SANDPOINT — Playmakers make plays, or so it’s been said.

Sandpoint’s did just that on Friday night, scoring four touchdowns over 70 yards in the first half, dispatching Century to the tune of 56-7 in a 4A state playoff opener at Barlow Stadium.

Junior running back Kyle Perry eclipsed 200 yards rushing for the third consecutive game, romping for a 70 yard touchdown on the first offensive play of the game. He would add a 71 yard scoring run later, toting the rock 18 times for 214 yards and keying a decisive and one-sided first half.

Tyler Harris added four touchdowns and Wyatt McCormick two, as the three main offensive players ran wild against a clearly overmatched defense.

Century (4-6) scored its only touchdown late in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7, and it was all Sandpoint from there, as the Bulldogs (6-4) thoroughly dominated on both sides of the ball.

“It’s about execution. Tonight it was theirs (Century), not ours,” said Bulldogs head coach Satini Puailoa, enjoying his first playoff win since taking over the program for a second time three years ago. “Hard work took a program from the outhouse to the penthouse. People need to take notice of what these kids have done. They’ve paid a price to be here.”

Harris scored on a 25 yard run and hauled in an 85 yard screen pass from Nate Loutzenhiser, and McCormick had scoring catches of 85 and 18 yards, as the Bulldogs exploded for 35 second quarter points against a stunned Century squad. Loutzenhiser was an efficient 7-10 passing for 228 yards and three scores.

Harris would add touchdown runs of 50 and 15 yards in the third quarter, capping the scoring and setting up a big second round playoff matchup next week in top-ranked Blackfoot.

“We came to play, and we’ll come to play next week, too,” said Harris. “The coaches deserve a huge shout out for getting us ready for the post season.”

The Bulldogs’ defense dominated, holding the pass happy Diamondback to just 104 yards of total offense on the night. Harris, Davan Norris, Quinn Pearlstein and Troy Oliver-Mitton each nabbed first half interceptions. Paul Sundquist, Michael Plaster and Carlos Collado created a strong pass rush all night, leading to some errant throws.

Century, which plays its home games in a dome and struggled on a wet track, completed just 10 of 40 pass attempts and mustered only 14 yards rushing.

“Our defense stepped up today,” said Sundquist. “We were expecting them to throw, and we took that away. It showed on the scoreboard.”

The Bulldogs now turn their attention to No. 1 ranked Blackfoot (9-0), which also won big over Century in their regular season matchup.

After a brutally tough early season schedule, the Bulldogs are starting to click on cylinders in recent weeks, and will be looking to make a statement to the entire state next week that they’re back as title contenders.

“We just keep getting better, now we get to go play the best team on the east side,” said Puailoa. “We can’t wait to travel and face the top team in the state.”

Kickoff for next week’s game is 7 p.m. at Blackfoot High School.

SHS  7   35   14   0 — 56

CEN  7   0    0     0 — 7

SHS — Kyle Perry 70 run (Mike Plaster kick)

CEN — Dallin Blaser 10 catch from Lucas Rawlings (Rawlings kick)

SHS — Tyler Harris 25 run (Plaster kick)

SHS — Perry 71 run (kick fail)

SHS — Harris 85 catch from Nate Loutzenhiser (Perry run)

SHS — Wyatt McCormick 80 catch from Loutzenhiser (Plaster kick)

SHS — Wyatt McCormick 18 catch from Loutzenhiser (Plaster kick)

SHS — Harris 50 run (Plaster kick)

SHS — Harris 15 run (Plaster kick)

SHS        CHS

First Downs        

26        10

Rushes-yds

49-373        25-14

Passing Yards    

288        90

QB                    12-19-0        11-43-5

Punts-Ave                3-40        9-34

Penalties        

21-209        10-98

SHS Rushing: Kyle Perry 18-214, Tyler Harris 9-130, Nate Loutzenhiser 3-(-21), Tyler Presser 5-10, Colton Muldoon 3-14, Levi Irish 7-12, Walker Jacobson 2-8, Aubrey Stevens 2-0

SHS Receiving: Kaleb Merrill 1-9, Kyle Perry 2-19, Tyler Harris 1-85, Matt Timothy 3-61, Wyatt McCormick 3-110, Jake Timothy 1-4

SHS QB: Nate Loutzenhiser 7-10-0, 228yds; Davin Norris 5-9-0 60yds

Punt Return: JeanLuc Albertson 1-30.