SANDPOINT — A monster night from junior running back Dillan Mitton, who gained more than 300 yards from scrimmage, and a strong performance from sophomore back-up quarterback Jaxon Pettit helped a sharp Sandpoint squad score a 35-21 win over Lakeland on Friday night in 4A Inland Empire League football at Barlow Stadium.

The Bulldogs (2-6, 1-0 4A IEL) cut their teeth on a tough nonleague schedule, and the seasoning served them well when league play brought new life and a chance for a spot in the playoffs.

Mitton had a breakout game, rushing 27 times for 192 yards, and catching five passes for 152 yards, while finding the end zone three times. Pettit, forced into action when starter Robbie Johnson injured his leg at the end of the first half, played nothing like a backup guiding head coach George Yarno’s pistol offense.

Yarno praised the physical tone set by Mitton, who seemed to be everywhere and finished his runs with authority.

“That kid’s a punishing runner. Very rarely, if ever, does the first guy tackle him,” said Yarno, also lauding the play of Pettit in relief. “He’s about as calm and collected as any kid I’ve ever seen at quarterback. He’s got a bright future.”

Garrett Chandler kicked the first of his two field goals to stake the Bulldogs to an early 3-0 lead, which didn’t last long after the Hawks (3-5, 1-1 4A IEL) rolled the dice on 4th and four and converted when Logan Siegford found a wide open Jake Pope down the sideline for a 34 yard score. Josh Brandt scored a two-point conversion for an 8-3 lead.

Johnson had the Bulldog offense clicking, playing with a quicker tempo and capping an early second quarter drive with an eight yard strike to Julian Barajas for a 10-8 lead.

Lakeland would gamble again in the second quarter on a fake punt, with the cat-quick Brandt scampering for 30 yards, setting up a fourth and goal plunge from the one yard line by Wyatt Gatten gave the Hawks a 14-10 lead. Johnson left the game shortly after, and it looked like the Hawks had some momentum.

The biggest play defensively for the Bulldogs came at the end of the second quarter, when Dustin Norris intercepted a pass as Lakeland was driving, setting up a 56 yard catch on a wheel route out of the backfield by Mitton, giving the Bulldogs a 17-14 lead heading into half and plenty of momentum.

“Our number one goal was to send these seniors out right,” said Yarno. “Offensively we executed. These kids just came out and played their heart out.”

Mitton, who gashed the Hawks with screen passes all game, helped move the ball down the field before his 16 yard run bumped the lead to 24-14. T.J. Davis had his second touchdown catch called back for penalties, and the Hawks forced a punt to keep things close.

Gatten made the play of the game defensively for the Hawks when he intercepted a pass after Pettit faked a quarterback draw at the goal line, then tried a jump pass to the back of the end zone, which Gatten snagged and returned out to the 28 yard line. The momentum was short lived, as the Hawks’ quarterback fumbled the ball on the very next play after the ball fell out of his hand attempting to pass.

Sandpoint capitalized with a field goal, and on their next drive a 72 yard run by Mitton set up a 29 yard screen pass for a score, Pettit’s second touchdown pass of the game and a 35-14 lead.

Trey McAurthur, who was strong on both sides of the ball, hauled in a 41 yard touchdown for the game’s final score late, but the Hawks could not recover the onside kick.

Sandpoint is at Moscow next Friday to close out the regular season, where a win will secure them home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

“I couldn’t be more proud,” said a happy Yarno after the win. “There’s a lot we can do. We’ll keep rolling.”

Lakeland 8 6 0 7 — 21

Sandpoint 10 7 7 11 — 35

Spt — Garrett Chandler 34 field goal

LL — Jake Pope 34 catch from Logan Siegford (Josh Brandt run)

Spt — Julian Barajas 8 catch from Robbie Johnson (Chander kick)

LL — Wyatt Gatten 1 run (run failed)

Spt — Dillan Mitton 56 catch from Jaxon Pettit (Chander kick)

Spt — Mitton 14 run (Chandler kick)

Spt — Chandler 36 field goal

Spt — Mitton 29 catch from Pettit (Thomas Riley run)

LL — Trey McAurthur 41 catch from Siegford (kick good)