Badgers win homecoming by 40 points
BONNERS FERRY — Badger football remains undefeated after a homecoming win Friday, Sept. 23 by 40 points over the visiting East Valley Knights from Spokane Valley, Wash.
The Badgers set the tempo on the first play when they recovered the ball on the kickoff. A few minutes later the Badgers’ Michael Boschwiller ran into the endzone for a touchdown. The team opted for a two-point conversion and were up 8-0 with 9:33 left in the first quarter.
Receiver Henry Willis scored another touchdown for the Badgers and, after a field goal, Bonners Ferry led 15-0.
In the second quarter, the Badgers offensive momentum was unstoppable. After another field goal, the Badgers led 18-0. The Badgers defense held the Knights and after fourth down it was the Badgers' ball.
The Badgers continued the offensive assault with another touchdown scored by Charles Henslee and another field goal by Blake Rice, putting the Badgers up by 25.
The Knights took advantage of a Badger return kick with Diezel Wilkinson running the ball in for a touchdown making it 25-6.
Off the next play, Charles Henslee returned the favor on the return kick, by passing all of the Knights defense before being brought down by the Knights kicker at the 45-yard line. On third-and-nine at the 45-yard line, Rice made a move to rush to the sideline, then with a quick handoff to Charles Henslee who ran the other way. The Badgers scored another touchdown, making it 31-6 with 2:42 left in the half.
The Knights attempted a deep pass at third and 13 at the 40-yard line, but it was knocked down by Willis.
The Badgers gained a first down and in field goal range, but the kick didn’t make it into the uprights and entered halftime with a 25-point lead.
In the third, the Knights intercepted the ball, but the Badger defense did not break. Rice blocked another long throw attempt. Bonners Ferry defense and the calls against the Knights made it third-and-29 at the 38-yard line for East Valley.
On the play, Dillion Mai sacked the Knights’ quarterback, forcing a fumble on the play. The Knights punted on fourth down.
After the return from the Badgers, Rice connected with a wide-open Teigan Banning in the middle of the field. Banning ran the ball in for a TD, making it 38-6 with less than four minutes left in the third.
In the fourth, after another Badger offensive advance by Charles and Cleo Henslee, Willis ran in another touchdown. After the field goal, the Badgers made it 46-6 and took the win.
Bonners Ferry Head Coach Travis Hinthorn said the team had a lot of great homecoming energy. That excess energy can sometimes be difficult to channel because you never know how the athletes will react with all the extra planned activities leading up to the game, he said.
Hinthorn said the Badgers had a great first half, the second half was good as well. He commended the Knights quarterback 24 Diezel Wilkinson, who scored for East Valley.
“He’s an amazing athlete, probably one of the best we’ll see all year. We had to contain him and not get beat somewhere else,” he said.
Other than the one kick return, the Badgers played well and ran the ball fairly well, Hinthorn said. He added that the team had a good balance and as the season has progressed, the team depth is getting deeper.
JV also beat East Valley. Hinthorn said the team is hungry to play.
The Badgers will play St. Maries at home on Saturday, Oct. 1. This will also be senior night for the team’s 22 seniors.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Rice, 6-17, Ch. Henslee 1-54, Boschweiller 8-45, Cl. Henslee 19-141.
PASSING — Rice, Blake 9 of 15 with a total of 152 yards.
RECEIVING — Banning 1-60, W. Henslee 1-4, Ch. Henslee 4-30, Willis 4-68.
Dakota Heller had seven solo tackles and five assists for 12 total tackles. Josh Pinkerton had three solo tackles and three assisted for six tackles.
Elijah Dahl and Travis Petersen each had a fumble recovery.
BF — (15)(16)78—46
EV — 0600—6
