Thielbahr Lets Them Eat Pizza Sandpoint Running Back Sets Table For His Linemen With 346 Yards In 59-26 Inland Empire League Burial Of Lake City

Jeremy Thielbahr’s “hogs” are going to graze on pizza for a fourth straight week Monday.

For the fourth football game in a row, Sandpoint’s standout running back gained more than 200 yards as the Bulldogs plowed over the Lake City Timberwolves 59-26 in an Inland Empire League opener for both teams Friday at Lake City High School.

Did we say 200 yards? Try a school-record 346 yards on 24 carries in three quarters. The mark broke his previous record of 326, which he set two weeks ago against Borah.

Feast on these numbers from Thielbahr for a moment:

He went over the 3,000 mark for career yards on his 11th carry (212 yards at that point in the game).

He blasted past the 1,000 mark for the season on his second attempt of the game, a 74-yard sprint that went for the first score.

He scored on four other runs of 67, 43, 2 and 49 yards.

Thielbahr and his linemen have an agreement. Whenever he gains more than 200 yards, Thielbahr buys them pizza.

The pizza was assured with more than 8 minutes remaining in the first half. Left tackle Pete Murray, left guard Ronnie Moore, center Jay D. McElroy, right guard Jarad Vasquez and right tackle Erik Boone, all seniors, will be porking out Monday.

Third-ranked Sandpoint moved to 5-0 overall and one victory closer to equaling its best start since 1987 (6-0). LC slipped to 2-3.

It’s obvious that both teams have made quantum leaps of improvement since last year.

Unfortunately for LC, Sandpoint has improved as much as the Timberwolves if not more.

Both teams combined for nearly 1,000 yards of total offense.

The game had a bizarre start, as Sandpoint and LC each scored two touchdowns in the opening 6 minutes.

Moments later, Carson Jeffres hauled in a 68-yard pass from quarterback Brett Taylor that put Sandpoint in front 20-12 with 4:56 remaining in the first period.

The Bulldogs put the game out of doubt with two more TDs in the second quarter. Thielbahr dashed for a 43-yard score and fullback Nick Jackson rumbled 11 yards as Sandpoint led 32-12 with 6:12 left before halftime.

That score would stand at intermission. Sandpoint had 404 of its 585 yards in the first half. Thielbahr accounted for 253 in the opening two periods.

The game featured eight scores of 49 yards or longer, and nine of 43 or longer.

LC got in on the scoring act too and in big ways.

Running back Scott Bushnell, who popped through the Sandpoint front line for an 80-yard TD in the first half, bounced off several tackles for an 89-yard TD on the first play of the second half. LC failed on the two-point conversion, pulling within 32-18.

That’s as close as the T-Wolves would get in a second half that was played under gale conditions.

Bushnell had 168 yards on six carries.

Thielbahr’s final score, a 49-yard back-breaker, put Sandpoint ahead 52-18 with 27 seconds left in the third quarter.

Sandpoint returns home Friday when it entertains ever-improving Coeur d’Alene, a 34-10 winner at home over Moscow.

LC, meanwhile, draws the unenviable task of traveling to unbeaten Lewiston (5-0), a winner over Clarkston.

Sandpoint 59, Lake City 26

Sandpoint 20 12 20 7 - 59 Lake City 12 0 6 8 - 26

S-Thielbahr 74 run (Lindgren kick)

L-Ross 9 run (kick blocked)

S-Thielbahr 67 run (Lindgren kick)

L-Bushnell 80 run (kick failed)

S-Jeffres 68 pass from Taylor (kick failed)

S-Thielbahr 43 run (pass failed)

S-Jackson 11 run (run failed)

L-Bushnell 89 run (run failed)

S-Thielbahr 2 run (Lindgren kick)

S-Taylor 2 run (Lindgren kick)

S-Thielbahr 49 run (kick failed)

L-Kammarcal 68 pass from Yeatts (Dennis pass from Troxel)

S-Munson 4 run ( Lindgren kick)

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo