SPOKANE - The bounces finally started going the Lake City Timberwolves' way on Thursday night at Albi Stadium.

Whether it was a botched punt snap setting up the opening touchdown, or a fumble that was kicked 15 yards upfield to stop a deep scoring drive, they had all the right answers.

Quarterback Collin Hunter ran for 88 yards and a touchdown before leaving with a right ankle injury as the Timberwolves beat the Shadle Park Highlanders 27-7 in a nonleague game for their first victory of the season.

"Nice to have them regroup and play hard," Lake City coach Van Troxel said. "We had a few things go our way early in the game. Defense played hard last week (against Central Valley at home) and it carried over into this week.

We're not getting any deeper at this point, but we're getting better."

Lake City (1-3) beat Shadle Park 57-21 in Coeur d'Alene last year.

"Offensively, it was nice to close out that last drive," Troxel said. "Nice to put some points on the board and it changed the mentality of what was going on. It was two teams that desperately needed a win, and it was nice to be on the right end of it."

Backup quarterback Matt Duchow hit Jason Pierard on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 2:06 remaining to put the game away for Lake City, which hosts Tumwater (Wash.) High next Friday.

"I'm proud of our guys," Troxel said. "They're working hard and getting better. Hate seeing No. 10 (Hunter) on crutches right now - and some other guys too - but you've got to do what you've got to do and Collin played really well."

Lake City lost two-way standout Scott Helsper to a torn ACL last week, but had Dakota Kielblock and Cameron Chun step in to carry for a combined 78 yards and two touchdowns.

"We rotated some guys in after Scott got hurt last week and both Dakota and Cameron stepped in and played really well," Troxel said. "Just pleased that they haven't given up."

Defensively, Lake City forced three turnovers in the game.

"They're really rallying around each other," Troxel said. "John Stith is going a great job in the middle just flying to the ball and our other guys. They're just finding a way. Nice thing, is we found a way to get through this week and get on to next week."

Xavier Wicks carried the ball 30 times for 118 yards for Shadle Park (1-2), which only completed four passes in the game.

Lake City 7 7 7 6 - 27

Shadle Park 0 0 7 0 - 7

First quarter

LC - Dakota Kielblock 3 run (Kobe Murphree kick), 9:09.

Second quarter

LC - Cameron Chun 2 run (Murphree kick), 8:33.

Third quarter

LC - Hunter 13 run (Murphree kick), 6:47.

SP - Dane Rypien 8 pass from T.J. Trout (Mac Booey kick), 4:08.

Fourth quarter

LC - Jason Pierard 15 pass from Matt Duchow (kick failed), 2:06.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - LC, Kielblock 13-38, Hunter 15-88, Chun 10-40, McMaster 2-( minus 4). SP, Wicks 30-118, Trout 9-23, Babcock 2-12, Robinson 3-3.

PASSING - LC, Hunter, 6-13-1-53, Duchow, 3-6-0-23. SP, Trout, 4-18-1-41.

RECEIVING - LC, McMaster 2-5, Duchow 1-13, Pierard 2-33, Davis 2-14, Stapleton 1-4, Kielblock 1-14. SP, Babock 2-14, Cauvel 1-28, Rypien 1-8.