Lake City uses stifling defense to beat U-Hi

The Lake City High football team’s offense was tickled to finally face a defense other than its own Friday.

Perhaps that’s why LC’s offense stuttered and sputtered at times. It wasn’t used to all the open space it saw against University.

The Titans’ offense, meanwhile, only twice found itself on the Timberwolves’ side of the 50-yard line.

LC’s offense finally found its groove and the defense did the rest as the T-Wolves handled visiting U-Hi 31-7 in a season opener for both teams.

The T-Wolves struck quickly, using a 23-yard field goal by Chris Lakey and a 17-yard touchdown run by quarterback Ben Widmyer for a 10-0 lead 10 minutes into the game.

But LC’s offense self-destructed much of the second quarter, and the Titans found themselves trailing by the same score at halftime.

The T-Wolves got untracked in the third quarter, scoring three touchdowns as LC built a 31-0 lead with 16 minutes remaining.

U-Hi’s lone TD, a 26-yard pass from quarterback J.D. Peterson to wide-open tight end Brandon Blaska eight seconds into the final quarter, came against LC’s reserves.

Until that point, U-Hi had no success moving the ball. LC limited the Titans to 26 yards total offense in the first half. And 70 of the Titans’ 120 total yards came on their three-play scoring drive.

LC senior running back Joey Symbal outgained U-Hi by himself. He finished with 201 yards on 23 carries and one TD. LC finished with 476 yards, and it could have been much worse.

Symbal tipped his helmet to the defense.

“Our defense is solid, they didn’t let anything get by them,” Symbal said. “They had three and out many times. That’s probably why our offense (moved the ball) because we’re going against such a solid defense.”

Symbal also had praise for his offensive line.

“I was very surprised,” Symbal said. “A week ago I was coming off a hip flexor injury. I felt pretty good and our offensive line did a great job. Everything was there. We had a lot of little mistakes, but once we get by those we’re going to be a solid team this year.”

LC’s defense was put in an immediate hole to open the second half when U-Hi returned the opening kickoff to LC’s 22. But the T-Wolf defense stiffened, forcing the Titans into a fourth-and-12 that they couldn’t convert.

“Defensively we came and did what we wanted to do,” LC coach Van Troxel said. “Once the offense settled down – we kept shooting ourselves in the foot – we played pretty well. The third quarter especially.”

Despite the first-game miscues, Troxel was pleased overall.

“For a lot of the kids it was their first start,” Troxel said. “We have a lot of seniors and it was their first start. That’s big. They had some nerves. Actually, before the game (Travis) Harmon and Widmyer (two returning starters) were the most nervous guys. But that’s alright because it’s important to them. They’re the leaders. Once they settled down it became a very good effort.”

Widmyer finished with 169 yards combined rushing and passing. Harmon caught nine passes.

“In other openers involving Inland Empire and Greater Spokane league teams, Sandpoint blanked Central Valley 28-0 at CV, visiting Post Falls drubbed Rogers 45-0 at Eastern Washington University’s Woodward Stadium and Clarkston tripped Lewiston 20-19 at Clarkston.

At CV, Sandpoint scored all four of its touchdowns in the first half. Tailback Dan Parrish scored on runs of 1 and 59 yards, receiver Blake Mahler connected with quarterback Eric DeMers on a 50-yard TD and Joey Lovell returned an interception 40 yards for the other TD. Sandpoint also scored a safety when defensive tackle Chad Denny blocked a punt in the end zone.

Parrish finished with 136 yards rushing on 14 carries.

At Clarkston, all the scoring was done in the first half with the Bantams putting up their three touchdowns in the second quarter.

A 21-yard TD pass from Jason Curtis to Peter Leonard proved to be the difference.

No details were reported from the PF-Rogers game.