RATHDRUM -- The Badger football season began Friday night at Lakeland, kicking off the first tailgate of the season for Tom Sherry of KREM 2.

The Bonners Ferry High School cheerleaders along with Lakeland cheerleaders assisted Sherry with the pre-game weather segment. Both teams enjoyed teaching Sherry that there was 25-cent ice cream at Super 1.

Each team was awarded a check for $222 from KREM 2. According to a KREM 2 spokesperson, $222 represents the two stations, KREM 2 and their sister station CW22. The money was donated by local Toyota dealers. Franz Bakery also donated snacks for the tailgate, such as pies and cookies. After the tailgate event was over, the Lakeland cheerleaders welcomed BFHS cheerleaders to their stadium with pizza, water and cookies.

The BFHS Badger football looked sharp in their new uniforms. The Badgers won the coin toss and choice to receive. However, this year’s team has some work ahead according to second-year coach Cory Kramer.

“We’re young in our offensive and defensive line, and it showed tonight,” Kramer said. “We just don’t have the numbers and they do. We kind of ran out of gas. We had a few drives going and made a few mistakes. We’ve got a lot of missing guys, due to eligibility and grades, and it killed us tonight. We had a couple of good drives, but shot ourselves in the foot with fumbles and an interception in the red zone.”

Stats:

Bonners Ferry 0 0 0 0 -- 0 Lakeland 8 22 14 0 -- 44

RUSHING -- Minor 1 -1, N. Sabin 7 -1, C. Sabin 7-(12), Varelman 4-10, Wasmere 7-24.

PASSING -- C. Sabin 6-20-1-59, Stockton, 1-1-0-12.

RECEIVING -- Lavila 2-25, Stockton 2-8, N. Sabin 1-8, Harrington 1-12, Abel 1-18.

Badgers returned 14 starters from last year’s team, which advanced to the 3A playoffs. Badgers take on Lakeside Friday, Sept. 2 with kickoff at 7 p.m., Kenny Mendenhall Stadium.