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| Thanks to some great work by the offensive line, Badger Nick Sabin found plenty of running room on the way to a 34-6 romp against Kellogg Friday night. |
In their second of three conference matchups, the Badgers came onto the rain-soaked field full of energy and ready to take on the Wildcats from Kellogg.
The area had received quite a bit of rain for the days leading up to the game and it had even rained early in the day. The forecast was for 30-plus mile-per-hour winds and driving rain but when we arrived at the field, neither conditions were present. The temperature hovered around 45-50 degrees, the wind was calm and there was no rain for the entire game. That was a good thing because the field was completely soaked and that would soon be the fate of all the players as well.
The Badgers won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball and the game started. Our first drive resulted in a three and out and #23 Caleb Harrington, punted the ball. It was a good punt and the Wildcats took over deep in their own territory. However, their first play was a pass that yielded 14 yards and then they continued down the field gaining 30-plus yards.
They were threatening to score and the entire Badger crowd collectively held their breath.
The snap came and the Kellogg quarterback was flushed out being chased by several Badgers who then caused him to fumble the ball. The relief in the stands and on the entire sideline for Bonners Ferry was palpable. We would go another three and out, as would Kellogg.
The Wildcat punter bounced the ball down to our 20-yard line where we would take over. #1 Isaac Lavala would start his statistics out with a 34-yard pass reception from quarterback, #12 Kaleb Stockton.
Lavala would end the day with nearly 100 yards receiving and a small amount rushing the football.
The first and second quarter would turn out to be a hard-hitting defensive battle but with only 2:44 left in the second quarter our running game, spearheaded by #26 Nick Sabin, would take off. We struck first after a great drive late in the second quarter and finished it off with a two-point conversion. Kellogg would answer back on their next drive scoring with a 60-yard passing play. Their two-point conversion attempt failed however and we would go into halftime with the score of Badgers 8, Wildcats 6.
Beginning the second half of play #1 Isaac Lavala kicked the ball into the end zone forcing a touchback.
The defensive struggle would continue into the third quarter forcing punts from both soggy teams. At around 5 minutes to play in the third quarter our running game would take us down into Wildcat territory but the slippery conditions would contribute to a fumble and recovery by the Wildcats. They would not be able to do anything and the Badgers would get the ball back on the 45-yard line.
On the first play from scrimmage, running back #26 Nick Sabin would break through the line and go for 45 yards to score the second Badger touchdown. Sabin would gain 181 yards on 20 carries throughout the game.
Again Bonners Ferry would attempt and succeed at the two-point conversion making the score 16-6 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Following a Wildcat punt at around eight minutes left to play, #12 Stockton connected to wide receiver #1 Lavala for a 35-yard completion getting down to the 3-yard line. A few penalties would push us back but we would not be denied as #26 Sabin punched into the end zone for another Badger touchdown. The two-
point attempt would be no good and the score now would be 22-6 with about six minutes left to play in the game.
On Kellogg's first play after the kickoff, they would fumble the ball and the Badgers would recover it on the Kellogg 38-yard line. The first play from the Badgers would have #12 hand the ball to #5 Evan Wasmer, who would take it to the house, putting down two different defenders with strong stiff-arms, and score a 33-yard touchdown for the Badgers.
Wasmer would carry the ball 5 times for a total of 51 yards.
Our offensive line played the game with pep and provided the necessary holes for the running game to succeed. The slippery ball would fall to the ground on the point after attempt and the score would be 28-6.
On the kickoff, #1 angled an on-side kick to the sidelines and #12 Kaleb Stockton recovered it in Wildcat territory. The Badger faithful were on their feet and the players were feeling invincible.
A couple of running plays and another 24-yard pass completion to Lavala would put the Badgers in scoring position again.
With just over a minute left to play, #3 Chris Sabin in for the starting quarterback would throw to #23 Caleb Herrington for our final touchdown of the night. The two-point conversion would fail but that put the Badgers at 34-6 over the soaking, defeated Wildcats from Kellogg.
Starting quarterback #12 Kaleb Stockton would end the night with four completed passes out of nine for a total of 82 yards and #3 Chris Sabin would go two for two for 33 yards and a touchdown.
All through the game, the defense played with amazing fortitude and determination as they shut down the offense of the Kellogg Wildcats time and time again. Each and every player could be mentioned here for the work that they accomplished and how well they stuck to their assignments. Both offensive and defensive players played as a team and worked as hard as possible especially in the adverse conditions.
Congratulations to the players and coaches for bringing home the win!
Be sure and come out to support our Badgers football team Friday night, October 21, at 7 p.m. as we host the Priest River Spartans at Senior night in Bonners Ferry. This promises to be an exciting game where the winner will advance to the State playoff.