Badgers score win against PR

On Oct. 18 the Bonners Ferry Badger varsity football team traveled to Priest River to tackle the Priest River Spartans.

The Badgers started with Christian Trocke intercepting a Spartan pass at the 44-yard line. On the next offensive play Trocke connected with Bryan Youmans in the flat and Youmans ran 44 yards for the Badgers first score.

The point after was blocked and the Badger lead 6-0. Priest River would drive to the Badger 40 where the Spartans scored on a long touchdown pass to tie the game at 6-6 at the end of the first quarter.

The Badgers drove twice into Spartan territory in the second quarter but fumbled both times. Matt Sabin made a nice catch and run from Trocke but fumbled inside the 20-yard line.

On another drive, Jack Rossi fumbled inside the 10-yard line trying to get extra yardage. Both fumbles were recovered by Priest River.

With two minutes to go in the first half, Priest River mounted a drive that resulted in a first and goal for the Spartans. The Badger pass defense would step up. With a combination of defensive line pressure and good man to man coverage, the turned the Spartans away and time ran out with the score tied 6-6.

The Badger defense turned up the pressure in the third quarter. Pressure from Sabin, Rossi and Quinn Cummings resulted in a three and out for the Spartans.

The Badgers drove to the five-yard line with a combination of tough running by Rossi, Youmans and a nice play action pass to Anthony Skeen. Skeen would score from the three-yard line and Jason Shutes added the extra point and the Badgers led 13-0.

The Badgers stopped Priest River’s passing game again and drove the ball to the Spartan 25. The Badger drive stalled and Shutes missed a

42-yard field goal off the left upright. The Badger defense continued to pressure the Priest River passing game with good coverage.

After getting the ball back a Badger drive inside the 10-yard line, the Badgers would fumble the ball back to Priest River. The defense held tough and forced a Spartan punt.

Kyler Rice picked up a bouncing ball and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the third quarter. Shutes added the extra point and the Badgers led 20 to six.

Priest River would score on a 40-yard touchdown pass with five minutes left in the game to make the score 20 to 13.

The Badgers could not get a first down and relied on their defense to protect there lead. The defense held with good pass defense by Trocke, Rice, Skeen, Connor Bennett and Wyatt Snider. On the defensive line Rossi, Sabin, Mat Kramer, Jay Gasbar and Parker Davis pressured Priest River into a turnover on downs for the win.

The Badger football team’s record stands at 4-4, and 1-1 in the InterMountain League. A win on Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. against Kellogg, will give the Badgers second place in the IML and a trip to state.