PREP FOOTBALL: Hawkins, Ziarnick help push Sandpoint past Twin Falls

SANDPOINT — Senior Ashlei Hawkins rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns, junior Kamren Ziarnick had two interceptions on defense, and Sandpoint took down the visiting Twin Falls Bruins 36-26 at War Memorial Field on Friday.

Twin Falls received the opening kickoff, but it didn’t take long for the Bulldogs to get their hands on the ball. Three plays into the game, senior Wylie Wimmer recovered a fumble on the Bruins’ 9-yard line. On Sandpoint’s first play from scrimmage, Hawkins ran the ball straight up the middle and the Bulldogs went on to convert a two-point conversion to go ahead 8-0.

With 4:30 remaining in the quarter, Sandpoint found themselves with the ball again around midfield. After a series of solid plays, quarterback Drew Lehman rushed for an 8-yard touchdown to give Sandpoint a 15-0 lead. With 1:01 remaining in the first, Ziarnick recorded an interception deep in Bulldogs territory to keep Twin Falls off the board. Early in the second quarter, Lehman capped off another drive with a 3-yard touchdown run and Sandpoint built their lead to 22 points. With 9:11 remaining in the second, junior Jeremiah Palmer blocked a Twin Falls punt to put Sandpoint in good field position again. However, the Bruins wouldn’t go away quietly. 

Twin Falls’ Dalton Carter picked off Lehman on the very next play. The Bruins marched down the field and scored, but senior Jorden Tyler blocked the extra point, 22-6 Sandpoint in front. With 2:34 remaining in the quarter, the Bruins ended up getting the ball back shortly after they scored their first touchdown — blocking one of Sandpoint’s punts and recovering it at the Bulldogs’ 2-yard line. On the next play, Twin Falls’ Sam Martin ran for a touchdown to make it a 22-13 game. On the ensuing kickoff, which was just 9 seconds later, the Bulldogs fumbled and Twin Falls recovered, threatening to score again. With 1:15 remaining, thanks to a great pass rush by Palmer, Wimmer recovered another fumble for Sandpoint. Neither team would score again before the halftime whistle sounded.

In the third quarter, Sandpoint settled down. After a 6-minute-long drive, Hawkins punched in his second touchdown of the day — Lehman pitched it to Hawkins on an option play near the left pylon for the 5-yard score. Sandpoint went in front 29-13. The Bruins responded with 2:24 remaining in the third when quarterback Ty Hess connected with Sam Martin for a 29-yard touchdown pass. With 9:03 remaining in the fourth quarter, Martin scored again for the Bruins, rushing for a 7-yard touchdown to bring Twin Falls within three points, 29-26.

In the fourth, Sandpoint stayed focused. On a third-down play, Lehman connected with junior Maverick Gomez for a 40-yard touchdown pass and the Bulldogs took a 36-26 lead, but Twin Falls wouldn’t go away. Backed up to their own 24-yard line and with 3:23 remaining in the contest, Ziarnick picked off Hess near the goal line for his second interception of the game. The turnover all but sealed the victory for Sandpoint.

“We won the turnover margin, which is super critical,” head coach Ryan Knowles said. “For Ziarnick, anytime you get two interceptions in a game that’s a big deal. Wylie Wimmer is so opportunistic as well. I’ve said to the team numerous times that he’s the ‘bell cow’ of our defense.”

Coach Knowles said he was proud of his guys for beating a very tough team in Twin Falls, especially in a “zero week” matchup.

“We have the game film now to correct things going into next week,” coach Knowles said. “We raced into this game just like Twin Falls did ... it was all even. They’re a fantastic program. Hats off to them and their coaches for coming up here. We jumped them 22-0, and that’s usually the case when you travel from the top to the bottom of this state. I’m proud of our guys for being resilient. That second quarter got a little tricky, but we settled down, made some plays on both sides of the ball down the stretch, and got that last first down to secure the game.”

Sandpoint (1-0) will travel to St. Maries on Friday to take on the Lumberjacks.

Twin Falls 0 13 6 7 — 26

Sandpoint 15 7 7 7 — 36

First quarter

SPT — Hawkins 9 rush (two-point conversion good), 10:56

SPT — Lehman 8 rush (Bradburn kick), 4:30

Second quarter

SPT — Lehman 3 rush (Bradburn kick), 11:06

TF — Hess 1 rush (kick no good), 4:16

TF — Martin 3 rush (Hawkins kick), 2:31

Third quarter

SPT — Hawkins 5 rush (Bradburn kick), 6:09

TF — Martin 29 pass from Hess (two-point conversion no good), 2:24.

Fourth quarter

TF — Martin 7 rush (Hawkins kick), 9:03

SPT — Gomez 40 pass from Lehman (Bradburn kick), 6:47

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: SPT — Hawkins 20-129, Lehman 16-81, Palmer 4-16, Gomez 1-10, Smith 2-9, Williams 1-(-2). TF — Hess 9-86, Kun 15-80, Martin 5-30, Thompson 2-26, Carter 1-14, Marlowe 2-10.

PASSING: SPT — Lehman 11-19-1-125. TF — Marlowe 1-3-0-10, Hess 2-5-1-41.

RECEIVING: SPT — Gomez 2-46, Newhart 4-42, Turner 4-25, Hawkins 1-12. TF — Martin 2-39, Murray 1-12.