T-Wolves zap Meridian
BOISE – Meridian no longer has Lake City’s number on the football field.
Lake City shut down the Warriors’ high-powered offense and shut out the defending 5A state champions 23-0 in the season opener Friday night at Meridian High.
“We really wanted this,” running back B.J. Palmer said after rushing for 62 yards and two touchdowns. “This win is just huge for us. It sets the tone for the season, and we now know we can be state champions.”
Meridian was overmatched in every facet of the game by their rivals from the north – a much different result than the two times the teams met last year.
Meridian scored 83 points in those wins a year ago, including a 42-21 beating in the state semifinals.
“We’re not 0-fer against anybody in the state of Idaho,” Lake City coach Van Troxel said. “Against Meridian we were 0 for 2, so this means a lot.”
Lake City got on the board late in the second quarter on a 32-yard field goal by Patrick Jewell, and Palmer took two option pitches from quarterback Garren Hammons into the end zone for a quick 17-0 lead in the third quarter.
The Meridian team that took the field was much different than the high-powered pound-the-ball offense of 2005.
The Warriors were without projected starting quarterback A.J. Storms and All-Idaho running back Austin Deck on offense.
Storms fractured his right “throwing” arm in practice last week and was able to play on defense only. Deck, who rushed for 171 yards on 29 carries against Lake City in the state playoffs last year, has yet to practice after injuring his Achilles tendon during last year’s wrestling season.
Lake City held Meridian to just 148 yards rushing and only 80 passing. The Timberwolves used a balanced offensive attack led by Hammons and Palmer to earn 20 first downs, while their defense halted Meridian’s attack.
Palmer carried the ball 17 times and Hammons kept it 10 times out of the option set for 63 more yards.
The senior also completed 10 of 18 passes for 101 yards with no interceptions.
Meanwhile, Boise State running back recruit Mitch Burroughs struggled in his first game under center. Burroughs was forced to take over at quarterback with just days of preparation. He didn’t find much room to drop back and throw or take off and run against the pressure Lake City brought on defense.
“It was a little unfair to Mitch,” Meridian coach Mike Virden said of calling on the senior to switch positions without much preparation.
Out of Meridian’s shotgun offense, Burroughs fumbled away several snaps and threw two interceptions.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Lake City senior cornerback Wilson Bowlby returned the second Timberwolves interception 60 yards to put his team on top for good, 23-0. The kick was blocked, but the Timberwolves had the game well in hand.
“All things happen for a reason,” Virden said. “If this loss is going to make us better down the road, I’ll take it right now.
“Don’t feel sorry for us. We’ll be back.”
Kootenai 60, Clark Fork 14: Ben Shannon rushed for 297 yards on 15 carries and scored on an 80-yard run to spark the Warriors to a non-league victory over the visiting Wampus Cats in a season opener at Harrison.
Kootenai quarterback Taylor Dodson was 2 of 3 passing for 55 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in the fourth quarter.
Moscow 27, Priest River 25: Tyler Randall passed for 297 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Bears to a non-league victory over the visiting Spartans.
Moscow’s Shane Miller finished with five catches for 129 yards and a touchdown, while Paul Weimer had three receptions – two for TDs.
Priest River’s Richie Morales rushed for 144 yards and three TDs on 22 carries.
Wallace 41, St. Maries 14: The Miners rolled to a non-league road victory over the Lumberjacks.
Zach Cox passed for 103 yards and two TDs – both to Logan Shelden – for St. Maries.