Clark Fork 44, Lakeside 26

CLARK FORK — Clark Fork is back in the win column.

The host Wampus Cats carried the ball 21 times for 350 yards and four touchdowns as they outscored the Knights 30-12 in the second half for an 18-point North Star League victory on Saturday night.

Junior quarterback Mateo Cruz rushed seven times for 116 yards and took it to house twice, also completing a 20-yard touchdown pass on the night. On defense, he tallied six tackles and forced a fumble.

Peyton Chapman was on the receiving end of that 20-yard touchdown pass. The junior dual-threat added 78 rushing yards on just two attempts and had a 65-yard pick six on defense that gave the Wampus Cats a needed momentum boost.

Sophomore Jason Mayorga was also stellar in his varsity debut. The 6-foot, 2-inch 200-pound bruiser rushed seven times for 104 yards and two touchdowns. On the defensive end, he recorded a team-high eight tackles and a fumble recovery.

Also making their varsity debut was senior Westin Caven, who carried the pigskin four times for 52 yards. 

Junior Tom Butler led the charge on the defensive end, sacking the opposing quarterback twice. Junior Cameron Stewart also recorded a sack in the winning effort.

"Pretty much all preseason, our mindset was to go out and shock some people — people didn't realize how good we were going to be," Clark Fork High head coach Patrick Young said. "We came out last night and that's exactly what we did. We may have even surprised ourselves; we showed a lot of physicality and a lot of heart."

Young said, like all teams, they were some question marks heading into the year, but a lot of those questions got answered pretty quickly.

"A lot of emotions and a lot of learning last night — I couldn't be more proud," coach Young said. "We played the brand of football we wanted to play. With a team as big as Lakeside, we had to match their physicality, and we did."

Clark Fork (1-0) will travel to face Coeur du Christ at the Marimn Health Coeur Center in Worley on Friday for another North Star League matchup.