Lake City knocked out of playoffs

POCATELLO – The undefeated and No. 1-ranked Madison Bobcats took their high-flying aerial show into Holt Arena and blew away the Lake City Timberwolves 36-0 in their state 5A football semifinal game on Friday night.

The Bobcats (11-0) will put their perfect record to the test one more time against the Coeur d’Alene Vikings when the two meet for the state championship on Friday.

Madison’s blur offense that spreads opposing defenses with five-receiver sets was in full roar from the opening kickoff, and the Bobcats’ defense – often overlooked because of the glamorous, pass-happy offense – stymied Lake City all night.  

“To stop them we have to be a ball-control (offense) and run the football,” Lake City head coach Van Troxel said. “They did a great job of cutting our offensive line and taking our underneath center run away from us.”

The Timberwolves, who entered the night averaging 28 points per game, managed only three first downs in the first half.

For the night, Lake City had 266 total yards and two turnovers.

On defense, Lake City could just never find an answer for the Bobcats’ offense. Particularly 6-foot-5 quarterback Logan Anderson.

“I think he’s awesome,” Madison head coach Mitch Buck said. “He could have been 100 percent. Every ball hit the kids right in the hands.”

Anderson, who played nearly three quarters before being pulled, was 25 of 32 for 301 yards. He accounted for all five of Madison’s touchdowns – three passing and two running.

But he did have one interception in the end zone.

“You know the pick, it kind of (upsets) me (that) he has to throw one pick a game,” Buck said after the game in jest.

Anderson has 10 interceptions for the year but that’s offset by his 32 touchdown passes.

“The quarterback’s special,” Troxel said. … “There’s a reason they’re 11-0.”

Madison raced out to a 14-point lead after 7 minutes in the first quarter, and by half the Bobcats led 27-0.

Madison’s Logan Lee was the game’s leading receiver with six catches for 158 yards.

On offense, Lake City was led by Gavan Rosteck, who had 10 carries for 54 yards.

“No one even expected us to get this far,” Rosteck said. “Our team really played well all the way up to (today).”