PREP FOOTBALL: 42-point second half propels Sandpoint to 5th straight victory

SANDPOINT — After leading by just one point at halftime, Sandpoint’s offense exploded for 42 points in the second half en route to a 50-27 victory over the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute on Friday at War Memorial Field.

It was a slow start for both teams Friday. Midway through the second quarter, Sandpoint’s Kody Brewster rushed for 48 yards down the sideline to set up Sandpoint in the red zone. Shane Sherrill capped off the drive with a 3-yard rushing touchdown for the first score of the game. Lethbridge responded with about two minutes left to go in the half when Nathan Morris matched Sherrill with a 3-yard rushing touchdown of his own. However, heading into halftime, the Bulldogs led 8-7, thanks to a two-point conversion by Khyrin Riddle.

Also of note in the first half was an interception by Sandpoint’s Eli Allshouse, deep in Sandpoint territory, which undoubtedly saved the Bulldogs from giving up a score.

In the second half, Sandpoint scored on their opening drive. After a string of nice plays, Max Frank finished things off with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. Once again, Lethbridge responded. It was Morris who found the endzone again for the Rams on a 4-yard rushing touchdown. Lethbridge would go for the two-point conversion, but could not convert. Before the end of the third, Frank scored again for the Bulldogs, breaking three tackles and tip-toeing the sideline after connecting with Drew Lehman for a 25-yard receiving touchdown, 22-13, Sandpoint in front.

In the fourth quarter, Sandpoint’s chemistry was off the charts. The Bulldogs amassed 28 points over the next 12 minutes. Early in the fourth, Brewster scored a 6-yard rushing touchdown, and about two minutes later, Sandpoint defensive lineman Blayne Kanning picked off a screen pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. The Bulldogs went ahead, 36-13.

“A defensive lineman scoring a touchdown, that's always going to be a big deal,” head coach Ryan Knowles said. “A moment to remember for sure.”

On the very next possession, Sandpoint forced another interception. This time, Sherrill got his hands on the ball after a pass was tipped into the air. About a minute later, Maverick Gomez found his way into the endzone off a 23-yard jet sweep to extend the Bulldogs lead to 30 points. The rest of the game was back-and-forth with Gomez putting up another touchdown on a 45-yard reception with about two minutes remaining. The Bulldogs had no trouble coming away with a 50-27 victory in their regular season-finale, which also happened to be senior night.

In addition to the Bulldogs three takeaways, Blayne Kanning (2), Wylie Wimmer, and Tyson Hodges all had tackles for losses. Offensively, Brewster had quite the day, racking up 181 total yards of offense — 116 receiving and 65 rushing. Frank also had over 100 yards of offense for the Bulldogs. At quarterback, Drew Lehman, who Knowles said has really found his groove in running the offense, went 10-for-13 with for 193 yards and two touchdowns; he also added 38 rushing yards.

“I want to commend the coaching staff and team for a 6-and-3 season,” Knowles said. “The three losses we had this year were to very accomplished teams earlier in the season… besides that, we haven't had a close game for a while. I think this team has a lot of potential to make a run based on the matchups we get. We have been through a lot as a team, these seniors, all 19 of them have worked hard — no one gave them a chance, but they chose to work hard. Now, it’s the postseason and we need to see what this program can really do.”

Sandpoint (6-3) will play in the opening round of the 4A state championship next Friday at home versus an opponent yet to be announced. It is projected that Sandpoint will be a No. 8 seed in the 16-team bracket.

Sandpoint 0 8 14 28 – 50

Lethbridge 0 7 6 14 – 27

Second quarter

SPT – Shane Sherrill 3 rush (Khyrin Riddle, two-point conversion) 6:06

LET – Nathan Morris 3 rush (Gutsell kick) 1:51

Third quarter

SPT – Max Frank 1 rush (Bradburn kick), 8:08.

LET – Morris 4 rush (two-point conversion no good), 4:13.

SPT – Frank 25 pass from Drew Lehman, 1:34.

Fourth quarter

SPT – Kody Brewster 6 rush (Bradburn kick), 11:14

SPT – Blayne Kanning 45 interception return (Bradburn kick), 9:06

SPT – Maverick Gomez 23 rush (Bradburn kick), 6:45.

LET – Morris 46 rush (Gutsell kick), 3:04

SPT – Gomez 45 pass from Lehman (Frank kick), 2:12

LET – Alejandro Ogunyemi 80 pass from Marcus Christos (Gutsell kick), 1:58.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – SPT, Brewster 15-116, Frank 7-52, Lehman 4-38, Gomez 2-33, Sherrill 2-41; LET, Morris 19-138, Huggins 3-1, Tanner 2-2, Christos 8-55, Ogunyemi 2-1.

PASSING – SPT, Lehman 10-13-2-193; LET, Christos 18-32-3-250.

RECEIVING – SPT, Frank 4-59, Turner 1-5, Hindberg 1(-1), Gomez 1-45, Brewster 3-65, Williams 3-20; LET, Tanner 6-60, Peterson 5-72, Low 1-1, Ogunyemi 2-100, Morris 2-17.