KELLOGG — Despite a standout game from junior Jordan Nortz, Kellogg handed Priest River football a 45-14 loss last Friday night.

Nortz helped the Spartans get off to a fast start by returning the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. For the first time this year, Priest River led at the end of the first quarter, 7-6.

But in the second quarter, the Wildcats' offense exploded for four touchdowns to allow Kellogg to take a 32-7 halftime lead.

Nortz returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to help the Spartans avoid being shut out in the second half.

Head coach Jared Hughes said his team seems to have one bad quarter each game that ends up costing them and against Kellogg, it was the second quarter.

"Kellogg has a good quarterback and a couple of big tall athletic receivers," he wrote in an email. "They took advantage of their size with six of their seven touchdowns being long pass plays. We had some blown coverages, but they also made some incredible catches."

Priest River had 95 rushing yards in the game and 44 yards through the air.

On defense, Kameron Salesky, Deegan Goins, Coby Rogers, Matyus McLain and Kaden Fulton all recorded a sack. Salesky led the team with nine total tackles while Nortz had eight and Rogers added seven.

The Spartans had four turnovers. In its first game of the season, Priest River lost at home to Kellogg 44-0.

"Our kids continue to play hard," Hughes wrote, "but our youth and inexperience show up with the mental mistakes ... We have a lot to fix before Friday if we want to compete with Timberlake."

Priest River (0-6, 0-2 IML) hosts Timberlake at 7 p.m. Friday for its regular season finale.