ST. MARIES — The St. Maries Lumberjacks absolutely rode the term of Next Man Up on Saturday, in the first round of the state 2A football playoffs.

St. Maries plugged in 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior defensive back Donovan Rotini as its fourth running back of the season. He responded with a gigantic game, rushing for 156 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns as the Lumberjacks beat New Plymouth 35-0.

Rotini’s 24-yard TD run in the second quarter gave the Lumberjacks (8-1) a 20-0 lead.

“We’ve had to try something new and obviously he had a big game,” St. Maries coach Craig Tefft said of Rotini. He’s a big, fast, physical kid, so we tried him. He passed the test.”

Bryant Asbury, the team’s kicker, battled some hip issues. Early this season, Dylan Edwards was lost to knee injury. Caleb Brown rolled an ankle last week at Orofino.

New Plymouth (4-5) was held to 85 yards in total offense against a stout Lumberjack defense.

Kiefer Gibson excelled at quarterback, going 8 for 13 with 250 yards and he passed for the first touchdown of the day, a 40-yard strike to Hayden Humphrey. Jake Sieler had another 135 yards on two receptions.

St. Maries will play Saturday in the quarterfinals at Aberdeen (9-0).

New Plymouth 0 0 0 0 — 0

St. Maries 14 6 15 0 — 35

First quarter

SM — Hayden Humphrey 40 pass from Kiefer Gibson (kick failed).

SM — Humphrey 5 run (Donovan Rotini run).

Second quarter

SM — Rotini 24 run (run failed).

Third quarter

SM — Rotini 45 run (Dakota Wilson run).

SM — Rotini 1 run (Bryant Asbury kick).

RUSHING — SM, Rotini 20-156.

PASSING — SM, Kiefer Gibson 8-13-0-250.

RECEIVING — SM, Jake Sieler 2-135. Nate Masterson, 2-46.