SPOKANE — On a cool Spokane night at Dwight Merkle Stadium the Sandpoint junior tackle 8th grade football team did something no other team has been able to do, beat the mighty Shadle Steelers.

The Steelers had not lost a game this season, last season, or any other season since starting in the Spokane Youth Sports Association football program going back four years. It was a matchup of Shadle’s number one ranked offense against Sandpoint’s league-leading defense.

Coming into the game Shadle averaged 31 points per game, having scored 46 the week before to advance to the championship game. Conversely, Sandpoint’s defense had given up an average of 6.5 points per game this season, leading to the ultimate showdown between the offensive minded Steelers and the defensive minded Bulldogs. 

Late in the second quarter the Steelers connected on a 55-yard pass down the sideline, which resulted in the game’s first touchdown. After a one point conversion, which amounts to a two-point conversion in normal football, the Steelers lead 7-0 at half.

Late in the first half Chayton Silva, a Sandpoint offensive tackle, was hit awkwardly by a Shaddle player and fell to ground. Complaining of neck and back pain he was taken off by ambulance, causing a 35 minute delay.

By the time the second half began, Sandpoint was down four starters due to injury: Tyler Myer and Robbie Oakley concussions; Nate Stangle back; and Chayton Silva, which meant other players needed to step up in a big way in the biggest game of their lives.  

In the second half, Sandpoint’s defense was relentless, sacking the Steeler quarterback five times, and causing seven turnovers, including two interceptions by Tyler Harris and one each by Mathew Timothy Gabe Lutz.

The emotions erupted when midway through the 4th quarter pressure on the Steeler quarterback by Tanner Jacobson and Christian Crossingham caused an errant pass over the middle that was picked off and returned for a touchdown by Tyler Harris. After a successful two point conversion by Jeffery Kappen, by way of a kick, Sandpoint took an 8-7 lead with four minutes left to play.

After an exchange of punts the Steelers started their final drive on their own 20 yard line and proceeded to march down to Sandpoint’s 10. With 39 seconds left Sandpoint’s defense stepped up yet again when Nate Loutzienhiser and Chandler Brewington sacked the Steeler quarterback causing a fumble that was recovered by Jeffery Kappen with les than 30 seconds left to play. Sandpoint quarterback Jackson Russo took a knee to end the game leaving the Steelers shocked as Sandpoint’s sidelines erupted with players, coaches and fans storming the field to celebrate the biggest win in Sandpoint Jr. Tackles history.