Bonners Ferry 52, St. Maries 24

ST. MARIES — Bonners Ferry didn't just dominate on offense, they won this game in the trenches.

Junior Cooper Higgins came away with two interceptions, senior Daric Vincent had a team-high nine tackles, including two sacks and a caused fumble as the Badgers used a 21-0 first quarter to down the Lumberjacks by a 28-point margin in a non-league contest Friday night at St. Maries High.

Junior two-way player Jake Solt made a return to the lineup and added a 71-yard pick six in the second quarter for Bonners Ferry's defense.

"Jake made the play, but the defensive ends played a big part in it," Bonners Ferry High head coach Danny Swift said. "Daric Vincent and Austin McLaughlin got to the quarterback, hitting him in motion. Jake showed what he was capable of there taking it the other way."

Keenan Maas led the charge offensively with 168 of the Badgers' 335 rushing yards. The 5-foot 10-inch senior carried the pigskin 21 times, found the endzone twice on the ground on runs of 27 and six yards and hauled in his first receiving touchdown of the year off a 12-yard pass from junior quarterback Alex Stolley, who completed 9 of his 16 passes for 85 yards on the night.

Also playing a big role on offense and special teams was senior Conrad Hiatt, who scored one touchdown across his seven carries and 96 rushing yards and returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown.

"He's just a grinder," coach Swift said of Hiatt, who has now returned kickoffs for touchdowns in back-to-back weeks. "He has a special knack to block the pain out and do whatever is asked of him. He's electric, fearless."

Junior Easton Scarborough chipped in four carries for 45 yards and scored the first rushing touchdown of his varsity career for Bonners Ferry, which led 49-18 after three quarters. Junior Aaron Tadlock capped off the scoring in the fourth with a 29-yard field goal.

"7-for-7 on extra points, that can mean a lot in tight games," coach Swift said of Tadlock's kicking efforts. "Really proud of the way he played. His kickoffs were solid as well."

Coach Swift said the effort from his team was top notch and that they executed the gameplan to a tee.

"We made some adjustments; they had some explosive plays — those Barta boys are talented and have a special connection," coach Swift said of the Lumberjack standouts. "Really proud of the way our guys played against them."

Bonners Ferry (2-1) will travel to Northwest Christian of Colbert, which defeated Columbia High (Wash.) 14-6 in their opener, on Friday for a non-league game.

Bonners Ferry 21 7 21 3 — 52

St. Maries 0 12 6 6 — 24

1st quarter

BF — Keenan Maas 6 run (Tadlock kick)

BF — Keenan Mass 27 run (Tadlock kick)

BF — Conrad Hiatt 4 run  (Tadlock kick)

2nd quarter

BF — Jake Solt 71-yard interception return (Tadlock kick)

SM — Brock Barta 2 pass from Jack Barta (two-point no good) 

SM — Brock Barta 5 pass from Jack Barta (two-point no good) 

3rd quarter

BF — Conrad Hiatt 75-yard kickoff return (Tadlock kick)

BF — Maas 12 pass from Alex Stolley (Tadlock kick)

BF — Easton Scarborough 25 run (Tadlock kick)

SM — Jack Barta 13 run (kick no good) 

4th quarter

BF — Aaron Tadlock 29-yard FG

SM — Jack Barta 5 run (two-point no good) 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

BF — Maas 21-168, Hiatt 7-96, Scarborough 4-45, Petras 3-18, Dickson 1-8, Stolley 1-0. SM — J. Barta 10-66, Yearout 13-59. 

PASSING

BF — Stolley 9-16-1-85. SM — J. Barta 17-34-3-226. 

RECEIVING 

BF — Hiatt 4-30, Allred 2-22, Abubakari 1-14, Maas 1-12, Higgins 1-7. SM — B. Barta 10-98, Gustaffe 3-67, Delong 2-22.