Badgers chop down Lumberjacks 51-0 for Homecoming win

By ROBERT JAMES

Managing Editor

Bonners Ferry football coach Caleb Arceneaux had three goals for Friday night's Homecoming game against St. Maries:

Get the running game going.

Improve on his team's execution.

Win.

Mission accomplished.

The Badgers battered the Lumberjacks 51-0 in an Intermountain League game Friday night and the score could have been much worse. The Badgers (2-3, 1-0) rushed for 177 yards on the night, led by Josh Hawks' 121 yards on 21 carries. Hawks also had a 45-yard touchdown run nullified by a penalty.

The Badgers did not turn the ball over in the game.

Bonners Ferry's stifling defense helped set up the offense in good field position all night. The Badgers started every drive but one in Lumberjack territory and scored on six straight drives in the first half.

Kenny Swift scored three touchdowns for Bonners Ferry. He grabbed a 10-yard pass from A.J. Bennett to open the scoring, then followed up with a 23-yard reception in the second quarter to push the score to 42-0. He intercepted two Lumberjack passes on the night.

Bennett was a perfect five-for-five passing, and threw three touchdown passes. Sam Botkin picked up the third on a perfect 30-yard catch and run.

After halftime, St. Maries finally forced Bonners Ferry to punt and Tim Youngwirth pinned the 'Jacks inside their own 10 yard line. On third down, Swift picked off Jarod Bitterman's pass attempt and returned it eight yards for a touchdown.

From there, Arceneaux emptied his bench, sending in younger players and pulling most of his varsity off.

"There's no reason to leave them in there and take a chance," he said.

John Heigel, who scored on a one-yard run in the first half, left the game with a shoulder injury and Blake Boyles, who also ran in a touchdown in the first half, played only on special teams later in the game after tweaking his ankle. Neither injury is serious, Arceneaux said.

The coach got good news on the injury front for next week's game against Priest River. Senior Jozef Musial, who originally was thought to be lost for the season, was cleared to play late last week and will be in the lineup. Also, Matt Pluid, an all-conference player last season, has recovered from a hip injury and will play after missing the last few weeks.

Musial will help along the offensive line, Arceneaux said.

"We're going to take a look at practice this week," Arceneaux said. "I would like to definitely like to see her get significant time at offensive line."

Musial's return will bolster an offensive line that had its best game of the season Friday night.

"Overall, our entire offensive line played well in the first half," the coach said. He pointed to Kurt Carey as a player who had a particularly good game both on both offensive and defensive line.

Sophomore Casey Nelson also played well in the second half, the coach said. Nelson sacked Bitterman in the end zone for a safety for the Badgers' final points of the game.

Even with the younger players in the game, St. Maries could not move the ball.

Bonners Ferry held the 'Jacks without a first down until 3:10 remained in the fourth quarter. St. Maries did not advance into Bonners Ferry territory until its final drive of the game. In that drive, St. Maries committed several personal foul penalties and actually ended the game by having Bitterman kneel down to run out the clock.

St. Maries committed six personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the second half. The team's best offensive play, a 45-yard run by Jake Szlasi, was called back because of a personal foul penalty.

Arceneaux was happy his team did not lose its composure.

"I was very pleased with how our kids responded to that," he said. "St. Maries is very frustrated this year."

This week the Badgers host Priest River Friday night for Senior Night. The Spartans come in off a blowout loss to Timberlake, but Arceneaux is not fooled.

"Priest River was missing Rudi Morales, their starting running back, and lost their starting fullback on the first play of the game," the coach said. "They definitely were not at full strength."

He expects Priest River to come in and try to establish a running game with Morales, who is very fast.

"If we can force them to throw the ball, I like our chances," Arceneaux said. Game time is 7 p.m.