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ALL-LEAGUE FOOTBALL: Kuprienko named MVP; 12 Spartans garner CIL honors

MAX OSWALD | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 weeks, 1 day AGO
by MAX OSWALD
I grew up in the small town of Orwigsburg, Pa., where I resided all of my life before moving to Sandpoint. I attended Blue Mountain High School, where I participated in cross country and track and field, a sport that I ended up falling in love with. I went on to attend and run for DeSales University (with other brief stints at Susquehanna University and Elizabethtown College) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport communication with a minor in sport management. I remember just how great it made me feel when I was mentioned in my hometown newspaper. I want to be able to give that feeling to every athlete in Bonner County, no matter how big or small their accomplishments are. As an athlete myself, I know how many hours of work are put in on a daily basis, and that hard work deserves to be recognized. It is my goal to cover as much of the Bulldogs, Spartans and Wampus Cats as I can. I want to work with every athlete, parent, coach, administrator and the community to ensure the best stories are published. | November 18, 2025 2:00 PM

ALL-LEAGUE: Colton Kuprienko

A junior running back and strong safety, Colton, receiving honors for the second straight year, overcame a mid-season injury to claim 3A Central Idaho League MVP honors... tallied 1,159 total yards — a team-high 944 rushing (6.9 per carry) and 215 receiving (23.9 per catch) — across eight games played... scored a tied for team-high 12 total touchdowns — 10 rushing and two receiving — and converted 20 two-point conversions... had a season-high and school record 265 rushing yards and a season-high three touchdowns against Orofino on Oct. 10... reached 200-plus rushing yards in two contests and 100-plus rushing yards in five games... had a season-high 93 receiving yards against Salmon on Aug. 23... on defense, posted 24 total tackles, two of which were for losses, recovered a fumble, and hauled in an interception... had a season-high six tackles and both tackles for losses against Salmon on Aug. 23... now has 1,667 total yards on career, 1,305 of which are rushing, and 17 total touchdowns.

ALL-LEAGUE: Brady Hatten

A senior offensive and defensive tackle, Brady, receiving honors for the second straight year, used his 6-foot-4-inch, 280-pound frame to his advantage and grabbed Defensive Player of Year honors... produced 50 total tackles (5.0 tackles per game), 14 of which were for losses, including a team-high 5.5 sacks for a combined 24 yards in losses, recorded six quarterback hurries, defended three passes and caused a fumble across 10 games played... had a season-high seven tackles against Aberdeen on Nov. 8... a season-high three tackles for losses against Kellogg on Oct. 24... a tied for season-high two sacks against Grangeville on Sept. 5 and against Kellogg on Oct. 24... recorded a tackle for loss in eight different contests... on offense, paved the way for 3,380 total yards (338 per game) — 1,960 rushing and 1,420 receiving — and 41 total touchdowns... had a team-high 23 pancake blocks, four each in games against Bonners Ferry on Aug. 29, against Kettle Falls on Sept. 19 and against Orofino on Oct. 10... finished career with 105 total tackles, 23 of which were for losses, including seven sacks, and caused two fumbles (one recovered).

ALL-LEAGUE: Niki Porinchok

A senior tight end and defensive end, Niki, receiving honors for the second time in the last three years, captured the Lineman of the Year award... posted 45 total tackles (4.5 per game), a team-high 14.5 of which were for losses, including five sacks for a combined 23 yards in losses, recorded seven quarterback hurries and returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown... had a season-high nine tackles against Kellogg on Oct. 24... a tied for season-high three tackles for losses against Kellogg on Oct. 24 and against Bonners Ferry on Aug. 29... a season-high two sacks against Salmon on Aug. 23... was involved in a tackle for loss in nine of 10 contests played... on offense, had a receiving touchdown against Salmon on Aug. 23... finished defensive career with 110 total tackles, 23.5 of which were for losses, nine total sacks, three pass breakups, an interception and caused two fumbles (one recovered).

ALL-LEAGUE: Braden Leach

A senior wide receiver and cornerback, Braden is receiving honors for the first time this season... caught 24 passes for 356 yards (14.8 per catch) and scored three touchdowns across 10 games played... had a season-high 115 receiving yards against Salmon on Aug. 23... had 71 receiving yards and two touchdowns against Kettle Falls on Sept. 19... on defense, recorded 41 tackles (4.1 per game), one of which was for a loss, a team-high nine pass breakups, a team-high three interceptions and one fumble recovery... had a season-high 13 tackles against Aberdeen on Nov. 8... had a season-high three pass breakups against Kellogg on Oct. 24... had two interceptions against St. Maries on Oct. 17.

ALL-LEAGUE: Lucas Mathews

A senior quarterback and four-year varsity starter, Lucas is receiving honors for the first time this season after a record-setting year... completed 98 of his 180 pass attempts for 1,313 yards (145.9 per game) and became just the third Spartan in school history to surpass 1,000 yards passing in a season... broke the school record for most touchdown passes in a career with 28… had 18 passing touchdowns this season across 10 games, including a single-game school record seven against Salmon on Aug. 23 — a game in which he also had a season-high 19 completions for a season-high 294 passing yards... passed for over 200 yards in two contests and 100 yards in five games... threw for two or more touchdowns in five matchups... across last three seasons has compiled 2,308 total yards, 2,173 yards of which were on 159-for-300 passing... finished career with 2,646 passing yards and 224 completions. 

