4A STATE PLAYOFFS: Pocatello takes down Sandpoint in quarterfinals
The Sandpoint football team breaks their final huddle of the season after falling to Pocatello, 44-23 in the state quarterfinals on Friday night.
Photo by Jason Duchow Photography
Sandpoint's Gage McElroy (left) and Jorden Tyler break up a pass intended for Pocatello wide receiver Hunter May.
Sandpoint head coach Ryan Knowles hugs senior Kody Brewster after Friday night's 44-23 loss to Pocatello.
Sandpoint senior Levi Dorrel and junior Gavin Walters support each other with a hug after Friday night's loss to Pocatello.
POCATELLO — No. 6 Sandpoint gave up a handful of big plays for touchdowns, which happened to be the main difference maker in Friday night’s 44-23 loss to No. 3 Pocatello in the 4A state quarterfinals held at Lookout Stadium.
It wasn’t exactly an ideal first quarter for Sandpoint. On the Bulldogs’ second drive of the game, the Thunder sacked quarterback Drew Lehman two times in a row on second and third down. On fourth down, Pocatello blocked the Bulldogs’ punt attempt and recorded a safety for the first score of the game. On Sandpoint’s next drive, the Bulldogs fumbled the ball and it was recovered in the endzone by Pocatello’s Jaxon Romero for a touchdown. After one quarter, the Thunder found themselves ahead 9-0.
In the second quarter, Sandpoint responded in a big way. On their opening drive, Reid Bradburn kicked a 31-yard field goal to get the Bulldogs on the board. On the Thunder’s ensuing drive, Sandpoint’s defense made a statement. Gage McElroy and Blayne Kanning sacked Pocatello quarterback Dreyson Contreras for minus 10 yards on second down. On third down, Max Frank found Contreras in the backfield again for a 5-yard loss. The Thunder punted to Shane Sherrill on fourth and long, and he returned the ball 62 yards down the far sideline to set the Bulldogs up at the Thunder 4-yard line. Frank would make his way into the endzone for a 4-yard rushing touchdown on the very next play. Mid-way through the second quarter, the Bulldogs had the lead, 10-9.
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