FALL SPORTS PREVIEW: Coach Knowles in good position to lead Sandpoint football to fourth straight winning season

LAST SEASON: 7-4, 4A Inland Empire League District Champions, key wins over Lewiston (41-22), Lakeland (49-21), Moscow (35-7), and Bonneville in state playoffs (48-0).

COACHES: Ryan Knowles (head coach and defensive coordinator) George Yarno (offensive line); Jeremy Thielbahr (offensive coordinator and quarterbacks); Chad Loutzenhiser (running backs); Scott Albertson (wide receivers), Dylan Benefield (inside linebackers), Matt Majors (outside linebackers), Brian Arthun and Chris Taylor (secondary), Matt Waterous (JV head coach), Travis Garrison (JV defensive coordinator); Warren Eggar (JV assistant coach and varsity kickers); AJ Smith (assistant coach).

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Drew Lehman, sr.; Ashlei Hawkins, sr.; Jesse Turner, sr.; Van Lee, sr.; Gage McElroy, sr.; Jorden Tyler, sr.; Wylie Wimmer, sr.; Kayden Garcia, sr.; Triston Tomco, sr.; Lucas Garrison, jr.; Gage McElroy, sr.

With 24 seniors set to take the field this year for the Bulldogs, hopes are high for another state championship run. Head coach Ryan Knowles, a 1997 Sandpoint High graduate and now sixth-year head coach, is looking to lift Sandpoint to their fourth straight winning season. He's got the coaching staff and a number of talented players at his disposable to make that a reality.

"One thing unique to this year is our 24 seniors," coach Knowles said. "Looking at the numbers over the years, sometimes we only had as many as nine. This is by far our biggest senior class and I'm excited because seniors make a big difference. We just have a lot of quality guys who are deserving, who have executed on the football field and have bonded to the program."

The Bulldogs, who were ranked No. 3 in the 5A classification statewide media preseason poll, return Inland Empire League offensive MVP, senior Drew Lehman at the quarterback position. Lehman, who got the nod at quarterback during the third game of the season last year against Raymond (Alberta) after an injury, threw for 12 touchdowns and 1,545 yards across nine games in 2023. During his junior campaign he completed 69.2% of his passes (108/156) and only threw five interceptions for an overall 113.3 QB rating. He also rushed for 192 yards and three touchdowns.

"He's our guy, he'll be taking the snaps," coach Knowles said. "The one thing you learn quickly as a coach is that the quarterback makes more decisions than anyone else on the field. We're going to put the ball in Drew's hands and he's going to effect the outcome of the game more than anybody. We have a fantastic individual in Drew Lehman — he's extremely intelligent, hard-working, talented. He's got all the parts."

In front of Lehman will be one of the best returning offensive lines in the entire state. Seniors Kayden Garcia and Triston Tomco, 2023 IEL First Team selections, will lead the way while senior Gavin Walters also makes a return for the Bulldogs.

"I'm really trying to set a good example for the future generations," Tomco said on behalf of the offensive line. "I'm trying to focus on being tough, going hard, and making sure that mentally, I know what I'm doing. We have a lot of guys who are ready to play and it's going to be a complete battle. I'm really confident that we will be successful this year, especially the o-line, who I think is going to drive the team to keep on winning."

Losing IEL Player of the Year Max Frank and IEL First Team selection Kody Brewster is not going to be easy, but senior Ashlei Hawkins, who had a breakthrough season last year despite dealing with some injuries, is up for the challenge.

"I feel ready, a little nervous, but I know I can perform," Hawkins, who stands at five feet and four inches and is now 150 pounds, said. "I have big shoes to fill in that position and I want to do great things... I trust the them (the offensive line) and feel good about the guys in front of me."

Juniors Jeremiah Palmer and Weston Smith will also be implemented into Sandpoint's run-heavy offensive scheme.

"Between those three, it's not too much different from last year," coach Knowles said. "I'm excited about them, and with the way we like to run the ball, I see us taking a step forward in that department this year."

At wideout, North Idaho Male Athlete of the Year and IEL First Team selection, senior Jesse Turner makes a return. Last year, Turner scored two touchdowns and hauled in 257 yards worth of receptions.

On the defensive side, Sandpoint returns their top three tacklers, Van Lee, Wylie Wimmer and Jorden Tyler, who also happens to be the team's punter. Lucas Garrison is someone else to keep an eye on. A junior, Garrison has moved up from junior varisty and will start at strong safety for the Bulldogs this season. 2023 IEL Defensive Newcomer of the Year Gage McElroy, who had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries last season, will lead the defense. McElroy, who transferred to Sandpoint from near Hermiston, Ore. before his freshman year, has really settled into his role nicely.

"Gage is just a really good football player," coach Knowles said. "One of the many components on defense is having to diagnose what's going on and quickly. He is as good as I have seen when it comes to that. He reads run-pass difference very fast and is able to pull the trigger. He's good at getting downhill on runs and flipping his hips and getting his drop on the pass. He's the type of guy you might be able to fool once, good for you, but it probably won't happen again."

Overall, Sandpoint's 2024 schedule is a bit different when compared to last year... actually very different. The Bulldogs will start off with Twin Falls at home, today, a team they finished back-to-back with in last year's MaxPreps rankings. The schedule includes no Canadian football teams this season.

"Being in the two team district, the week nine game was our open date, and it's just so hard to fill, so we started looking early for a 'zero week' game, because it's a lot of easier to find a week zero opponent compared to a week nine," coach Knowles said. "After searching high and low, we found Twin Falls... it's awesome to get them on the docket."

The following week, Sandpoint will face St. Maries, essentially the only other school in North Idaho, besides the usuals, who agreed to take on the Bulldogs. Knowles thought it would be nice to have some local North Idaho competition and the Lumberjacks answered the call. Of course, it also gave Sandpoint the opportunity to push back the start of "6A IEL gauntlet" which starts week three with Post Falls.

Week four they'll host Davis High of Yakima, a connection of coach Jeremy Theilbahr's which dated back to his college playing days at Washington State University. Week five, the Bulldogs will face Pocatello, who upended Sandpoint last year in the state quarterfinals. Sandpoint will wrap up the season against now 5A IEL foes, Lewiston and Lakeland.

SHS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

*Game played at neutral site

**Homecoming and senior night

8/23 — vs. Twin Falls, 7 p.m.

8/30 — @ St. Maries, 7 p.m.

9/6 — @ Post Falls, 7 p.m.

9/13 — vs. Davis, 7 p.m.

9/20 — vs. Pocatello*, 7 p.m.

9/27 — vs. Coeur d’Alene, 7 p.m.

10/4 — @ Lake City, 7 p.m.

10/11 — vs. Lewiston**, 7 p.m.

10/18 — @ Lakeland, 7 p.m.

    Sandpoint High senior Ashlei Hawkins breaks free for a big gain against Moscow last season.