T-Wolves shine

COEUR d'ALENE - Last year, when the starting quarterback went down with an injury, Bobby Traverse got some on-the-job training in a relief role in the final four games of the year for Lake City.

This year, it's his offense, and in the season opener Friday night, he and the Timberwolves had a lot of fun.

Traverse completed 12 of 16 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns as Lake City defeated Lakeland 46-21.

"I just had fun out there," said Traverse, a senior. "My team's really responding to me, and I can make some audibles when I want, and they believe in me, so it's good."

Lake City blocked two punts, one for a safety, and notched another safety later in the game - in his 33 years of coaching, Lake City's Van Troxel couldn't remember ever having a team rack up two safeties in a game.

Levi Hewitt blocked one punt out of the end zone for a safety in the first half, then had an interception in the second half. Zach Linscott also blocked a punt, and sophomore Gavan Rosteck tackled a Lakeland runner in the end zone in the third quarter for a safety. Devin Burgess also had an interception for Lake City, and Alfredo Reyes recovered a fumble.

"Most importantly, it meant something to the seniors," Troxel said. "They played with a lot of passion and energy. And I was really pleased with the leadership out of Bobby. He made a half-dozen changed calls at the line of scrimmage, and most all of them worked, and when that happens, the rest of them just believe more."

Hewitt's 3-yard TD run around left end - helped by nice blocks by Colton Houlihan and Chris Schennar - gave Lake City a 23-14 halftime lead. The Timberwolves then took control of the game with a dominating third quarter.

First, Rosteck and company tackled a Lakeland runner in the end zone for a safety. Following a free kick, Traverse zipped a 5-yard pass to Nick Baker on a slant route for a touchdown.

Linscott’s blocked punt set up a 13-yard TD pass from Traverse to Justis Balison for a 39-14 lead with 4:04 left in the third quarter.

Lakeland kept pace with Lake City in the first half, mostly on the arm of senior quarterback Eric Cooper. His passes set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Troy Carr, and a 12-yard TD pass to Taylor Campbell. Campbell and Casey Thorne each had interceptions for the Hawks.

“The kids were competitive in the first half; I was extremely happy with the way we played in the first half,” Lakeland coach Tim Kiefer said. “The special teams mistakes ... we just made too many mistakes for the magnitude of this game.”

Next Friday, Lakeland travels to Colville, and Lake City hosts Post Falls in a nonleague game.

Lakeland 7 7 0 7 — 21

Lake City 7 16 16 7 — 46

LC — Chris Williams 1 run (Andrew Hocking kick)

LL — Troy Carr 2 run (Cade Coffey kick)

LC — Kaleb Mitchell 23 pass from Bobby Traverse (Hocking kick)

LC — Safety Levi Hewitt blocked punt through end zone

LL — Taylor Campbell 12 pass from Eric Cooper (Coffey kick)

LC — Hewitt 3 run (Hocking kick)

LC — Safety Gavan Rosteck tackles runner in end zone

LC — Nick Baker 5 pass from Traverse (Hocking kick)

LC — Justis Balison 13 pass from Traverse (Hocking kick)

LL — Chadley Miller 14 run (Coffey kick)

LC — Brandon Johnson 37 run (Hocking kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — LL, Campbell 1-(minus 11), Miller 4-24, Mallory 6-(minus 4), Cooper 14-2, Carr 2-6, Hansel 2-5, Horne 1-5. LC, Williams 8-19, Hewitt 6-34, Traverse 3-14, Mitchell 3-19, Houlihan 5-24, Shipley 2-0, Johnson 7-78.

PASSING — LL, Cooper 14-21-2-154. LC, Traverse 12-16-0-215, Shipley 2-3-1-10.

RECEIVING — LL, Horne 2-12, Carr 3-61, Campbell 5-59, Poirier 2-9, Mallory 2-13. LC, Baker 3-42, Houlihan 1-17, Hewitt 1-8, Mitchell 3-67, Martz 1-25, Balison 2-32, Burgess 1-19, Williams 1-3, Hocking 1-7.