Scott Bushnell Lake City Year: Senior Sport: Football Position: Fullback

Scott Bushnell wasn’t surprised by his season-opening performance Friday. Ditto for his coach.

Bushnell piled up 233 yards on 19 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead Lake City past crosstown rival Coeur d’Alene 40-13.

“He’s exactly what I anticipated and thought he would be,” Timberwolves coach Van Troxel said. “He showed that at times last year. He worked as hard or harder as anybody since last year.”

The win was exciting to Bushnell for several reasons, perhaps no more than the fact it was the first time LC had defeated CdA. The T-Wolves had lost their first four meetings with the Viks.

Bushnell and his teammates were still reveling in the win Tuesday at practice. Several teammates ribbed Bushnell as he was being interviewed.

“We’re the first seniors to go all the way through all four years (of LC),” Bushnell said proudly. “(Coach Troxel) has been a real big impact on me. He keeps me motivated and helps me get better.”

Troxel attributes Bushnell’s improvement to his “hard work in the track season.

“Three years in track have improved his speed, and he’s improved his strength in the weight room,” Troxel said.

The speedy Bushnell sits behind the quarterback in LC’s wingbone offense as the featured fullback. He’d be a tailback in the multiple offenses used by other teams.

“This offense is tailor-made for him,” Troxel said. “He gets to the hole quickly and can get to the outside.”

Bushnell, who saw considerable playing time last year and limited duty as a sophomore, returned as the leading rusher in the Inland Empire League. He gained 686 yards last year, and he’s well on his way to eclipsing that mark.

His goal, in fact, is about 10 times his first-game total.

“Hopefully I’ll get 2,000 yards by the end of the season,” he said.

Bushnell remembers not wanting to play football when he was younger.

“Actually, I didn’t want to play (at first),” the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder said. “But my dad talked me into it. And it’s worked out so far, I guess.”

Bushnell hopes to play college football in the future and has already been contacted by a couple of schools.

“Right now, it’s pretty much open,” said Bushnell. “I’m still looking around. I hope to get into law enforcement next year, but other than that, I’m not real sure what I want to do.”

For the present time, Bushnell just wants to enjoy his senior year. He might even join the wrestling team this winter.

“My goal right now is to do well and help the team out. I love playing here.”

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