PREP FOOTBALL: Lakeland runs over Lake City

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

COEUR d’ALENE — Lakeland focusing on the ground game ... 

Where have we heard that before? 

Actually, the visiting Hawks were trying to do that the whole night against the Lake City Timberwolves. 

But it wasn’t until the second half when Lakeland got serious about it, and put together back-to-back scoring drives to put away the Timberwolves 17-7 in nonleague play Friday night at Lake City’s newly named Van Troxel Field. 

“We challenged the O-line the whole game, but we had to re-challenge them at halftime,” third-year Lakeland coach Mike Schroeder said. “The second quarter I think we lost our way a little bit up front. There were a few nice words in the locker room at halftime ... but it seemed like it worked.” 

Haydon Benson’s 1-yard sneak with 1:52 left in the third quarter put Lakeland (2-0) up 10-7. Lovie Weil, who ran for 95 yards, clinched the game for the Hawks with a 4-yard run with 5:41 remaining. 

Lake City’s Braden Meredith returned an interception 25 yards to the Lakeland 40 late in the first quarter, and the T-Wolves got on the board when Levi Wullenwaber took a screen pass from Avrey Cherry 25 yards for a touchdown. 

Parker Sterling’s 28-yard field goal in the final minute of the first half pulled Lakeland within 7-3 at halftime. 

Midway through the third quarter, an incomplete swing pass by Lake City was ruled a lateral, and Lakeland jumped on the ball at the T-Wolf 35. Benson connected with Jace Taylor for 17 yards and Cash Lund for 11, then snuck it in from a yard out to give the Hawks the lead.  

After Lake City missed a field goal, Lakeland drove 80 yards on 12 plays, all on the ground. Weil ran it nine times, Benson three on keepers, with Weil taking it the final 4 yards. 

“We needed a couple breaks, and we got a couple,” Schroeder said.  

Lakeland finished with 199 total yards. Lake City, in its season opener, had 183.  

After Lake City scored on its second drive, the T-Wolves lost two fumbles (including the swing pass that was ruled a lateral), threw two interceptions, missed a field goal and turned the ball over on downs. 

“Nothing but respect for Lakeland; they outplayed us,” second-year Lake City coach Byron Hout said. 

At halftime, the football field at Lake City was dedicated to honor Van Troxel, who started the football program in 1994, and coached the Timberwolves for 22 seasons. 

Schroeder recalled when Van Troxel brought his Lake City team to a passing tournament in southern Idaho, when Schroeder was the coach at Emmett. Schroeder noted that Matt Troxel, Van’s son, coached Schroeder’s son, Austin, at Idaho State. 

“Van was a great man, and a good coach,” Schroeder said. 

Next Friday, Lakeland plays host to Weiser, and Lake City is home vs. Wenatchee.

Lakeland    0    3    7    7    —    17 

Lake City    7    0    0    0    —    7 

First quarter  

LC — Levi Wullenwaber 25 pass from Avrey Cherry (Jacob Bell kick), 2:21 

Second quarter 

LL — FG 28 Parker Sterling, :48.8 

Third quarter 

LL — Hayden Benson 1 run (Sterling kick), 1:52 

Fourth quarter 

LL — Lovie Weil 4 run (Sterling kick), 5:41 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

RUSHING — LL, Benson 18-35, Weil 22-95, Taylor 1-(minus 2), Hillman 1-5, Team 1-(minus 16). LC, Johnson 9-22, Tony 1-5, Cherry 7-13, Wullenwaber 2-10, Team 1-(minus 5). 

PASSING — LL, Benson 9-15-1-82. LC, Cherry 15-27-2-138. 

RECEIVING — LL, Davis 2-15, Lund 2-14, Taylor 2-25, Weil 1-7, Burmeister 1-19, Hobbs 1-2. LC, Tony 6-62, Wullenwaber 1-25, Hill 5-43, Johnson 2-6, Martindale 1-4.  

    MARK NELKE/Press Former Lake City football coach Van Troxel is presented with a helmet at halftime of Friday night's game against Lakeland, during the official dedication of Van Troxel Field, honoring the man who started the football program in 1994, and coached the Timberwolves for 22 seasons. At left is Lake City athletic director Troy Anderson and at right is Lake City principal Deanne Clifford.