Sandpoint Doubles Up On Vikings Thielbahr Gets Help In A 40-17 Victory

Add another exciting chapter to a season full of firsts for the Sandpoint High School football team.

The Bulldogs, who broke a string of 17 straight losses to Coeur d’Alene last year, beat the Vikings back to back for the first time in 32 years.

Sandpoint won convincingly, too, as the Bulldogs sent the majority of a crowd modestly estimated at 2,500 home with a 40-17 victory Friday in an Inland Empire League game at Barlow Stadium.

The Bulldogs also answered the question of whether they have more to their offense than just running back Jeremy Thielbahr.

Welcome junior wide receiver Caleb Bowman, who had been out since the opening game with a broken collarbone. He didn’t waste any time making up for lost time, hauling in four passes, two for touchdowns in the first half.

His first TD reception, a well-timed 13-yard post pass, extended Sandpoint’s lead to 14-3 with 23 seconds left in the first quarter.

Two plays after Miah Elsfelder intercepted a Nick Rook pass in the end zone to thwart a Vikings drive, Bowman and quarterback Brett Taylor connected for an 85-yard TD. Bowman caught the pass near the Sandpoint 30 and broke an attempted ankle tackle by Joe Lockhart. Bowman sprinted untouched for the score as Carson Jeffres shaded CdA safety Ben Davis’ attempt to chase down Bowman.

It widened Sandpoint’s lead to 20-3 with 6:13 left before intermission.

“Caleb’s been wanting to play for a long time; he was bugging us all week,” said Sandpoint coach Satini Puailoa as several Bulldogs rang the Victory Bell. “I wouldn’t tell him how much he was going to play. But you saw what a weapon he is. That really makes our offense complete.”

Sandpoint went ahead 26-3 when defensive lineman Thompson Tauber intercepted a Rook pass as the Vikings quarterback was being heavily pressured. The Viks appeared to be setting up a screen pass, but Tauber stayed in his area and returned the pick 42 yards for the TD.

CdA didn’t give up as Rook connected with Ben Davis on a 41-yard TD with 1:16 left before halftime.

But any hopes of CdA coming back were dashed on the opening play of the second half. Sandpoint’s Kurt Berkley dropped the kickoff at the 1, scooped it up at the 3 and went the distance for a 33-9 lead.

By improving to 6-0 overall (2-0 in league), the Bulldogs equaled their best start since 1987. CdA, making its league debut, slipped to 3-3.

Thielbahr was “limited” to 111 yards in the first half - 110 of which came in the first quarter. He finished with 216 yards on 24 attempts.

CdA coach Bill Anderson pointed to his team’s turnovers as critical. The Viks had four interceptions and lost two of three fumbles.

“We have to quit turning the ball over,” Anderson said. “But I thought our kids played very, very hard. We got ourselves in a hole and it took us out of our game plan. They’re a good football team, but I think we’re a good football team, too.”

After a visit to Riverside next week for a non-leaguer, Sandpoint finishes with league games at Lewiston and at home against Post Falls.

CdA returns home Friday to face Lewiston, 6-0, 2-0) which whipped Lake City (2-4, 0-2) 42-13 Friday.

Sandpoint 40, CdA 17

Coeur d’Alene 3 6 8 0 - 17

Sandpoint 14 12 14 0 - 40

C-B. Davis 25 FG S-Thielbahr 3 run (Lindgren kick) S-Bowman 13 pass from Taylor (Lindgren kick) S-Bowman 85 pass from Taylor (kick failed) S-Tauber 42 interception return (pass failed) C-B. Davis 41 pass from Rook (pass failed) S-Berkley 97 kickoff return (Lindgren kick) S-Jackson 1 run (Lindgren kick) C-Ziegler 6 run (Peebles kick) , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo