It Wasn’t Perfect, But Lakeland Easily Handles Kellogg

Friday night was unusual for the Lakeland High football team.

Not because the Hawks won, as expected, 33-12 over Kellogg at Corbit Field. Not because Lakeland’s offense displayed a nice run-pass mix.

That’s become customary through the years under coach Terry Kiefer.

Not because Lakeland moved to the top of the Intermountain League standings with upstart Priest River at 1-0. Lakeland has won numerous IML titles under Kiefer.

What made this game unique was its effect on Kiefer’s vocal cords.

“I very rarely talk to the kids after games and there has only been a couple of times in my life when I chewed the team out,” Kiefer said. “But I’m not very happy at all with our tackling.

“How many times did we come up and make a fairly good hit and their runner bounced off and kept going? Football is a game of fundamentals, and that fundamental was completely left out.”

So the Hawks (1-1-1 overall) heard about it in the locker room. However, their poor tackling wasn’t enough to put this game in doubt. Understand, too, that Kiefer is like every coach - still searching for the perfect game.

Lakeland’s Harrison Bertsch ran for two touchdowns, Kurt Reese passed for 123 yards and defensive back Derek Felton picked off two passes.

Kellogg (0-3) moved the ball throughout, aided by Lakeland’s shoddy tackling, but couldn’t overcome three interceptions and two failed fourth-down attempts in the first half.

In addition, senior quarterback Brian Carlson injured his knee in the third quarter. Severity of the injury wasn’t known.

Lakeland tacked two third-quarter touchdowns onto a 21-6 halftime lead to cement the win. The Hawks needed only three plays to open the second-half scoring, as Reese found receiver Taylor Skidmore wide open on a deep pattern.

“In the second half, we had to have a lot of help with momentum to stay with them,” said Kellogg coach Tony Kerfoot. “We don’t have the numbers. We’ve got good kids, but they were getting a little tired being down four touchdowns.”

Kellogg drove to Lakeland’s 46, but a snap sailed over the punter’s head and the Hawks’ took over at Kellogg’s 23. The Hawks again needed just three plays to score as Bertsch bulled the last 9 yards for a 33-6 lead.

Workhorse Kellogg running back Cory Lewis, who had 98 yards on 22 carries, scored with less than a minute remaining.

The Hawks were outgained in the first half 155-144, but still led comfortably. Bertsch capped a 79-yard drive by bursting off left tackle for an 8-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1.

Carlson answered with a 20-yard scoring run, pinballing off several defenders.

Felton snagged Carlson’s overthrow and made a nifty 56-yard return for a touchdown as the Hawks led 14-6 midway through the second quarter.

“He looks like he wants to be a running back,” Kiefer said.

Reese added a 1-yard TD to make it 21-6 at intermission.

Lakeland 33, Kellogg 12

Kellogg 0 6 0 6 - 12

Lakeland 7 14 12 0 - 33

L-Bertsch 8 run (Van Valin kick)

K-Carlson 20 run (kick failed)

L-Felton 56 interception return (Van Valin kick)

L-Reese 1 run (Van Valin kick)

L-Skidmore 38 pass from Reese (kick failed)

L-Bertsch 9 run (kick failed)

K-Lewis 8 run (run failed)

, DataTimes