SANDPOINT — Barlow Stadium at War Memorial Field has been the setting for some great playoff football through the years, and the home field advantage is significant.

When Century High School, which plays its home games inside the cozy confines of the Mini Dome in Pocatello, straps it up against Sandpoint tonight, it will be on cold, wet, real grass, which can be an adjustment for a dome team.

Two teams with contrasting styles will kick off the 4A state playoffs tonight, as the Bulldogs (5-4) feature a power running game, while the Diamondbacks (4-5) will look to spread the field and air it out.

This won’t be Sandpoint head coach Satini Puailoa’s first playoff rodeo, in fact his last playoff game as the coach of the Bulldogs came in a one point loss to Century in the 2003 state championship game. But that was then, and this is now, and tonight marks the Bulldogs’ first trip to the state playoffs since 2009.

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