Thielbahr’s Runs, Defense Lead Dogs

Although many people don’t think of high school football players as genius material the Sandpoint Bulldogs broke the game down into a simple equation: Swarming defense plus solid offense equals a 33-14 victory over the visiting Lakeland Hawks.

The A-1 Bulldogs (2-0 overall) rode the 198-yard rushing effort of Jeremy Thielbahr and five sacks on the way to an easy non-league victory over the A-2 Hawks.

Thielbahr was unstoppable on his way to touchdown runs of 64 and 12 yards. The first score answered a 75-yard TD by Lakeland’s Mike Larsen to tie the game at 7-all.

“Thielbahr is a good running back, but we made him look great tonight,” said Lakeland coach Terry Kiefer, whose Hawks fell to 0-2.

The Hawks couldn’t get anything going on offense as Sandpoint’s Ryan Knowles and Justin Boeck were in the backfield on every passing play Lakeland attempted.

Knowles also provided the signature hit of the night on special teams when he knocked the helmet off Lakeland’s Randy Foote on a kickoff return.

“Our defensive attitude is to swarm, and we turned it up a notch tonight,” Knowles said.

The key to the game was the physical play of the Bulldogs as they wore down the smaller Hawks lineup. As the game wore on, Sandpoint continued to look fresh while Lakeland couldn’t muster a late charge despite opportunities from recovered fumbles.

“Their front line was just too physical and they wore us down,” Kiefer said.

After a sluggish start in their season opener at Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint concentrated in practice this week on turning up the intensity. It showed in the second half as the defense held Lakeland’s passing game at bay behind the inspired play of Knowles.

“This week in practice we turned it up and got it done,” Knowles said.

Sandpoint 33, Lakeland 14

Lakeland 0 7 7 0 14

Sandpoint 7 13 13 0 33

S-Jeffres 34 pass from Taylor (Lindgren kick) L-Larsen 75 run (Reese kick) S-Thielbahr 64 run (Lindgren kick) S-Lindgren 28 field goal S-Lindgren 43 field goal S-Thielbahr 12 run (Lindgren kick) S-Taylor 3 run (kick failed) L-McCabe 80 fumble return (Reese kick)

Mullan 58, Kootenai 22

Dan Fritz connected on 13 of 40 passes for 313 yards and six touchdowns as Mullan rolled past Kootenai in North Star League action at Harrison.

Fritz’s scoring throws included tosses of 81, 60 and 55 yards for Mullan (3-0). He also scored on a 15-yard run.

Mullan 20 16 14 8 58

Kootenai 8 0 6 8 22

M-Fritz 15 run (Angle pass) M-60 pass (pass failed) K-Ott 80 run (Johns run) M-55 pass (run failed) M-10 pass (Christopherson pass) M-81 pass (Chavez run) M-12 pass (pass failed) M-15 pass (Angle pass) K-Ott 80 kickoff return (run failed) K-Ott 15 run (Johns run) M-Chavez 2 run (Ban run)

Lakeside (Idaho) 56, Falls Christian 6

Lakeside of Plummer, Idaho, scored early and often in a rout of Falls Christian Friday afternoon in North Star league action at Post Falls.

Sam Lozeau led the Hawks charge with 169 yards on seven carries including a 72-yard run for a touchdown. Buck Allen rushed nine times for 162 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including an 81-yard jaunt.

Lakeside improves to 2-1 in league play while Falls Christian drops to 0-2.

Lakeside (Plummer, Id) 22 12 16 6 56

Falls Christian 0 6 0 0 6

L-Lozeau 72 run (pass failed) L-Allen 81 run (Pluff run) L-Allen 4 run (run failed) L-McFadden 44 Pass from Pluff (Lozeau run) L-Pluff 5 run (run failed) F-Not available 8 run (run failed) L-Pluff 9 run (Lochnit run) L-Lochnit 5 run (Kolar pass) L-McPeak 38 run ( no try)

St. Maries 44, Freeman 6

Jake Taisey rushed for 160 yards on 23 carries and Skyler Willard passed for 134 yards and two touchdowns as the Lumberjacks hammered the Scotties in a non-league game at Freeman.

St. Maries 8 8 14 14 - 44

Freeman 6 0 0 0 - 6

F-Beeler 4 run (kick failed) S-Taisey 10 run (run failed) S-Taisey 8 run (Taisey run) S-Taisey 4 run (Eberlin pass) S-Eppler 36 pass from Willard (pass failed) S-Eberlin 20 pass from Willard (Craner kick) S-Nemeth 4 run (Craner kick)

Priest River 31, Newport 0

Allen Rogers ran for 197 yards on 29 carries and scored four touchdowns to lead the Spartans to a win over the visiting Grizzlies.

Priest River held Newport to just 80 yards of offense. The Spartans improve to 2-1 overall.

Newport 0 0 0 0 0

Priest River 13 6 0 12 31

P-Rogers 3 run (Johnson kick) P-Rogers 8 run (kick failed) P-Stark 70 pass from Grisemer (run failed) P-Rogers 3 run (kick failed) P-Rogers 3 run (run failed)

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