Lc Dominates Lakeland, 33-7

From the outset of Friday’s non-league football game between the Lake City Timberwolves and the Lakeland Hawks, it was obvious that Lakeland was going to live or die on the arm of quarterback Kurt Reese.

But the Hawks learned that’s a lot to ask when the guy can’t even get on the field.

A stingy Lake City defense along with a big assist from a ball-control offense that gobbled up huge chunks of the clock, enabled the T-Wolves to grind out a 33-7 win at Rathdrum’s Corbit Field.

And the key to the win was keeping Reese and his teammates off the field.

“Reese is a good quarterback,” said LC defensive back Todd Johnson. “But we had confidence in our backfield and we knew we could stop him. Our defense played tough and our offense getting those long drives was the key.”

After battling to almost dead-even statistics in the first quarter (59 yards in total offense for LC, 57 for Lakeland) and a 0-0 tie, the T-Wolves dealt the death blow in the second quarter.

Lake City (7-1) completely dominated the Hawks in that period.

Thanks to a Lakeland fumble and Lake City’s ball-control offense, the Hawks ran just five offensive plays, netting just 9 yards.

And the T-Wolves took advantage, scoring on their first three drives and had possession on their fourth when time expired in the half.

Lake City had 138 offensive yards in the second quarter, 70 of those coming from workhorse running back Scott Bushnell.

Bushnell scored two first-half LC touchdowns even though he watched from the sidelines on the T-Wolves’ second drive, which ended on a 1-yard run by his replacement, junior Braxton Brandenberg.

The one bright spot for the Hawks (5-2-1) came just before halftime when Dan Dockter fielded a short LC kickoff and rambled 80 yards to make it 20-7.

But that just delayed the inevitable.

Lake City’s defense continued to shut Lakeland’s offense down in the second half. The Hawks failed to register a first down until just less than 7 minutes left in the game.

The Hawks running game was almost nonexistent, gaining just 59 yards, 51 of those on six carries by reserve running back Chad Stutheit when the game was out of reach.

“You just have to hand it to Lake City,” Lakeland coach Terry Kiefer said. “They just did a great job on us defensively period, in every way, shape, and form. That was a real key to the football game. We just couldn’t get anything going.”

LC put the game out of reach with two scores midway through the second half.

The first came on a 3-yard run by Busnell with 1:20 left in the third quarter, and Brandenberg followed with his second touchdown on the T-Wolves’ next drive to establish the final margin.

Reese did manage to complete eight of his 14 pass attempts but only for 43 yards and LC coach Van Troxel credited his team’s defensive effort.

“Our defense really did play well,” Troxel said. “We gave up some little stuff here and there. We kept drives going, but if you’re going to be competitive, your defense is what really has to be outstanding.”

Troxel also singled out the special teams play of junior Mike Duff and the running of Brandenberg.

“We’re going to need them down the road,” he said.

Junior running back Joey Kroetch added 59 yards on just four carries for LC and quarterback Chad Troxel ran for 66 yards.

Lake City 33, Lakeland 7

Lake City 0 20 6 7 - 33

Lakeland 0 7 0 0 - 7

LC-Bushnell 41 run (kick failed)

LC-Brandenberg 1 run (Cohen pass from Troxel)

LC-Bushnell 3 run (kick blocked)

LL-Dockter 80 kickoff return (Van Valin kick)

LC-Bushnell 3 run (run failed)

LC-Brandenberg 1 run (Stroh kick)

St. Maries 39, Moscow 27

Skyler Willard connected on 19 of 35 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns, three of them to Derick Driggs, to lead the Lumberjacks to an upset Intermountain League win over the Bears in Moscow.

D.J. Eberlin rushed for a pair of touchdowns and was on the receiving end of a 36-yard scoring strike from Willard as the Lumberjacks (5-2, 2-2) kept their playoff hopes alive.

Tony Rinaldi threw for two touchdowns and ran for another for the Bears (4-4, 3-1).

St. Maries 8 12 0 19 - 39

Moscow 7 8 0 12 - 27

M-Rinaldi 5 run (Cosgrove kick)

S-Driggs 18 pass from Willard (Eberlin run)

M-Cosgrove 58 run (Cosgrove run)

S-Driggs 34 pass from Willard (run failed)

S-Driggs 4 pass from Willard (pass failed)

S-Eberlin 7 run (Raebel kick)

S-Eberlin 4 run (pass failed)

M-Comstock 30 pass from Rinaldi (pass failed)

M-Comstock 7 pass from Rinaldi (pass failed)

S-Eberlin 36 pass from Willard (run failed)

Priest River 19, Bonners Ferry 17

The Spartans (7-2, 3-2) edged the Badgers (2-6, 1-3) in Intermountain League play at Bonners Ferry. No details were available.

Lakeside 78, Mullan 30

Robbie McPeak rushed for 120 yards on just seven carries and scored two touchdowns as the Knights (7-1, 7-0) crushed the visiting Tigers (0-7, 0-7) in a North Star League game that ended at halftime.

Lakeside, which clinched the league title, led 46-22 at the end of the first quarter.

Mullan 22 8 0 0 - 30

Lakeside 46 32 0 0 - 78

L-Allen 55 run (run failed)

L-Lozeau 26 run (B. Morris pass from Pluff)

L-T. Morris 37 punt return (Lozeau run)

L-Lozeau 40 pass from K. Pluff (B. Pluff run)

M-Hegbloom 93 run (Hegbloom run)

L-Gorr 20 pass from T. Morris (T. Morris run)

M-Valley 86 kick return (Stanley pass from Valley)

M-Valley 60 run (run failed)

L-McPeak 13 run (Johnson pass from T. Morris)

L-McPeak 14 run (McPeak run)

M-Hegbloom 11 run (Hegbloom pass from Valley)

L-T. Morris 32 run (Johnson run)

L-McFadden 36 run (B. Pluff run)

L-B. Morris 40 pass from K. Pluff (Halstead run)

Clark Fork 47, Kootenai 24

George Klontz rushed for 247 yards on just 18 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead the Wampus Cats (5-3, 5-2) to a win over the visiting Warriors ((4-5, 4-4) in a battle for second place in the North Star League.

Wallace 29, Kellogg 8

The Miners (4-4) evened their record with a win over the winless Wildcats (0-8) in a non-league contest at Kellogg.

Matt Roy scored on an 85-yard pass from Keith Schelleriff to open the scoring in the first quarter and the Miners never looked back.

Kevin Lee rushed for 93 yards on 14 carries and scored on a 3-yard run.

Wallace 14 7 0 8 - 29

Kellogg 0 0 8 0 - 8

W-Roy 85 pass from Schelleriff (Robertson kick)

W-Lee 3 run (Robertson kick)

W-Sprute 4 run (Robertson kick)

K-Lewis 3 run (Lewis run)

W-Basham 6 run (Lee pass)