PREP FOOTBALL: Lake City nearly pulls off upset of Highland

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

COEUR d’ALENE — There’s a wall outside the Lake City locker room which displays scores of all the Timberwolves’ signature victories over the years. 

Lake City nearly added another score to its wall Saturday afternoon. 

But despite leading until late in the third quarter, and having not one, but two, chances to win late, the Timberwolves fell to the 6A second-ranked Highland Rams of Pocatello 13-7 at Van Troxel Field. 

"I told them, and I’ve told them this before, wins, yes — the scoreboard tells you who wins and loses,” second-year Lake City coach Byron Hout said. “But, there’s a lot of things that we’re doing right, and a lot of good things that ... I always say, we can count wins not on the scoreboard. Super proud of our guys. I hope it gives our guys confidence that we can play with anybody.”

Even though Highland (4-0) eventually responded to an early touchdown by Lake City (1-2) by scoring the game’s next 13 points, the T-Wolves nearly won the game in stunning fashion at the end. 

After Paxten Johnson’s second field goal of the game, a 33-yarder which increased the Rams’ lead to 13-7 with 4:39 remaining (following an unsuccessful Lake City fake punt in its own territory), Jacob Hill took a short kickoff and returned it to the Highland 45, with Johnson making a saving tackle. 

Lake City, which hadn’t moved the ball much since the first quarter, suddenly started gaining yards — Gabe Wullenwaber for 5 yards, Avrey Cherry to Hill for 5 and a first down, Wullenwaber for 8 more. 

On second and 2 at the Highland 27, Cherry connected with Hill down the right side for an apparent touchdown, but offensive pass interference negated the score. 

Two plays later, on third and 14 from the Rams 39, Lake City ran a flea flicker that left Preston Beamesderfer racing wide open down the left sideline. But the pass was overthrown. 

The next pass fell incomplete, and Highland, who beat Coeur d’Alene in last year’s state title game, kneeled out the clock. 

“You know what, I kinda knew that that’s gonna happen today,” third-year Highland coach Nick Sorrell said. “They’re so well-coached, and they do some really good things. With all the miles we’ve traveled the first four weeks (with games in Las Vegas, Pocatello, Meridian and Coeur d’Alene), I figured that it was going to be a tight ballgame. 

Lake City moved the ball well on its first two drives. On the second possession, Cherry fought his way around right end and into the end zone for a 7-0 T-Wolf lead late in the first quarter. 

After one quarter, Lake City had run 17 plays for 107 yards, Highland six plays for 21 yards. The T-Wolves tried to shorten the game to get more rest for their two-way players. 

“They were doing some things in the backfield that they hadn’t shown on film yet,” Sorrell said of Lake City. “And we had to make adjustments throughout the game to their zone read stuff. We needed our guys to do their job; they were trying to do too much early on. And once they started to settle in in the second half, we were doing our jobs; it was assignment football.” 

Highland got on the board when Johnson boomed a 45-yard field goal with 5:46 left in the half. The Rams threatened near the end of the half, but sacks by Jericho Shawver and Dayton Fletcher stalled that drive. 

Garrett Leonard’s interception early in the third quarter set up Lake City at the Highland 28. The T-Wolves drove to the Rams’ 4, but threw incomplete on fourth and goal. 

Things got a bit chippy in the third quarter, with a player from each team ejected. 

Later in the quarter, running back Cedric Mitchell took an option pitch from quarterback Keaton Belnap, rounded the corner and sped down the left sideline for a 79-yard touchdown to put Highland in the lead at 10-7. 

Highland finished with 208 yards, Lake City 158. 

“Those guys don’t quit, right?” Sorrell said of Lake City. “That’s why they’re so well-coached, and they’re a scrappy bunch, and they’ve got some really good kids over there. My hat’s off to coach Hout, and what he’s building there.” 

Cade Fledderman also had a second-half interception for Lake City, which followed a season-opening loss to Lakeland with a victory over Wenatchee last week, and a near-shocker this week. 

“After Week 1 we changed some things, moved some guys around and simplified some things,” Hout said. “I think our guys are getting better each week. 

“Hats off to (Trevor) Woodall, he called a helluva game,” Hout said. “He’s a big part of why we’re having success, and he’s getting guys to believe.” 

Lake City travels to Gig Harbor (Wash.) on Friday. 

Highland    0    3    7    3    —    13 

Lake City    7    0    0    0    —    7 

First quarter 

LC — Avrey Cherry 8 run (Jacob Bell kick), :55 

Second quarter 

High — FG Paxten Johnson 45, 5:46 

Third quarter 

High — Cedric Mitchell 79 run (Johnson kick), 4:40 

Fourth quarter 

High — FG Johnson 33, 4:39 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

RUSHING — High, Mitchell 13-124, Belnap 11-9, Galo 1-2, Almond 2-1, Alvarico 1-(minus 6). LC, Cherry 9-74, Wullenwaber 14-66, Van Leuven 6-11, Johnson 1-0, Tony 1-0, Grant 1-(minus 3). 

PASSING — High, Belnap 7-14-2-78. LC, Cherry 4-12-0-10, Grant 0-1-1-0. 

RECEIVING — High, Alvarico 3-31, Mitchell 2-15, Alo 1-28, Tibbs 1-4. LC, Tony 2-6, Hill 1-5, Oxenrider 1-(minus 1). 

    MARK NELKE/Press Jericho Shawver (11) and Garrett Leonard (30) of Lake City pursue Highland quarterback Keaton Belnap (9) during the first half Saturday at Van Troxel Field.