PREP FOOTBALL: Balanced offense carries Sandpoint to win over Davis

SANDPOINT — In their first meeting with a Class 4A Washington team since 2017, Sandpoint put up 505 total yards and made the visiting Davis High Pirates walk the plank to the tune of a 37-13 win at War Memorial Field on Friday night.

Senior quarterback Drew Lehman connected with Jesse Turner for a 13-yard score on the Bulldogs’ opening drive. Failing to convert the two-point conversion, the score remained 6-0 until the end of the first quarter. 

Sandpoint started the second quarter on the Pirates' 23-yard line after back-to-back runs by junior Jeremiah Palmer for a total of 43 yards, eventually scoring when junior Braden Buckhout threw a dot to Dallen Williams, who was just able to keep his feet inbounds for a 19-yard touchdown.

On Davis’ next possession, senior Gage McElroy picked off Pirates quarterback Noah Newkirk and took it back nine yards for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs a healthy 20-0 lead.

“He is ‘mister opportunity’ and we have been doing what we can to get him closer to the ball; he’s such a playmaker,” Sandpoint High head coach Ryan Knowles said of McElroy. 

To start the second half, Jorden Tyler returned the ball 56 yards to the Pirates’ 38-yard line to keep Sandpoint’s momentum trending in the right direction. After a series of solid plays, Lehman, with the help of his offensive line, found his way into the endzone for a 2-yard score. 

With 6:45 remaining in the third, Davis responded with a touchdown to make a 27-6 football game. Tyler blocked the Pirates' extra point, his second extra point block of the season.

Midway through the fourth, Buckhout hit Williams, who had three receptions for 54 yards on the night, for a 6-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 34-6 lead. Davis responded again with a touchdown a minute later, but Sandpoint was able to put together another solid drive, and with 3:12 remaining, Reid Bradburn knocked a 21-yard field goal through the uprights.

"I have been happy with his leg; he had some nice kickoffs," coach Knowles said of Bradburn. "He made his first field goal of the year and has been steadily getting better on special teams."

Despite a last-minute effort by the Pirates, Sandpoint came up with a fourth-down stop and the Bulldogs went on to ring the victory bell for the second time this season.

“I was talking with coach Thielbahr and he had a lot of praise for Lehman, Buckhout — we have a two-quarterback package now and it's been fun,” coach Knowles said. “They are two of our better players and it’s great to have them both involved.”

Buckhout completed 14 of his 27 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Lehman was 4-for-6 with 51 passing yards, 54 rushing yards, 67 receiving yards and two touchdowns, one rushing and one passing. In the absence of Ashlei Hawkins, Palmer ran the pigskin 14 times for 169 yards while Weston Smith carried it 11 times for 53 yards. Turner had a team-high seven receptions for a season-high 78 yards.

“Jeremiah came out and had a great night with Ashlei out, and Jesse and Dallen were fantastic,” coach Knowles said. “Davis is a well-coached football team with some dynamic players, so it’s a great win for the Bulldogs. They’re one of the biggest schools in Washington with well over 2,000 students and their head coach coached in the Big Sky for years — they have players who are going to play at the next level. We’ll be going to their house next year to return the favor.”

Sandpoint (3-1) will be back in action Friday (5 p.m. PST) at Montana Tech’s Bob Green Field against Pocatello.

Davis (Yakima) 0 0 6 7 — 13

Sandpoint 6 14 7 10 — 37

First quarter

SPT — Turner 13 pass from Lehman (two-point no good), 8:20.

Second quarter

SPT — Williams 19 pass from Buckhout (Bradburn kick), 11:23

SPT — Gage McElroy 9 INT return (Bradburn kick), 10:33

Third quarter

SPT — Lehman 2 run (Bradburn kick), 10:36

DAV — McGee 2 pass from Newkirk (Sanchez kick), 6:45

Fourth quarter

SPT — Williams 6 pass from Buckhout (Bradburn kick), 7:33

DAV — Garcia 35 pass from Newkirk (Sanchez kick), 6:28

SPT — Bradburn 21 field goal, 3:12

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: SPT — Palmer 14-169, Lehman 5-54, Smith 11-53, Mooney 1-7, Beers 1-4, Buckhout 3(-5). DAV — Guizar 14-66, Dennis 8-29, Newkirk 3-18.

PASSING: SPT — Buckhout 14-27-2-172, Lehman 4-6-1-51. DAV — Newkirk 13-34-2-135.

RECEIVING: SPT — Turner 7-78, Lehman 4-67, Williams 3-54, Smith 1-17, Newhart 1-12, Mooney 1(-1), Palmer 1-(-4). DAV — McGee 4-52, D. Garcia 1-35, Dennis 3-15, Pimentel 2-14, Tecomahu 1-12, G. Garcia 2-7.

    Sandpoint High senior defensive back Wylie Wimmer stops Davis High senior running back Damian Guizar short of the line of gain on a fourth down and short on Friday.