Sandpoint 3, Skyline 2

NAMPA — Sophomore Pax Longanecker and freshman Wesley Drube netted first-half goals, senior Huxley Hall scored the game-winner in the second half, and the No. 3 Bulldogs used a balanced effort to down the No. 6 Grizzlies (10-8-3) in a first round 5A State Championship matchup held Thursday at Columbia High.

Skyline put a scare into Sandpoint early when they found the back of the net just three minutes in after a series of sharp, short passes up the field. However, the Bulldogs settled down as Longanecker found nylon during the 12th minute when he headed in a goal off a dish from junior Knox Williams. 

The bang-bang play gave Sandpoint momentum and during the 27th minute, Drube, after sophomore exchange student Alvaro Santos' one-on-one shot with the goalkeeper got deflected, outhustled a Grizzlies defender and sunk a close-range shot just inside the left post for the 2-1 advantage.

A hand ball in the box by the Bulldogs during the 39th minute gave Skyline a chance to tie it up, and they did. Junior goalkeeper Landon Brinkmeier made an impressive, diving save on the initial shot, but the Grizzlies were able to tap it in off the rebound to tie the game 2-2 before intermission.

In the second half, who else but senior Huxley Hall got in on the action during the 63rd minute when he headed in a corner kick from senior Logan McGrann to push the Bulldogs in front by a score of 3-2, which held thanks to a stout Sandpoint defense that played lights out down the stretch.

Sandpoint High head coach Dan Anderson said today's result comes down to his squad sticking to their principles when it mattered most.

"Very happy with the boys' ability to show grit today despite going down a goal early and facing adversity throughout the match," Anderson noted. "I thought we were very much the better team today. We trusted each other, worked the ball well and bounced back several times when things didn't go our way. We just have a great group of guys who battle for each other and are proud to play for this school. We'll enjoy the win, but will have our eyes on the next matchup as we continue to give it our all."

Brinkmeier had six saves in total for No. 3 Sandpoint (14-3-2), which has now won five straight matches and faces No. 2 Wood River (16-1-2) in the state semifinals on Friday at 2 p.m. (PST). The Wolverines defeated No. 7 Nampa (10-8-1) by a score 5-0 in their opener. The Bulldogs will be looking to avenge a 3-1 loss to Wood River in the 2023 4A (now 5A) State Championship match.

The winner will face off against the winner of No. 1 Vallivue (17-1) and No. 4 Twin Falls (13-6-1) in the state championship game on Saturday while the losers will head to a third-place match.

1st half — 1, SKY, Dennys Mendez (Santino Antrim), 3'. 2, SPT, Pax Longanecker (Knox Williams), 12'. 3, SPT, Wesley Drube (unassisted), 27'. 4, SKY, Santino Antrim (penalty kick), 39'. 2nd half — 5, Huxley Hall (Logan McGrann), 63'.

Shots on goal: Sandpoint — 12. Skyline — 8.

Saves: Sandpoint — Landon Brinkmeier 6. Skyline — Francisco Ramos 9.