PREP FOOTBALL: Priest River notches homecoming victory over Sandpoint JV, 19-18

Priest River 19, Sandpoint JV 18

PRIEST RIVER — Priest River senior Kemper Dabrowski led the Spartans to a 1-point homecoming win over Sandpoint JV, 19-18 on Thursday night at Priest River Lamanna High School.

The Spartans attacked early Thursday, scoring within the first couple of minutes off a rushing touchdown from Dabrowski. Sandpoint matched Priest River with a 5-yard rushing touchdown of their own to tie the game 6-6 with 2:26 left in the first quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Priest River fumbled the ball and Sandpoint responded, driving the length of the field. As time expired, quarterback Logan Iverson connected with James Schriber for a 19-yard receiving touchdown to put Sandpoint up 12-6 before the end of the first.

Neither team could get much going in the second quarter. However, mid-way through, Dabrowski blocked and returned a punt 51 yards for a touchdown which eventually tied the game 12-12. With 3:58 remaining in the half, Luccas Simcox would intercept a pass for the Spartans at their own 10-yard line, but Priest River couldn't capitalize on the turnover. 

In the third quarter, both teams' defenses were still holding firm, but Priest River did return another punt for a touchdown. This time, Niki Porinchok took it 37 yards into the endzone to put the Spartans up 19-12.

In the fourth, Sandpoint looked sharped. With 10:08 remaining in the game, Iverson connected with wide receiver Lucas Garrison for a 47-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs could not convert the two-point conversion, 19-18 Priest River in front.

The Spartans ate up the clock in the fourth quarter, handing it to Dabrowski often. Eventually, Sandpoint forced a turnover on downs on their own 10-yard line. With 1:48 left and a couple of timeouts, the Bulldogs would attempt to drive 90 yards for the win.

Sandpoint would make it to the Priest River 27-yard line with 0:01 remaining, but Iverson's pass fell incomplete in the endzone on the final play of the game, and the Spartans held on for the 19-18 homecoming victory.

It was a bittersweet ending to the season for the Spartans, who were not sure if any football would even be played in West Bonner County this year. For Sandpoint's JV, it was an admirable performance against an older team to cap off a solid season.

Due to incomplete rosters from both teams, no box score was available.