SPOKANE — It really was a big deal for the Lakeland Hawks to be playing their first football game at venerable Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane, which opened 66 years to the day on Thursday.

And once Lakeland was able to put that pregame excitement behind them and get down to the actual business of playing football, the Hawks went on to dominate the Rogers Pirates of the Greater Spokane League 28-0 on an 80-degree late afternoon.

“It’s so special, coming out here,” said Lakeland junior running back Wyatt Gatten, who rushed for 98 yards and scored the Hawks’ first touchdown on an 11-yard run five minutes into the game. “Coach was saying, ‘Don’t let it (the surroundings) intimidate you. It’s a wonderful place; play wonderful.”

Lakeland (2-2) also got a fumble recovery in the end zone by defensive lineman Jordan Plonka, a punt blocked by Owen Dickens that led to a 50-yard return for a touchdown by Andrew Neilson, and a 5-yard run by Dylan Vahey.

“I didn’t really realize how excited they were, until I got to talking to them today,” Lakeland coach Tim Kiefer said. “I didn’t realize it was as big a deal as it was. I think they were a little out of sorts because of it.”

Lakeland had another touchdown run called back by a holding penalty, and threw an interception at the Rogers 1 just before the half.

However, on the next play, the Pirates (0-3) fumbled the handoff on a running play up the middle, and Plonka, a senior, pounced on the ball in the end zone for a 14-0 halftime lead.

The first drive of the third quarter ended on Dickens’ blocked punt and Neilson’s score. Vahey, out of the pistol formation, kept the ball 5 yards around left end for a TD on the first play of the fourth quarter, capping a 72-yard, 15-play drive that started with an 11-yard loss when the snap from center sailed over his head.

“It was a great game for us, defensively and special teams-wise,” Kiefer said.

After starting quarterback Ryan Pote went down with a shoulder injury a few plays into the Hawks’ second game of the season at Colville, Lakeland went to a two-quarterback system with Vahey and Logan Siegford, both juniors.

Either way, Lakeland kept the ball mostly on the ground, rushing 44 times for 209 yards, mostly out of a double-wing formation. The Hawks attempted only five passes, completing one for 5 yards.

Kiefer said Pote should be back this season, perhaps as early as next week.

With Jared McDaniel of Lakeland making play after play on defense, Rogers managed just three first downs in the first half — all on the same drive. The Pirates had 4 rushing yards in the first half, and finished with 19. Rogers totaled 176 yards, but 92 of those came on a fourth-quarter drive with the outcome well in hand.

“I think tonight was a huge step forward for us,” said Kiefer, whose team was coming off a pair of one-point losses in their last two games. “It wasn’t always pretty for us, but they battled and found a way to win.”

Lakeland plays host to Post Falls next Friday for homecoming.

Lakeland 6 8 6 8 — 28

Rogers 0 0 0 0 — 0

First quarter

LL — Wyatt Gatten 11 run (pass failed), 6:56

Second quarter

LL — Jordan Plonka fumble recovery in end zone (Gatten run), :27

Third quarter

LL — Andrew Neilson 50 blocked punt return (run failed), 7:44

Fourth quarter

LL — Dylan Vahey 5 run (Dylan Norman run), 11:55

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — LL, Gatten 16-98, Norman 5-33, Neilson 9-43, Suko 1-8, Pickens 1-3, Vahey 5-9, Stubbs 1-6, McDaniel 3-11, Siegford 3-(minus 2). Rog, McKay 12-28, T. Phillips 1-2, Z. Phillips 8 (minus 14), Shelt. Teasley 2-2, Deleon 1-1.

PASSING — LL, Siegford 0-3-1-0, Vahey 1-2-0-5. Rog, Z. Phillips 23-32-0-153.

RECEIVING — LL, Neilson 1-5. Rog, Carsten-Hill 4-41, McKay 7-5, Scott 2-26, Nzohabenimana 1-6, Holm 2-21, Perry 5-36, Shelm. Teasley 1-4, Shelt. Teasley 2-18.