BONNERS FERRY — When two receivers were lost early in the game, the Badger football changed tactics to beat the Lincoln County Lions 14-0 in the Battle of the Border.

It was a tough game with two receivers out early in the game due to injuries and the game scoreless at half.

Walker Henslee’s knee swelled during warm-ups and Teigan Banning had a shoulder issue after making a catch in the first half. Both are the two starting inside receivers.

Head coach Travis Hinthorn said the game had two very different halves. He said it was hard losing two inside possession receivers so early in the game. To compensate, the Badgers switched to an “I” formation and powered through. The strategy worked.

Hinthorn said in the first half Badgers tried to be a “finesse team,” but Lincoln County pushed the Badgers around.

“They own the line of scrimmage,” he said. “Second half, we changed and went old school. We went 'I' and just ran right at them.”

He said the change in formation caused a switch in the team’s mindset and by the first possession of the second half, the Badgers were running over the Lions. In the first minute of the third quarter, Cleo Henslee ran the ball in for a touchdown, making it 6-0 in the Badger’s favor. Blake Rice’s extra point attempt was good and the Badgers led 7-0.

The score gave the Badgers their confidence back, Hinthorn said.

“We had an identity change in that possession,” he said, adding that when the Badgers got their confidence back, they began running the ball well — something they hadn’t done in the first half.

After the touchdown, the Lions shifted to offense. Right away, Charles Henslee intercepted the ball for the Badgers. His helmet came off, but that didn’t stop him from running up field trying to gain extra yards. A flag was thrown, making it the Badgers ball, but the yards gained by Henslee were not accepted.

In the third quarter, the Badgers again intercepted the ball — this time it was Blake Rice.

With 2:22 left in the game, Joshua Pinkerton carried the ball into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown, the Badgers scored the extra point making it 14-0, giving the Badgers the win.

In rushing, Blake Rice had 14 carries and 54 yards. Cleo Henslee had 13 carries, gained 108 yards and a six-yard touchdown. Josh Pinkerton scored a four-yard touchdown.

Charles Henslee was the leading tackler for the Badgers with six solo tackles and 10 total tackles. Blake Rice, Charles Henslee and Henry Willis gained an intersection each.

Travis Petersen forced a fumble and Cleo Henslee had a fumble recovery. Dillon Mai blocked a punt.

The Badgers play at Grangeville on Friday.

On reflecting on playing at Orofino last year, Hinthorn said Badger football needed to learn how to be ready to play after traveling. Last year, against the Mananics, the Badgers were flat to start, he said.

“(We) Just need to be ready. It’s a long way to go to not be ready,” he said.

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