," head coach Jared Hughes wrote in an email. "Their program is a year or two ahead of us in program rebuilding, but we will get there. I thought for three quarters our kids played with a lot of heart. By the fourth quarter, injuries mounted and we were struggling with some personnel gaps."

After completing just one pass in their season opener against Kellogg, the Spartans were able to get more going through the air against the Badgers converting six passes for 92 yards. But it wasn't enough.

Bonners Ferry scored four touchdowns in the first half to take a 27-0 lead into the break. Priest River held the Badgers to a field goal in the third quarter, but Bonners Ferry ended any hopes of a comeback in the fourth quarter with a pair of scores.

"The old cliche is that football comes down to blocking and tackling," Hughes wrote. "Because of our youth we struggle with both. We gave up way too many yards after contact and didn't control the line of scrimmage well on offense. We will continue to work hard at practice each and every day."

Senior running back Coby Rogers had another standout game, rushing for 80 yards on 23 carries. On defense, Rogers and Kameron Salesky each had 10 tackles and Hayden Sorbel added five.

Priest River racked up 139 total yards in the game while Bonners Ferry had 239.

The Spartans (0-2) get a week off before returning to action 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, against St. Maries at PRLHS. The JV team plays at Bonners Ferry this Friday.

Priest River 0 0 0 0 — 0

Bonners Ferry 14 13 3 15 — 45

First quarter

BF — Rice 10 yard pass from Banning (Reinhardt kick)

BF — Callahan 17 yard pass from Callahan (Reinhardt kick)

Second quarter

BF — Rice 41-yard interception return (Reinhardt kick no good)

BF — Richards 48 yard pass from Rice (Reinhardt kick)

Third quarter

BF — 32 yard field goal by Reinhardt

Fourth quarter

BF — Richards 28 yard pass from Banning (Reinhardt kick)

BF — Valrelman 1 yard run (Reinhardt run for two-point)

PRIEST RIVER INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Johnson 1-(-3), Rogers 23-80, Salesky 3-3, Hannah 4-(-20), Goins 6-(-13).

PASSING — Hannah 6-24-4-92.

RECEIVING — Johnson 1-31, Goins 2-17, Salesky 1-15, Sorbel 1-2, McLain 1-27.