Sandpoint football chasing second state title

SANDPOINT — Underrated and underestimated — that’s what the Bulldogs were in 2020.

Across the state, no one saw the Sandpoint football team making a run to the 4A state semifinals for the first time since 2015, except the players in the Bulldog locker room.

Even though the team started 1-4, the players still believed something special was brewing, and sure enough they reeled off four straight wins to book a trip in the final four of the state playoffs.

Sandpoint’s journey ended there when they fell 20-0 to Skyline, the eventual state champion, in frigid, blizzard-like conditions. The Bulldogs were awarded a third-place state trophy for their efforts, but they weren’t satisfied with that. They believed they could do more.

“That has a little sting to everybody that was at that game and in this program,” head coach Ryan Knowles said.

The loss provided more motivation for a program that has continued to ascend since Knowles arrived in 2018. SHS put the entire state on notice with their run in 2020 and this year’s team motto of “Red Alert” symbolizes the statement they made.

“My goal is for this program to be a tough, physical program that people don’t want to see on the other side of the [state] bracket,” Knowles said.

Now the Bulldogs have earned the respect of their peers and are considered to be one of the top teams in 4A with 10 starters returning.

Knowles said his players have earned the right to expect to win every time they step on the field, but they also understand they must stick to the process in order to be successful.

“It’s a confident bunch,” he said. “We remind them continuously that it’s one game at a time and you’re never as good as you think you are … so I think we do a pretty good job of keeping the players in check.”

On Sept. 17, Sandpoint will travel eight hours south to face Homedale, who fell in overtime in the 3A state title game last season. The game is meant to prepare the team for a potential road trip during the state playoffs because ultimately the Bulldogs will have to win on the road if they want to secure a state title, Knowles said.

With the district champion guaranteed at least one home postseason game, winning the 4A Inland Empire League title for the second straight year couldn’t be more important for Sandpoint, Knowles said.

“It’s huge,” he said. “It could be the difference [in a state run].”

Part of the slow start for the Bulldogs last year can be attributed to COVID-19 wiping out all the offseason camps. The team entered the season with a laundry list of question marks because they hadn’t seen another team in over nine months. Coaches were forced to figure out where players fit on the fly and it took a few games for Sandpoint to finally put all the pieces together.

This summer, camps, jamborees and scrimmages returned and offensive coordinator Jeremy Thielbahr said those reps were instrumental.

“We’re light years ahead of where we were last year at the beginning of the season,” he said.

Offense looks to reach another level

The connection between the play caller and the quarterback is essential to the success of any offense. Last year, it took the Bulldogs three games to settle on their starter for the rest of the season — Parker Pettit.

As Thielbahr got more accustomed to Pettit’s playing style, the offense started to find its way and, by the end of the season, the two really started clicking.

A year later, Pettit’s had a full offseason to master Thielbahr’s playbook, language and offensive scheme, and the comfort level between the two couldn’t be higher. They both believe that will lead to a much faster start for the offense this fall.

“I’m way more comfortable than last year,” Pettit said about the offense. “I know what’s going on now and I can look at a defense and know what they are doing and where to go pretty much every play. I was kind of swimming last year, but I’ve figured it out.”

The familiarity between the two and the rest of the offense has allowed Thielbahr to add more layers to his playbook and a new wrinkle that Bulldog fans will see in the season opener.

“It’s something I’ve never done,” Thielbahr said. “It’s actually been pretty exciting for me. I’ve been coaching in high school for a long time and always thought about doing this wrinkle and we’re doing it.”

The improvement of his quarterback over the offseason also has Thielbahr eager to get the season underway.

“He’s got a really high ceiling,” he said about Pettit. “I’m excited about Parker and what he is going to do.”

Pettit participated in the Russell Wilson Passing Academy over the summer. Every Saturday, he woke up at 1 a.m. to make the six-hour trip to Seattle for training sessions at 9 a.m. with Jake Heaps, the academy’s head quarterback coach.

Heaps is a former NFL quarterback who trains Wilson during the offseason. Pettit said he soaked up so much knowledge from Heaps and the collegiate-level quarterbacks at the academy. He learned how to improve his footwork, how to read coverages and, most importantly, how to be a better passer.

