Defense steps up as Viks overhaul Sandpoint in second half

SANDPOINT – After allowing big play after big play in the first half Friday, the Coeur d’Alene defensive players took it upon themselves to make the big plays in the second half.

And, boy, how. The Vikings turned three interceptions into touchdowns in the final two quarters as Coeur d’Alene overcame the loss of its top offensive weapon for a 35-27 come-from-behind win over Sandpoint in an Inland Empire League football game played before a crowd estimated at 2,000 at Barlow Stadium.

The second-ranked Vikings (3-0) welcome a timely bye next week. Sandpoint, which dropped to 0-2, will take a long trip to Skyview of Nampa in search of that elusive first win.

Behind big-play sophomore quarterback Mat Lawrence, Sandpoint opened a 14-0 lead before taking a 20-14 lead into halftime. Single-handedly, the Bulldog chewed up the Viks’ defense for 235 of Sandpoint’s 279 yards in total offense in the first half.

In the second half, however, the Viks’ defense made Lawrence look, well, youthful.

“I think the thing we’re starting to learn about this team is it doesn’t ever quit,” CdA coach Shawn Amos said. “This junior class and senior class expect to win. That’s all they’ve ever done.”

CdA cornerback Scott Lind hauled in the first interception in Sandpoint’s end zone on the Bulldogs’ first possession in the third period. CdA then proceeded to march 80 yards on nine plays with quarterback Jake Hall finding big holes on three designed draw plays. Junior running back Alex Reyes, filling in for injured starter Kevin Ah-Hi, busted 5 yards off right tackle, and Lee Wheeler’s extra point gave the Viks the lead for good at 21-20 with 3:56 remaining in the period.

Perhaps the defensive play of the game, though, came moments later when junior backup linebacker Joey Meehan broke up an attempted screen pass, intercepting it at Sandpoint’s 25-yard line and returning it to the 1.

After losing two yards on back-to-back run plays, junior Neal Goodwin plunged 3 yards to increase CdA’s lead to 28-20 with 37 seconds to go in the third quarter.

On Sandpoint’s first offensive play on the ensuing series, Lawrence dropped back and his arm was hit as he released the ball. Alertly, CdA linebacker Vinny Lupinacci hauled in the errant pass, and the Vikings were in business again at the Bulldogs’ 29.

Eight plays later, CdA scored on an 8-yard keeper by Hall. It was 35-20 with 8:44 to play.

After forcing Sandpoint to punt, CdA appeared content to run time off the clock and post its fourth straight win at Sandpoint since 1996. But the game wouldn’t end quietly. On third-and-14, Hall and Reyes bobbled an exchange, and Sandpoint linebacker Mike Brown fell on it at the Viks’ 24.

Lawrence redeemed himself on fourth down at the 19 when he lobbed a pass into the end zone. Bulldog Erik Stoll won a jump ball contest with CdA’s Lind, and Lawrence’s point-after kick pulled Sandpoint within 35-27 with 2:36 to go.

Sandpoint’s onside kick attempt went out of bounds. CdA took over at its 48.

CdA managed one big first down before punting, pinning Sandpoint at its 13.

Still, the rangy, 6-foot-3 Lawrence had a chance with his strong arm.

Sandpoint picked up a first down on a pass interference penalty, but CdA’s defense held and the clock expired after four straight incompletions.

“It came down to turnovers for us,” Sandpoint coach Sean Dorris said. “We gave them a short field to operate in. They (Viks) did a nice job adjusting in the second half.

“We didn’t execute the same way we did in the first half. We’re going to keep working. We’ve got to get better.”

Ah-Hi, who gained 262 yards and scored three TDs last week in less than three quarters, didn’t play because of a sore knee.

“Kevin’s an exceptional football player, but I think we showed we can play without him,” Amos said. “The rest of the kids stepped up and made it happen.”