PREP FOOTBALL: Lake City shows signs of growth

COEUR d’ALENE — After three of their opponents’ drives Friday night, the Lake City Timberwolves trailed by 21 points and were staring at a long, long night.

But the young, injury riddled Timberwolves battled back and made a game of it, twice pulling within one touchdown of the Tumwater (Wash.) Thunderbirds before falling, 35-21.

“We’re still a work in progress,” Lake City coach Van Troxel said. “But what we accomplished, and what we did is, hat’s off to them, they traveled, they’re a quality program, Sid Otton’s a good coach, and they’ve got 35 years of excellence under their belt. And we competed with a very good football team. Being down 21 points, I’m so proud of our offense and defense, the character they showed, and the way they competed. We’re just not very deep.”

Tumwater (4-0), ranked No. 1 in class 2A in Washington, scored three touchdowns in its first 11 plays and built a 21-0 lead with 11:33 left in the first half.

By comparison, Lake City (1-4) amassed a total of one yard in its first seven plays.

But backup quarterback Matt Duchow engineered a 96-yard, eight-play scoring drive, capped by an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jason Pierard, to give the Timberwolves momentum.

After an 8-yard Tumwater punt, Lake City drove 43 yards in eight plays, Duchow scoring on the keeper from 8 yards out to pull the T-Wolves within 21-14 at halftime.

Tumwater extended its lead to 28-14 midway through the third quarter on a 15-yard run up the gut by Jarid Barrett, who finished with 115 yards on 16 carries.

Lake City’s next drive, deep into Tumwater territory, ended with a sack. But the T-Wolves got the ball back on a fumble recovery by Dakota Kielblock at the Tumwater 47. Two plays later, Lake City scored on Duchow’s 37-yard touchdown pass down the middle to Austin McMaster to pull within 28-21 with 8:04 remaining.

But Tumwater answered with a 71-yard drive to ice it, capped by Spencer Dowers’ 10-yard TD pass to Cade Otton.

“Lake City’s quarterback just did an awesome job,” Sid Otton said. “Our defense made some adjustments in the second half to help corral him in a little bit, and our offense did a nice job of, especially late in the game, of just pounding it, instead of trying to do cute things. Every time we tried a cute thing it backfired on us.”

Duchow, a junior starting in place of the injured senior Collin Hunter (ankle), completed 16 of 20 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 71 yards and a TD on 21 carries, showing quickness as well as elusiveness.

The Timberwolves are also without several other players due to injury, including multiple offensive linemen.

“Our whole philosophy is, ‘Next man up,’” Troxel said. “We hopefully will get a couple more back next week. I thought Matt Duchow played excellent ... we haven’t started the same offensive line one single game. The receivers have been consistent, the quarterback has been a change. Collin’s a great kid, and he may not every make it back; I figured a minimum of four weeks (out with the injury), and that’s it everything’s perfect”.

Tumwater totaled 322 of its 414 yards on the ground. Dowers threw just six passes, completing four, three for touchdowns. Two of them went to Otton, grandson of the head coach.

“We talk about dealing with adversity,” Troxel said. “I’m just really proud of them; it just showed some real character on their part, we talk about never quitting. Just keep playing hard.”

The more physical Tumwater team controlled the line of scrimmage much of the night. Lake City was most effective on the perimeter, as well as spreading out the T-Birds with passers and keepers by Duchow.

“It’s about this team starting to grow up,” Troxel said. “We’ve come a long ways these past three or four weeks.”

Lake City travels to Sandpoint next Friday.

Tumwater 13 8 7 7 — 35

Lake City 0 14 0 7 — 21

First quarter

Tum — Noah Andrews 19 run (Nathan Seaman kick), 9:26

Tum — Andrews 37 pass from Spencer Dowers (run failed), 6:49

Second quarter

Tum — Cade Otton 32 pass from Dowers (Otton pass from Dowers), 11:33

LC — Jason Pierard 18 pass from Duchow (Kobe Murphree kick), 7:47

LC — Duchow 8 run (Murphree kick), :38.6

Third quarter

Tum — Jarid Barrett 15 run (Seaman kick), 5:22

Fourth quarter

LC — Austin McMaster 37 pass from Duchow (Murphree kick), 8:10

Tum — Otton 10 pass from Dowers (Seaman kick), 3:08.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Tum, Barrett 16-115, Andrews 10-79, Jones 9-92, Rodriguez 3-35, Dowers 4-0. LC, McMaster 1-2, Kielblock 8-12, Duchow 21-71, Chun 2-2.

PASSING — Tum, Dowers 4-6-0-92. LC, Duchow 16-20-0-230.

RECEIVING — Tum, Andrews 1-37, Otton 2-42, Crawford 1-13. LC, Davis 2-27, McMaster 3-45, Pierard 5-66, Stapleton 5-77, Watkins 1-5.