District Ii Passers Pass Muster Quarterbacks Dominate Action In High School All-Star Classic

The quarterback shuffle sparked District II to its third consecutive victory over District I in the 11th annual North Idaho high school all-star football game at Viking Field.

District II rotated three quarterbacks - Rob Strobel of Moscow, Craig Tefft of Kendrick and Alan Hutchens of Clearwater Valley.

That trio completed 17 of 26 passes en route to 287 yards and a lopsided 39-7 win on a warm Saturday afternoon.

“I think people really misjudged our players,” said District II coach Eric Bjorkman of Moscow. “It doesn’t matter that we don’t have the A-1 or A-2 kids.

“These are tough kids and they are football players who are going to show up and be real physical.”

The teams exchanged uneventful first series. After that, District II scored six consecutive touchdowns.

District II didn’t substitute quarterbacks by possession, but by playby-play.

“It worked out real well. All three (quarterbacks) did a real good job,” Bjorkman said. “We caught the ball real good.”

Timberline running back Todd Kinard scored twice off 1-yard runs to give District II early momentum.

District I’s only first-half scoring threat came on its second series.

District I moved the ball to the District II 6-yard line on 17 plays. On fourth down and 5, District I sent in Chad Berkley of Sandpoint to try a field goal. Berkley intentionally drew a delay of game penalty to set up a better angle, but the 26-yard attempt went wide right.

District II capitalized, scoring 20 points in the next 11:39 for a 27-0 halftime lead.

District II converted interceptions by linebacker Joel McNutt of Clearwater Valley and defensive back Brandon Dudley into TDs.

McNutt picked off Post Falls quarterback Darick Pope on the District I 23-yard line. Eight plays later, Tefft connected with Strobel on an 8-yard TD pass.

On District I’s ensuing possession, Dudley stole a pass from Sandpoint quarterback Andy Feuling and District II took over on its 47.

It took five plays before Tefft found Lewiston tight end Ben Johnson in the end zone from 8 yards. Lewiston kicker Jeff Polillo faked the point-after try and completed the conversion pass to Timberline’s Austin Bonner.

“We were on a roll,” Strobel said. “As soon as we got on the roll, it was just like a train coming through. We found their weakness up the middle.”

Woes continued to mount for District I after halftime, as the host team fumbled the second-half kick.

Kinard recovered on the District I 22. On the next play, Strobel led Grangeville wide receiver Kevin Kellogg into the end zone with a pass over the left side and District II led 33-0.

The District I score was the result of special teams play, as Lakeland’s Erik Martin blocked a punt that Bonners Ferry’s Jeff High recovered on the District II 9.

The Badgers carried District I into the end zone. Pope completed a 6-yard pass to Gavin Glindeman, which set up a 3-yard TD run for Caleb Arceneaux with 2:39 left in the third quarter.

District II never let up on defense, as McNutt and Dudley each recorded another interception, and Kinard added another fumble recovery. The winners also had two quarterback sacks from Grangeville’s Shane Helena.

“Defensively, I thought they’d have a hard time with us,” Bjorkman said. “We were pretty physical with our linebackers and people up front.”

District II, which leads the series 6-5, finished with 388 yards offense, including 101 rushing.

District I wound up with 138 yards passing and 14 rushing.

“Our offensive front didn’t perform as well as we could have,” said District I coach Greg Drake of Coeur d’Alene. “Then being behind, you have to throw on every down.”

District II 39, District I 7

District II 7 20 12 0 - 39 District I 0 0 7 0 - 7

District II-Kinard 1 run (Polillo kick)

District II-Kinard 1 run (kick blocked)

District II-Strobel 8 pass from Tefft (run fails)

District II-Johnson 8 pass from Tefft (Bonner pass from Polillo)

District II-Kellogg 22 pass from Strobel (pass fails)

District II-Reynolds 1 run (kick blocked)

District I-Arceneaux 3 run (Berkley kick)