“The biggest thing I think I learned from it is how to get my body into the throw because last year I would just throw all arm,” he said. “But [Heaps] worked with me a lot on getting my hips into it, so now I can get a lot more power on the ball without hurting my arm.”

Pettit hopes his dedication in the offseason allows the Bulldogs’ offense to reach another level because he’s hungry for another deep postseason run. In the first quarter of the semifinal game against Skyline, Pettit suffered a bone contusion in his knee. He stayed in the game, but he wasn’t his usual self. Pettit wants to reach that stage again so he can redeem himself.

Last season, Pettit’s running ability gave the Sandpoint offense a different dynamic and kept defenses on their toes. Thielbahr said Pettit’s legs really open things up for the Bulldogs, but they are going to limit him a little bit in the run game to make sure he stays healthy and doesn’t take any unnecessary hits.

“He’s electric with the ball in his hands and he’s tough to bring down,” Thielbahr said. “But we also have to be careful how much we put him in the run game. It’s a long season and we want to win a state title.”

The Bulldogs lost some significant weapons offensively. Wide receivers Elijah Larson and Max Thielbahr are gone, along with running back Braden Kappen. Junior Arie VanDenBerg is back and expected to play a key role, otherwise the rest of the players in the mix on the outside are pretty inexperienced.

“You’re going to see sophomores out there starting at wideout,” Thielbahr said.

Sophomores Max Frank, Connor Hindberg and Eli Allshouse have all been getting reps, along with senior Luke McCorkle.

McCorkle, Sandpoint’s No. 1 corner, has some prior experience at the wideout spot and would love to become a playmaker for the Bulldogs in pressure situations this fall.

In the backfield, senior Gerrit Cox will tote the rock once again. The two-time all-league running back and returner will also be featured heavily defensively, so when he needs a breather junior Owen Wimmer is expected to get some touches.

Cox is used to playing both ways, so he isn’t worried about fatigue. He’s ready for whatever gets thrown his way.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” he said. “I believe in myself and I know that I can go out there and play both sides of the ball and be very effective.”

Cox said he still has gotten over that semifinal loss. Being that close and watching it slip away was something he won’t ever forget.

“I’ve never experienced something like that in my life,” he said.

But that loss provided the ultimate motivation and Cox said the team was back in the weight room only a few weeks later grinding away. He said the team attacked the offseason like he’s never seen before.

Cox has earned the nickname, “Sa-quads” from his teammates. The nickname pays homage to New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who, like Cox, has massive quads.

Cox is a stud on the field and his passion is unmatched, but he doesn’t come from a football family. When Cox was in fourth grade, he and his older brother, Payton, became the first people in their family to take up football. His passion for the sport quickly grew as he watched the Seattle Seahawks and electrifying players like Marshawn Lynch, Kam Chancellor and Jay Ajayi on TV.

Early on, Cox said he didn’t have any moves as a running back and he would get tackled with ease. Then at 10 years old, a coach taught him how to stiff arm and that’s been his signature move ever since.

“It’s my favorite thing to do in the world,” he said about the stiff arm.

Cox followed in his brother's footsteps by playing running back and linebacker for the Bulldogs, and he said Payton really paved the way for his success. Cox is looking to pursue a football career at the next level, but right now all he wants to focus on is helping his team rack up victories.

On the offensive line, Sandpoint lost its center and both offensive tackles, but will be able to lean on Carson Laybourne and Wylan Dorrel, who both started last season as sophomores.

Offensive line coach George Yarno Jr. said Dorrel and Laybourne will be at left tackle and left guard this fall and he sees defenses having a hard time getting through that wall.

At center, junior Ben Stockton has been getting most of the first time reps, but senior Nate Blagrove has also seen some time. Senior Mike Chapman and junior Austin Smith have been at right guard and right tackle on the first team group, Yarno said, but he also has some depth with sophomore Cameron Barret and junior Dillion Plaster pushing for playing time.

