Sandpoint faces gigantic odds against Knights

Sandpoint’s chance of upsetting defending State 4A football champ Bishop Kelly appears to reside somewhere between slim and none.

Truth be known, it’s closer to none than slim.

So Sandpoint coach Sean Dorris is sparing no motivational expense this week. At one point, he referred to the Knights, who have won 22 consecutive games, as the “University of Bishop Kelly.”

Dorris chuckled when a reporter used another euphemism for BK: Boise State University’s junior varsity. That’s because BSU head coach Dan Hawkins’ son, Cody, is the Knights’ quarterback.

With all due respect, though, Sandpoint (6-4) faces its most difficult challenge this season when it plays host to the Knights (10-0) tonight at Barlow Stadium. Kickoff is at 7.

“They’re a great high school football team,” Dorris said. “They’re fun to watch. They flat have a ton of speed.”

No team has given BK a fight this year. The Knights have averaged 55.5 points per game and they scored more than 62 points five times and more than 70 three times. They’ve allowed 8.7 ppg, holding opponents to seven or fewer six times, including three shutouts.

It all starts with Hawkins. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior – who has given his father an oral commitment and reportedly was offered a scholarship to Oregon – has put up some impressive statistics. He’s thrown for 2,235 yards with 37 touchdowns with just two interceptions. He’s completing passes at a 76 percent clip (113 of 149).

BK also has rushed for 2,044 yards.

Dorris saw BK’s high-octane offense two weeks ago. After the Bulldogs secured their playoff berth with a Thursday win over Post Falls, Dorris drove to Boise to watch the Knights in their final regular-season game.

“He’s something else,” Dorris said of Hawkins. “He’s throws an incredible ball – as nice a ball as you’ll ever see in high school football.”

So Dorris is playing the big underdog card as motivation. But there’s plenty more at his disposal: BK hasn’t made a road trip longer than 60 miles this season; BK hasn’t played in conditions similar to what they’ll face at Barlow Stadium (a quagmire at best); and this will most likely be the final game played at Barlow Stadium for a while.

The stadium’s bleachers and press box have been condemned and will be torn down. The stadium is owned by the city, and Dorris said the city doesn’t plan on rebuilding in time for next fall.

“So we may have to schedule nine away games next year,” Dorris said.

So Dorris will likely include something like, “Win one for the late Cotton Barlow” in his pre-game speech.

“I’ll probably ask them, ‘What kind of memory do you want to leave there?’ ” Dorris said.

In terms of strategy – since the game will likely be won on the field, not in the players’ heads – Dorris said the Bulldogs must start by defending the run well.

“We’ve got to put them in predictable situations where we know they have to pass,” Dorris said. “If we allow them to run the ball well, they’ll be able to dictate things. If they’re in second-and-3 all night, we’re in trouble.”

The teams share a couple of common opponents. BK hammered visiting Lewiston 62-7 earlier this season while Sandpoint fell 14-13 at Lewiston. Sandpoint defeated Skyview 27-21 in overtime earlier this season and topped Skyview again 19-13 last week. BK shut out Skyview 34-0.

Hawkins was told that his team could face some adverse field and weather conditions. He has no concerns.

“You can’t make excuses,” Hawkins told the Idaho Statesman newspaper. “You just have to go out and get it done. Football wasn’t made to be played inside. It was made to be played outside freezing, in a mud bowl. It only bothers you if you let it. Once you’re out there playing, you aren’t worrying if the ball is muddy, if it is cold or if it is wet. You’re playing to win.”

BK coach Tim Brennan agreed.

“We’ll adapt to the conditions,” Brennan said. “The conditions might determine how the game is played, but it won’t determine who wins.”

Mullan at Horseshoe Bend: For a second straight year, a North Star League team takes on the Mustangs, the defending state champ.

The Tigers and Mustangs are familiar. They faced each other in a 20-minute controlled scrimmage at a summer camp in Montana.

Mullan first-year coach Bruce Bailey said his team must play flawlessly to have a chance to win.

“This will be our hardest game of the year,” said Bailey, whose team rallied to knock off Clark Fork 28-26 last week. “We have to control the tempo of the game. We have to play about a perfect game to win. But I think we can do it.”