Sandpoint football steamrolls Moscow 41-6

MOSCOW — Moscow stayed within striking distance for three quarters, but Sandpoint football scored three touchdowns in the final 11 minutes Friday night to grab a commanding 41-6 Inland Empire League victory over the Bears.

The Bulldogs led from start to finish and were in control most of the night, but the pesky Bears hung around until the final quarter rolled around.

“We kind of just wore them out toward the end and just made a few more plays down the stretch,” head coach Ryan Knowles said.

Sandpoint has now won three straight over Moscow.

“It’s outstanding coming off a bye week,” Knowles said about the victory. “A lot of preparation and thought went into this game and it’s just outstanding to have it behind us with a quality win.”

With the win, the Bulldogs (4-2) set up a showdown with Lakeland next Friday at War Memorial Field. The victor of that battle will claim the 4A Region 1 title and the right to host at least one game in the 4A state playoffs.

Despite the number of points Sandpoint put up on the board Friday, the defense was the story of the night. They forced three turnovers and made key plays in crucial moments of the game.

One of those key plays came late in the third quarter when Moscow was trailing 21-6 and had the ball at the SHS 17-yard line. On 1st and 10, the Bears fumbled on a handoff and Levi Balison scooped it up to give the ball back to the Bulldog offense.

“That was huge,” Knowles said about the play. “That stopped a lot of their momentum.”

Sandpoint capitalized on the turnover early in the fourth quarter when quarterback Parker Pettit plunged into the end zone from a yard out to make it 27-6 in favor of the Bulldogs.

That sequence took the wind out of Moscow’s sails and allowed Sandpoint to cruise the rest of the way. Pettit connected with wide receiver Cody Newhart in the back of the end zone from 14 yards and Pettit scampered in from 24 yards out to complete the 20-point fourth quarter for the Bulldogs.

The Sandpoint defense bent, but didn’t break and they made stops when the team needed them the most.

“I thought we played good complimentary football,” Knowles said. “That offense spreads the field really well … and they run a smart system and we did let them trickle down the field a little bit more than a coach would like, but guys found a way to make some plays and be opportunistic.”

Junior defensive back Jack Zimmerman silenced the Moscow crowd early in Friday’s game. He stepped in front of a pass on Moscow’s opening possession and took it 46 yards to the house to give SHS a 7-0 lead just over a minute and a half into the game.

That play set the tone for the Bulldogs and Moscow was never able to dig out of the early deficit. Running back Gerrit Cox rumbled into the end zone from 10 yards out with 2:30 left in the first quarter and Newhart caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Pettit with 35 seconds left in the second quarter to allow Sandpoint to take a 21-6 lead into the half.

Cox carried the rock 19 times for 144 yards and one touchdown. Pettit was 11 of 17 for 132 yards through the air and he racked up 45 yards on the ground. He finished with four total touchdowns.

Newhart, a 2020 all-league receiver, saw his first action of the season for the Bulldogs and caught five passes for 57 yards and two touchdowns.

“It was nice having Cody Newhart back as a deep threat,” Knowles said. “We missed a few deep balls with him that could have been fun, but it was great to have him out there.”

Max Frank reeled in four receptions for 52 yards, and Kody Brewster and Shane Sherrill both got some time in the backfield late in Friday’s game when the victory was sealed.

The Sandpoint offense started slow, but they found their groove as the night went on.

“We just kept pounding away,” Knowles said, “and I think our offense has so many things to prepare for that it helps our defense because a lot of Moscow’s players are going both ways.”

Koda Hartley intercepted a pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter to keep Moscow scoreless in the second half.

Knowles can’t wait for Friday’s title fight with the Hawks (5-3). He said the boys won’t need any pep talks leading into the game.

“It’s why we do everything we do is to get the trophy in the stadium,” he said, “and we got a team coming to town that’s hot … so I absolutely look forward to this week. It’s championship week.”

Sandpoint 14 7 0 20 — 41

Moscow 0 6 0 0 — 6

First quarter

SHS — Jack Zimmerman 46-yard interception return (Jacob Gove kick), 10:28.

SHS — Gerrit Cox 10-yard run (Gove kick), 2:30.

Second quarter

M — Leon Hutton 1-yard run (kick blocked), 7:34.

SHS — Cody Newhart 4-yard pass from Parker Pettit (Gove kick), 0:35.

Fourth quarter

SHS — Pettit 1-yard run (Gove kick no good), 10:24

SHS — Newhart 14-yard pass from Pettit (Gove kick), 9:35.

SHS — Pettit 24-yard run (Gove kick), 4:41

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Sandpoint: Cox 19-144, Pettit 7-45, Kody Brewster 3-18, Shane Sherrill 2-6. Moscow: Hutton 19-94, Isaiah Murphy 5-13, Cody Wilson 1-0.

PASSING — Sandpoint: Pettit 11-17-0—132. Moscow: Hutton 21-36-2—199.

RECEIVING — Sandpoint: Newhart 5-57, Max Frank 4-52, Lasse Kuhn 1-17, Arie VanDenBerg 1-6. Moscow: Dylan Decker 5-74, Cody Isakson 5-65, Wilson 4-26, Mike Kiblen 2-19, Shafer Dicus 1-12, Toby Frie 1-6, Murphy 3-(-3).