Yarno said the O-line was extremely committed to the weight room over the summer and improved mentally and physically. The line of scrimmage is where games are won and lost, and Yarno believes his group has the potential to be special.

“We’re definitely a lot stronger as a unit than I’ve had in a long time,” he said. “The sky’s the limit. We got a chance to be really good, but we got to keep doing what we’re doing.”

With the offensive line looking strong and Pettit gaining more command of the offense, Thielbahr is hoping to utilize multiple tempos and an array of formations this season to keep defenses off balance. He is expecting a consistent ground game and an explosive attack through the air to be the Bulldogs’ identity on offense.

Defense looks to dominate with powerful line

You can’t replace a player like Tag Benefield, Knowles said. Leaders like that only come around a program so often, but the Bulldogs have someone close to the two-time IEL Defensive MVP who will be stepping in to fill his shoes — his younger brother, Wes Benefield.

Wes started alongside Tag as a sophomore last season and now he will be moving over to become the quarterback of the defense just like his brother. It’s a tall task, but Wes is up for the challenge.

“It’s a lot because I know how good he’s been from when he started as a sophomore,” Wes said about Tag.

Tag is just one piece of the defense the Bulldogs lost over the offseason. All-league selections Keith Jensen, Isaac Webb, Elijah Larson and Adam Bucholtz graduated, but Knowles has the talent to build another formidable defense.

Jensen was a mountain in the middle at nose tackle. While Knowles doesn’t have someone of his size to clog up multiple gaps, he does have a defensive front that will likely be made up of four of the strongest players in the program — senior Will Hurst, senior Blake Sherrill, junior Levi Balison and Cox.

“We’re going to find the weakness in your O-line with these four,” Knowles said.

Hurst earned all-league honors last fall for his play at defensive end, and the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder is primed to leave his mark.

“Will Hurst has destroyed this offseason,” Knowles said.

Sherrill shined when the lights were the brightest last season. On the defensive line, he rose to the occasion in some of Sandpoint’s most pivotal games. Knowles called him clutch.

“He’s going to show up when you need him and not going to panic,” Knowles said.

Balison is another player that hit the weight room hard over the offseason. He will see time at defensive end and outside linebacker.

Cox is moving to weakside linebacker to fill Webb’s role. Knowles can’t wait to see what kind of damage he does off the edge this season.

“He’s a beast,” Knowles said. “We could put him in a lot of places. We could put him at nose guard, honestly.”

Knowles could also see Dorrel and Laybourne getting some time at nose tackle.

At linebacker, senior Merek Bauck and junior Joseph Hughes are expected to step in next to Wes.

This season, Wes is aiming for 130 tackles and IEL Defensive MVP honors. He said his brother taught him to never give up on a play and to always hit hard.

All-league safety Cody Steiger is back and Knowles said senior Layne Dunkel and junior Koda Hartley have been taking reps to replace impact player Trevan Adam.

Corner might be where the Bulldogs have the biggest question mark defensively. Next to McCorkle, Knowles is looking at a handful of players including junior Koby Barlow, junior Jack Zimmerman, sophomore Shane Sherrill and Allshouse.

McCorkle feels comfortable stepping into the No. 1 corner spot after learning from Larson the past couple years.

“I’ve seen what it takes to be at the next level as a corner,” he said, “and I’ve gone against some really good receivers at camp all summer, and some I’ll be playing this season, and I think I matchup pretty well against them.”

McCorkle wants to lead the state in interceptions and pass breakups.

“If I can do that, I’ll be content,” he said.

Junior Jacob Gove will take over the kicking duties with all-league kicker Elek Christoferson gone.

Even with the pieces they lost, Wes and McCorkle believe the Bulldogs can assemble a unit that can match the production of last year’s defense.

McCorkle is looking for a memorable ending to his football career.

“I want to go out with a ring on my finger,” he said.

Since he picked up a football, Cox has thought about playing on War Memorial Field as a senior. He can’t wait for the return of Friday Night Lights.

“I just want to put on a show,” he said.

The Bulldogs open the season at Post Falls on Friday, Aug. 27. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. SHS returns home the following week to host Coeur d’Alene.