The journey for a second state title begins tonight

SANDPOINT — It’s been 24 years since Satini Puailoa helped Sandpoint bring home its first state title in program history — but a second has eluded the Bulldogs ever since.

SHS has made three state title appearances during its drought — 2003, 2009 and 2015. History says the Bulldogs are due for a state title appearance every six years and 2021 is next up on the six-year cycle.

But trends don’t earn you a spot in the state championship, and the Bulldogs are determined to prove that during this year’s playoff run.

Does this team have what it takes to end the drought? The players believe they do.

“We’re just the biggest, baddest team in Idaho,” left guard Carson Laybourne said.

Sandpoint’s journey back to the top starts at 7 p.m. today at War Memorial Field when the top-seeded Bulldogs host No. 16 seed Mountain Home in the first round of the 4A state playoffs.

Sandpoint (5-2) was awarded the No. 1 seed to the state playoffs when the final regular season MaxPreps rankings were released this past Saturday. That top spot means the Bulldogs wouldn’t have to leave the friendly confines of War Memorial Field until the state championship game at the Kibbie Dome. Three rounds, three home playoff games — if the Bulldogs make it that far.

It’s a huge advantage and one Sandpoint is thrilled to have. Last fall, the Bulldogs took an eight-hour bus ride down to Rexburg to battle No. 1 Skyline in the state semis. A bone-chilling blizzard blew through during the second half and the Grizzlies ran away with a 20-0 victory. A week later, Skyline raised the state championship trophy.

The pain of that loss still hasn’t gone away, but it's driven the Bulldogs every step of the way this fall. They wanted to ensure the road to the title game came through North Idaho this season. Mission accomplished.

“Now that we have it,” head coach Ryan Knowles said, “we better move on from getting it and get ready to host some dang good teams because, although we’re making them [travel] now, we better defend it.”

Following last Friday’s commanding 37-10 victory over Lakeland to wrap up the Bulldogs’ second straight 4A Inland Empire League title, Knowles expressed why he believed his team had earned that No. 1 seed.

Sandpoint’s resume speaks for itself. The team’s only blemishes this year came against 5A Coeur d’Alene (6-2) on Sept. 3, 24-22; and at 3A Homedale (9-0) on Sept. 17, 38-21. And both those teams are expected to contend for state titles in their respective classifications.

Knowles said there are other teams around the state that are deserving of that No. 1 seed, but the Bulldogs’ schedule this fall was hard to match. SHS faced four 5A IEL schools and walked away with a 3-1 record.

Sandpoint believes that grueling regular season schedule has set them up for success in the playoffs.

“I look at the hard road we’ve taken,” Knowles said, “... and there was no rest.”

Outside Knowles office in the SHS locker room, there’s a map of the state of Idaho. Knowles put it up this past winter and on it lies the logos of all the 4A schools in the state. Right now, only the 16 teams in the state playoffs are on the map and by this weekend only eight will remain.

Knowles said the map gives his team an idea of the competition that is out there and allows them to visualize the journey to the ultimate prize. It’s also meant to show the boys “that nothing hard comes easy,” Knowles said.

“I’m just a know-your-enemy type of guy,” he said. “I want to know who we’re competing against.”

After starting 1-2, Sandpoint has reeled off four straight victories and enters the playoffs with a tremendous amount of momentum.

The Bulldogs’ recent run is the result of stellar play from their quarterback Parker Pettit and running back Gerrit Cox. The duo has been nearly unstoppable all season — combining for 36 total touchdowns. No one has been able to find a way to slow them down.

And an explosive, dynamic receiving core led by Cody Newhart, Arie VanDenBerg and Max Frank has allowed the Sandpoint offense to reach another level under the direction of third-year offensive coordinator Jeremy Thielbahr, who won three state titles at Eastside Catholic in Washington. During their winning streak, the Bulldogs are averaging 37 points per game.

SHS is firing on all cylinders at just the right time.

But all those points, touchdowns and yards wouldn’t have been possible without the boys in the trenches. Wylan Dorrel, Laybourne, Ben Stockton, Mike Chapman and Austin Smith spearhead a Sandpoint offensive line that has controlled the line of scrimmage in nearly every contest. Their play has allowed the Bulldogs to form a formidable rushing attack that tests the will of their opponents and wears them down.

