The Bonners Ferry Badgers came out ready to play in Friday’s nonconference matchup with visiting St. Maries, scoring on their first drive when freshman quarterback, Teigan Banning, made an acrobatic jumping pass and connected with junior Evan Barajas for a 38 yard touchdown. Sophomore kicker Sky Reinhardt’s kick after touchdown was successful and Badgers led the Jacks 7-0 two minutes into the first quarter.

The Lumberjacks quickly responded with a touchdown of their own, but after a missed extra point the Badgers led 7-6.

Bonners Ferry added to that lead on the next drive when Banning connected with sophomore receiver Conner Callahan on a quick slant and Callahan outran the defenders for a 51-yard touchdown reception. Reinhardt’s extra point kick was good and the Badgers led 14-6 at the end of the first quarter.

St. Maries’ junior quarterback, Eli Gibson, marched his team down the field and he punched in a 5 yard touchdown run just before the half. Gibson also ran a quarterback keeper into the end zone for the two-point conversion, making the score 14 all at halftime.

The Badgers looked like they were going to start the second half just as well as they had played in the first. On a third and 9, Banning completed a pass to Barajas for a 20-yard gain, which set the Badgers up for a first and goal from the St. Maries 9 yard line. On the next play Badger running back Ty Bateman ran into the end zone on a sweep to the left. A holding penalty brought the Badgers back to a first and goal from the 25 yard line. Two plays later the Lumberjack defense intercepted the ball at their own 1 yard line. With the Badgers thinking safety, they blitzed and held the Jacks to a minimal gain. On second down Gibson broke free and was run down 70 yards later by Ty Bateman.

“That is where the momentum shifted. We had first and goal and scored, but it was called back, and then a couple plays later we are 80 yards down field the other way. We didn’t really recover from that,” Badgers coach Travis Hinthorn said. ”At Moscow we had 2 penalties and we have only had a couple turnovers all year. Against St. Maries we had at least 6 penalties and 6 turnovers. We didn’t help ourselves much in the second half.

“It’s not from lack of effort. The kids are playing hard. We just need to work on some technique and hold on to the ball.”

The Badgers host the Timberlake Tigers at Homecoming this Friday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. and have another home game next week as they host the Wildcats of Kellogg.

St. Maries 6 8 6 13 — 33

BFHS 14 0 0 0 — 14

BF — Barajas 38 pass from Banning (Reinhardt kick)

SM — Nelson 6 pass from Gibson (kick failed)

BF — Callahan 51 pass from Banning (Reinhardt kick)

SM — Gibson 5 run (Gibson run)

SM — Gibson 4 run (kick failed)

SM — Gibson 6 run (pass failed)

SM — Anderson 3 run (Cole Glazer kick)