November 10, 2007 in Sports

Lake City falls in state semifinal

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BOISE – It was a case of too much Capital and too many turnovers for the Lake City Timberwolves.

And, perhaps, too many injuries.

The Eagles of Boise used a ball-controlling running game and took advantage of a pair of fumbles Friday as Capital dethroned the 2006 5A state champion Timberwolves 38-24 in a semifinal game at Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium.

Capital (9-2) will meet top-ranked Meridian (11-0) on Friday at Bronco Stadium to decide the state title. Meridian advanced with a 28-9 road win over Idaho Falls.

“Our defense was on the field way too much,” said LC coach Van Troxel, whose team shared third place with Idaho Falls. “In the second half we got a little momentum with the scores and got back into it. (But) we wore out a little bit. They were a physical team and played very tough. They did the right things to win the ballgame. We just made some mistakes and dug a hole that made it tough on us.”

On its first possession of the game, LC (8-3) drove into Capital territory and appeared as if it would score. But the Eagles held the T-Wolves on downs at the 30-yard line.

Capital proceeded to march 70 yards on eight plays, scoring a touchdown when quarterback Mitch Blume hit a wide-open Caleb Walden on a 10-yard pass.

Things started to unravel on LC’s next series when senior quarterback Zach Clanton sprained an ankle. That thrust third-string QB Adam Fenenbock, a junior, into the game because senior Tommy Anderson, who had split time with Clanton during the regular season, was in street clothes. Anderson, who suffered a concussion two weeks ago in the regular-season finale at Lewiston, didn’t dress because he had battled migraine headaches during the week.

Moments later, the Eagles forced Fenenbock to fumble and Capital linebacker Scott Marshall returned it 15 yards for a TD that extended the lead to 14-0 with 11:47 left before halftime.

At that point, Anderson asked teammate Kyle Johnson, who broke an ankle in late September, to call his dad to get his permission to play. Anderson then borrowed pads from Milo Bobbitt and a jersey from Blake Holloway and dashed to the locker room. He went in the game with 6:05 to go in the second quarter.

“He really stepped up. He didn’t plan to play,” Troxel said.

The score remained 14-0 at halftime.

Things got much worse before they’d get better for LC in the second half. Anderson fumbled on the T-Wolves’ first play of the third quarter, and Capital scored on a 25-yard field goal by Eric Niblett.

LC had to punt on its next possession, and the Eagles had a short field again at the T-Wolves’ 44. Four plays later, Walden, who took a direct snap in the back field, faked a handoff to flyback Benson Manwaring and sprinted 21 yards untouched up the gut to put Capital ahead 24-0 with 3:14 to go in the third quarter.

The T-Wolves finally scored, and they did so quickly. Jared Heston capped a four-play drive when he plowed 5 yards off right tackle. LC, knowing it could shorten the margin by scoring a two-point conversion, was successful.

LC then got its first break when Billy Clifford recovered a fumble at Capital’s 48. Anderson hit Kyle Graves on a 33-yard pass that gave LC a first down at the 13. Two plays later, Heston scored from 4 yards out and the T-Wolves added a two-point conversion to pull within 24-16 with 11:01 to play.

Capital answered, though, gobbling up big yards three times on running plays before Paul Griffith bounced outside and scored untouched from 15 yards out that gave the Eagles enough cushion at 31-16 with 7:24 remaining.

“Obviously, they were a little banged up tonight,” Capital coach Todd Simis said. “We knew they wouldn’t quit. They pressed it to the end. We made a few mistakes and they capitalized. That’s what champions do. I’m really impressed with their program. I have been for a few years. It just makes it even sweeter to go through the state champions to get to the state championship.”

Anderson was proud that LC fought to the end.

“It was a big hole, but we did our best,” Anderson said. “They’re a very good team. They were very physical – the best team we’ve played by far.”

LC standout senior middle linebacker Byron Hout, who is headed to BSU, thought injuries to Clanton, free safety/wide receiver Christian Hanna (knee) and running back B.J. Palmer (ankle) played a role in the game.

“We had to overcome some adversity,” Hout said. “We never thought we were out of it. It just seemed that most of the things that could go wrong went wrong tonight.

“I thought they played better – no doubt they played better. (But) I wouldn’t trade this team for anything. I definitely think we were one of the best teams in the state. We just didn’t get it done tonight.”

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