Dorrel and Laybourne agree that the unit’s dedication in the weight room over the offseason has helped them dominate this fall.

“We as a team were bonding, working hard and lifting a lot of weights,” Dorrel said. “I think practicing with our great defense and having each other was really good for us.”

Dorrel and Laybourne anchor the left side of the offensive line and their size and strength is intimidating. D-linemen are in for a long day when they line up across from the twin towers.

The duo started on the O-line last year as sophomores and that experience was invaluable.

“We’ve come a long way from last year,” Dorrel said, “and I think [Laybourne] and I agree, we’re worlds ahead of where we were last year.”

Dorrel said last year’s loss in the state semifinals was humbling and the team has held themselves to a higher standard ever since. The Bulldogs are never satisfied with their performance because there’s always room for growth, Laybourne said.

“I just want to be better,” he said. “I want to be the best.”

Dorrel said offensive line coach George Yarno Jr. deserves a lot of credit for the unit’s play this fall. Laybourne called him the best coach ever.

“I wouldn’t have anyone else,” Dorrel said.

Playing on the offensive line doesn’t come with a lot of accolades, but Dorrel and Laybourne love everything about it. They also enjoy spending time with the guys they go to battle with on a daily basis.

“It’s really fun being around them and I feel like we’re all really well bonded together,” Dorrel said about the O-line. “We make jokes about each other and stuff, but we’re all close like family.”

“We mess around a little bit too much I think sometimes,” Laybourne added.

The Sandpoint defense has also found its rhythm over the last month. Since surrendering 41 points to a talented Lewiston team on Sept. 24, the Bulldogs have held their last three opponents to an average of just under 10 points per game.

They’ve done that while dealing with a couple key losses. Defensive lineman Will Hurst and safety Cody Steiger, who were both 2020 all-league selections, are sidelined with injuries.

But the Bulldogs have proven they have plenty of depth with juniors Ryan McElroy, Tyssen Case and Koda Hartley all stepping up to fill some big shoes.

Linebacker Wes Benefield continues to be a tackling machine and defensive backs Jack Zimmerman, Luke McCorkle, Koby Barlow and Layne Dunkel have found their groove. The Bulldog defense has evolved throughout the season and looks ready for a deep state run.

“The guys just keep getting better,” Knowles said. “I expect the defense to be playing their best football right now.”

Friday’s first-round opponent, Mountain Home, is 3-6 this season. The Tigers from District 4 won their first two games, but have lost six of their last seven and are fresh off a 45-0 loss to 3A Sugar-Salem.

“They’re a proud team and they’ve had their struggles this year,” Knowles said, “but I fully expect them to come up here and give us their best shot.”

Offensively, Knowles said Mountain Home likes to spread the field with four wide receivers to create running lanes for their mobile quarterback. Defensively, the Tigers can throw a lot of looks at you, he said.

“It’s really hard to pin down what we’re going to see,” he said, “so we’re going to have to be very fundamentally sound.”

Friday’s battle on the gridiron has some history to it. In 1986, Sandpoint hosted its first ever state playoff game at War Memorial Field and Mountain Home was the opponent. The Tigers won 26-3 to advance to the state title game. The following year, the Bulldogs got revenge when they traveled to Mountain Home and emerged victorious 23-7 to secure a spot in the A1 Division II state championship.

Knowles was at that game in 1986 and has fond memories of that night. He was in third or fourth grade at the time and served as the team ball boy while his dad, John Knowles, was an assistant coach for SHS. Knowles said his dad still remembers the names of some of the players on that Mountain Home team.

“Now some of those guys that were on that field when I was watching, their kids are playing,” Knowles said. “It’s absolutely hilarious how everything comes full circle.”

Tonight, Knowles wants to see his team dominate in all three phases of the game.

“I’d like for our boys to act like the No. 1 seed that they’ve earned,” he said.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. You can listen to the game on AM 1400 KSPT, ROCK 103 (FM 102.9) or rock103fm.com. You can also find a link to a livestream of the game on spbulldogs.com.

Because this is a playoff game, tickets will be sold at the door, and ASB and Century cards will not work for free admission. General admission tickets cost $6 for adults, $5 for seventh-12th graders and $3 for sixth graders and under.