Moscow Comes On Strong To Win Bears Score 24 Points In Second Half To Pull Away From Badgers

The best is yet to come predicts veteran Moscow football coach Eric Bjorkman.

The Bears took a giant step morale-wise on a crisp Friday night at Mendenhall Memorial Field, dominating the second half of a 38-13 victory over Bonners Ferry.

“Every week, we’re getting better,” Bjorkman said. “This is going to be a good football team at some point. We played a good football team. We’re not even as good as we’re going to be in two to three weeks.

“This was the first (Intermountain) league game the guys had ever played in,” Bjorkman added. “I think they were kinda nervous.”

The Bears settled for a 14-7 halftime lead, as big-play touchdowns closed the second quarter.

Moscow senior linebacker Will Glasscock returned an interception 12 yards over the right side to score 2:28 before intermission. Adam Miller’s PAT kick made it 14-0.

Bonners Ferry responded with an 85-yard kickoff return from senior Matt Myers, and Justin Pluid’s PAT kick was good.

“Coach told us it’s 0-0 right now, we’ve got to win the second half so don’t let up,” Miller said of the Bears’ halftime talk.

And Moscow scored on its next three possessions.

The Bears needed just two plays to get running back Tom Dirden into the end zone. Dirden cut across the field, getting the block he needed to finish the 38-yard TD run from 6-foot-10, 270-pound junior teammate Jason Keep. Miller’s kick stretched the lead to 21-7 with 11:21 left in the third quarter.

Moscow moved the ball 63 yards in 13 plays on its next drive capped by a 26-yard field goal from Miller.

A clip and a face-mask call against the Bears helped Bonners Ferry score to start the fourth quarter.

The Badgers moved the ball 75 yards in nine plays, with Myers scoring on a 3-yard run to make it 24-13 with 9:55 remaining.

Moscow answered with a 60-yard TD march. Miller scored from the 2 on a quarterback sneak and the Bears led 31-13 at 6:10.

Glasscock padded the Moscow lead with 43 seconds left, returning a punt 50 yards into the end zone.

“Their special teams did a wonderful job,” Bonners Ferry coach Tom Wofford said of the Bears. “We got beat by a much better team than us tonight.”

Miller connected on 11 of 17 passes for 113 yards. The Bears ran for 222 yards, including 110 by Ryan Dudley.

Bonners Ferry gained just 69 yards in the second half and finished with 187 in the game. Myers carried 29 times for 126 yards.

Moscow improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in league. The Badgers fell to 1-3 and 0-1.

Moscow 38, Bonners Ferry 13

Moscow 0 14 10 14 - 38 Bonners Ferry 0 7 0 6 - 13

M-Dudley 14 run (Miller kick)

M-Glasscock 12 interception return (Miller kick)

BF-Myers 85 kickoff return (Pluid kick)

M-Dirden 38 run (Miller kick)

M-Miller 26 field goal

BF-Myers 3 run (kick fails)

M-Miller 2 run (Miller kick)

M-Glasscock 50 punt return (Miller kick)