ALL-LEAGUE: Nate Fegert

A junior running back and middle linebacker, Nate is receiving honors for the second straight year... registered 746 rushing yards (6.2 per carry) and nine touchdowns across 10 games played... had a season-high 212 rushing yards and a season-high four touchdowns against Orofino on Oct. 10... had 132 rushing yards against Kettle Falls on Sept. 19... caught five passes for 21 yards on season and had two rushing touchdowns against Grangeville on Sept. 5... on defense, posted 61 total tackles, eight of which were for losses, recorded two pass breakups, caused a fumble and hauled in an interception... had a tied for season-high eight tackles in games against Bonners Ferry on Aug. 29, against Grangeville on Sept. 5 and against Aberdeen on Nov. 8... had a season-high three tackles for losses against Grangeville on Sept. 5... on career, now has 1,409 yards rushing and 16 offensive touchdowns on offense... on defense, has 130 total tackles, 17 of which were for losses, and four fumble recoveries (two caused), one of which was for a touchdown.

ALL-LEAGUE: Layton Goins

A sophomore running back, wide receiver and middle linebacker, Layton is receiving honors for the second straight year... posted a team-high 83 tackles (8.3 per game), 3.5 of which were for losses, three quarterback hurries and caused a fumble across 10 games played... had a season-high 16 tackles and a season-high two tackles for losses against Aberdeen on Nov. 8... had 13 tackles against Kettle Falls on Sept. 19... on special teams, returned six kickoffs for 108 yards... on offense, had 839 total yards — a team-high 637 receiving (13.3 per catch) and 202 rushing (4.5 per carry) — and scored a tied for team-high 12 total touchdowns, 10 of which were receiving... had a season-high 77 rushing yards against Salmon on Aug. 23... eclipsed the century mark twice and had a season-high 128 receiving yards against Aberdeen on Nov. 8... had a season-high three receiving touchdowns, four in total, against Salmon on Aug. 23... had two or more touchdowns in four contests... on career, now has 928 total yards, 706 of which are receiving, and a conference-leading 157 total tackles.

ALL-LEAGUE: Linden Rainwater

A senior offensive guard and defensive end, Linden is receiving honors for the first time this season... on offense, paved the way for 3,380 total yards (338 per game) — 1,960 rushing and 1,420 receiving — and 41 total touchdowns... had 10 pancake blocks, a tied for season-high three that came in games against Salmon on Aug. 23 and against Kettle Falls on Sept. 19... on defense had 18 total tackles and 1.5 sacks across 10 games played... had a season-high seven tackles and a sack against Salmon on Aug. 23... on special teams, split time at punter and booted six kicks for 200 yards (33.3 yards per kick)... finished career with 39 total tackles.

ALL-LEAGUE: Colton Braden

A senior center, Colton commanded the offense and is receiving Second Team honors for the second straight year... paved the way for 3,380 total yards (338 per game) — 1,960 rushing and 1,420 receiving — and 41 total touchdowns... across 10 games played, had four pancake blocks, a season-high two against Salmon on Aug. 23.

ALL-LEAGUE: Tanner Hughes

A senior offensive tackle, Tanner is receiving Second Team honors for the first time this season... paved the way for 3,380 total yards (338 per game) — 1,960 rushing and 1,420 receiving — and 41 total touchdowns... across 10 games played, had four pancake blocks, one in four different contests.

ALL-LEAGUE: Kane Berns

A junior safety and wide receiver, Kane is receiving Second Team honors for the first time this season... on defense, produced 44 total tackles and four pass breakups across nine games played... had a season-high eight tackles against Aberdeen on Nov. 8... had one pass breakup in four games... caused a fumble against Kellogg on Oct. 24... on offense, had 10 catches for 102 yards (10.2 per catch) and had an eight-yard receiving touchdown against Salmon on Aug. 23.

ALL-LEAGUE: Haiden Leach

A junior running back and strong safety, Haiden is receiving Second Team honors for the first time this season... on defense, had 58 total tackles, one for a loss, across 10 games played... had a season-high 10 tackles against Kettle Falls on Sept. 19... blocked a punt against Bonners Ferry on Aug. 29... on special teams, returned 10 kickoffs for 180 yards... on offense, scored an 8-yard rushing touchdown against Orofino on Oct. 10.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Alex Zepeda

In his third year as head coach, Zepeda, also serving as Athletic Director of the school district, led his Spartans to a 5-5 season in which they hosted a home playoff game for the first time in school history and captured their first league title since 1957.

    Brady Hatten
    Niki Porinchok
    Braden Leach
    Lucas Mathews
    Nate Fegert
    Layton Goins
    Linden Rainwater
    Colton Braden
    Tanner Hughes
    Kane Berns
    Haiden Leach
    Alex Zepeda

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