Five Badgers score touchdowns in Bonners’ 39-14 victory
BONNERS FERRY – Sometimes it just comes down to options.
On a crisp, clear Homecoming Friday, the Bonners Ferry Badgers explored enough options to score a 39-14 victory over the visiting Timberlake Tigers.
With the win, the Badgers (5-3, 3-0) take over sole possession of first place in the Intermountain League.
Bonners Ferry scored five touchdowns – each by a different player en route to the victory.
Junior tailback Josh Hawks rushed for 89 yards in the first half and finished with 168 yards on 23 carries, slicing his way through the Timberlake defensive front to force the Tigers’ defensive backs to make tackles.
He scored the game’s opening touchdown with 58.5 seconds left in the first quarter, sliding behind right guard to slip into the end zone untouched from the 7-yard line.
Bonners Ferry senior quarterback Sam Botkin found his brother, Daniel, on a quick slant that turned into a 42-yard touchdown run in the first half and squeezed over from the 1 to score himself in the second.
Senior fullback Kyle Behrens, who left Tigers in his wake as Hawks’ personal blocker, crashed over from the 2 in the third quarter.
Senior Matt Rice had a big game – booting a 25-yard field goal in the first half, catching a 13-yard toss from Botkin in the second and capping the night by drilling a 52-yard field goal in the final minute. Ironically, Rice misfired on three PAT attempts.
Options for the Tigers were much more limited.
Timberlake rode the powerful legs of Nick Puckett, who pounded away between the tackles for 138 yards on 23 carries, but the Tigers could not find a consistent second option against the Badgers’ defense.
That meant that on crucial downs, Bonners Ferry was able to key on the sophomore fullback, with Rice stepping up from his linebacker position to make big stops at the line of scrimmage.
“I was able to hang back and key on him,” Rice said. “He’s a hard runner and if he gets outside, he’s gone. We knew they weren’t going to be able to throw, so we were able to play the run.”
The Tigers’ sophomore quarterback, Levi Powers, was unable to complete any of his five first-half passes and spent most of his time running from intense pursuit from the Badgers.
Powers finished the game 1 for 8 for 6 yards, but had two passes intercepted.
John Macklin ran 22 yards on a counter play after the Bonners Ferry defense bit hard on the fake to Puckett to score Timberlake’s first touchdown late in the third quarter, and Powers broke free for a 45-yard scoring run.
“Timberlake is a good, young football team and they’re going to be good next year and the year after that,” Bonners Ferry coach Caleb Arceneaux said.
“Right now, I’m just concentrating on this year and this group of seniors. Now we have to go out and beat Kellogg.”