SANDPOINT — It’s tough to tell who the biggest winner was during the recent Bulldog Nation Raffle, which raised more than $45,000 — Sagle’s Corie Castle, or the Sandpoint football team.

One will drive off with a shiny, powerful 1986 Corvette — not too shabby for the price of two $5 raffle tickets — while the other will take the field next fall with brand new helmets and shoulder pads.

Castle, an employee of Yoke’s for the past 14 years, received a call this week from SHS head coach and raffle organizer Satini Puailoa informing her that she was the proud new owner of a black Corvette.

“I thought somebody was punking me,” said Castle of the call. “Coach called and said ‘you just won an ‘86 Corvette. I said ‘what, are you kidding me?’ This is a shocker.”

The Corvette was donated by Martin’s Automotive, after more than 100 man hours went into restoring the car to nearly perfect condition. Martin Rodriguez said donating the car, which blue books for more than $12,000, was a way to give back to the community and the youth.

“Letting the kids know that it’s all about getting involved in the community,” said Rodriguez, who helps coach the team and whose son will be one of the players who benefit from the new gear. “It means everything in the world. Better equipment and safety for the kids.”

Puailoa praised the efforts of Rodriguez, who also helped restore a vintage Mustang for the previous year’s raffle. A lot of behind the scenes time, money and work went into the raffle prize.

“I’m sure he still won’t tell me what half the bills are,” said Puailoa of Rodriguez. “He went above and beyond the call of duty.”

Puailoa, who has had great success with fundraising car raffles in the past, also thanked the host of community members and businesses that purchased a block of 100 tickets, supplementing the rest that were sold by players, from high school down to junior tackle.

“They all have kids in the program. Each bought a block of 100 tickets to support the cause,” said Puailoa, noting the money will go straight into equipment, including new concussion-reducing helmets. “We’ll completely turn over our helmets and shoulder pads.”

Castle bought the two tickets from Penny and Phillip McGuire while getting her hair cut at Mane Reflections in Sandpoint. Penny McGuire was talking about how she went straight from selling Girls Scout cookies to car raffle tickets, and Castle said she’d gladly buy a pair.

Since she won the new ride, Castle said a bunch of people want to be her friend on Facebook.

“Everybody wants to teach me how to drive it,” said Castle. “Everybody wants rides.”