Badgers win Homecoming 53-12

It was a Homecoming to remember for the Bonners Ferry Badgers football team, as they gave Kellogg all they could handle Friday night, beating the Wildcats 53-12.

“We definitely needed that, it was a big League win for us,” said Badgers Head Coach Cory Kramer. “Our game plan worked to a T. We had a really good balance of passing the ball and running it, and the boys came up big for us. That’s how we want to be playing heading into League play.”

Quarterback Kaleb Stockton had a great game under center, completing 10 passes on 18 attempts for 223 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 

Caleb Harrington was on the receiving end of six of those passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. Brady Bateman added three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown and Isaac Lavala, returning from an injury last week, had one catch for six yards. 

On the ground, Nick Sabin and Evan Wasmer rushed for 83 and 86 yards respectively, with Sabin finding the end zone once and Wasmere twice. In all, the Badger offense accounted for 453 total yards.

“You can’t ask for much better than that from your starting backfield,” Kramer said. “We spread the ball around really well, and Caleb Harrington had a good game, definitely took advantage of his opportunities. We sat him down this week, and said listen, you can do this. And he really showed that he could. Their defense was doubling Isaac Lavala, and that really opened our other two guys up.”

Harrington had a big night on defense as well, picking off a pair passes. Christian Dowell also added a pick, while Dillain Banning, Mitchel Sandel, Ronnie Craig, Evan Wasmere and Nick Sabin all recorded a sack apiece.

“Harrington and Lavala had huge games for us on defense,” Kramer said. “Cory Richards, my defensive coordinator, has been doing an excellent job preparing these guys, as have all the coaches. We had Jason Shutes, our kicker, back as well, which really helped. He’s a huge weapon to have in your pocket when you need a good kick. And we have to give credit to the offense line as well, they did a great job of protection this week. They’re starting to gel at the right time, and that’s what we want. The Seniors on this team have never been a part of a winning Homecoming game, so it’s good to see them get one in their last chance. It was a big deal for them.”

The Badgers travel to Priest River Friday for that team’s Homecoming game. The Badgers beat the Spartans in the opening game of the season, but Kramer said it’s always difficult to beat a team twice.

“We just have to keep pushing and keep turning it up,” he said. “We have to work harder, and forget about that first game of the year. We have to go into this and plan on doing the same thing this week. And I think, honestly, we can have another game like that if we have the right mentality. 

“That’s up to us coaches to do that.”