STATE 4A FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS: Young Lakeland falls to experienced Middleton in state 4A playoff opener
RATHDRUM — There was a glimmer of hope near the end of the state 4A football playoff opening round game for the Lakeland Hawks.
A long touchdown on what Tim Kiefer described as an effort play.
A defensive stop.
There’s plenty to build on for a team that only graduates two players from this year’s squad.
Unfortunately, against a team with 18 seniors like the Middleton Vikings, physically, the Hawks aren’t quite there yet.
Middleton tallied 489 yards of total offense in a 56-6 win over the Hawks on Friday night at Corbit Field.
“The kids never gave up,” Lakeland coach Tim Kiefer said. “I don’t know that we progressed the way we wanted to, but the kids never stopped trying or fighting, and I’m proud of them.”
Lakeland, which finishes 1-9, got on the board on an 85-yard touchdown run by Dylan Norman with 5:46 remaining.
“We missed a block, which honestly, our tight end got onto the second level and kind of sprung him,” Kiefer said. “Talked to our kids about effort plays. Effort can make up for a lot of miscues, and certainly it was an effort play. Good things happen when you give a little effort, and that’s what we’ve been preaching to the kids.”
Lakeland had no senior starters on offense and defense this year.
“We’ve got a lot of kids back,” Kiefer said. “But just because we’re going to be a year older, doesn’t mean we’re going to be any better. We’ve got to put in the work during the offseason and we’re going to have to keep building. The real test, or question, is do we have enough character to withstand a 1-9 season and come back and build something special. I think we do, and I think our kids will respond.”
Ryan Pote threw for 139 yards on 10 completions for Lakeland, most coming to Jared Walker, who finished with 59 yards. The two alternated at quarterback during the game, with Walker playing quarterback at the end of the second quarter and start of the third.
“Not a lot of people that think a lot of a two-quarterback system,” Kiefer said. “We’ve got two quarterbacks that are different. What Pote brings, and what Jared brings, are two different things. Wanted to capitalize on that with rotating them in. We wanted to play to their strong suits and we’ll see what the future holds for them.”
Middleton quarterback Garrett Gassaway completed three passes — all for touchdowns in the first half — for 104 yards as the Vikings took a 42-0 halftime lead.
“I was really proud of our kids,” Middleton coach Bill Brock said. “As coaches, we stressed the challenges of the trip, coming here and it’s a big thing for these kids to travel and stay overnight and do those things. And I thought our kids held their focus and came out firing at the beginning.”
Middleton (5-5), advances to play at Bishop Kelly next weekend.
Middleton 21 21 7 7 — 56
Lakeland 0 0 0 6 — 6
First quarter
Mid — Caleb Harrel 3 run (Ricky Thorne kick), 8:18
Mid — Caden Stevenson 11 fumble return (Thorne kick), 6:24
Mid — Jaden Coombs 20 run (Thorne kick), 2:29
Second quarter
Mid — Chase Downs 76 pass from Garrett Gassaway (Thorne kick), 9:50
Mid — Downs 20 pass from Gassaway (Thorne kick), 4:52
Mid — Nathan Wilson 8 pass from Gassaway (Thorne kick), :06
Third quarter
Mid — Blake Chainey 16 run (Thorne kick), 5:52
Fourth quarter
Mid — Chance Turner 7 run (Thorne kick), 6:00
LL — Dylan Norman 85 run (kick failed), 5:46
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Mid, Harrel 9-74, Coombs 7-75, Hagler 4-31, Gassaway 4-48, Chainey 11-69, Boren 1-2, Beitia 6-39, Lucarelli 3-9, McPherson 3-17, Turner 4-21. LL, McDaniel 1-(-2), Gatten 8-16, Pote 4-(-20), Dickens 2-6, Neilson 1-9, Norman 2-80.
PASSING — Mid, Gassaway 3-3-0-104. LL, Pote, 10-13-1-139, Walker 2-8-0-41.
RECEIVING — Mid, Downs 2-96, McPherson 1-8. LL, McDaniel 1-12, Walker 5-59, Gatten 3-33, Price 2-56, Hathaway 1-2.