SANDPOINT — With 29 ticks left on the clock, a back-and-forth showdown between Sandpoint High and Twin Falls High was about to come down to one play.

A late touchdown by the Bruins erased the Bulldogs’ eight-point lead, leaving the hometown team hanging by a two-point thread, 36-34, as Twin Falls lined up for a potential game-tying 2-point conversion. After a Sandpoint timeout, Twin Falls went with a quarterback draw with Andryk Reynolds. 

The result: stuffed by a pack of Bulldogs.  

Sandpoint senior safety and wide receiver Jack Schriber emerged from the chaos sprinting toward the sideline to celebrate the team’s game-winning stop that moved them to 1-0 on the year. Knowles said the Bulldogs have practiced that goal-line package for the last two weeks for plays like this. 

"Part of coaching defense is coaching the situations, like you give up this and you give up that, but the whole point is if you can stop a 2-point play when it matters, you can win a game,” Knowles said. “It looked like it fit up like we hoped it would; you gotta win some games like that sometimes.” 

While Sandpoint’s front-7 made the dramatic game-winning play, the Bulldogs’ offense was the true highlight of their season opener. More specifically, senior quarterback Logan Iverson, who was nearly unstoppable for the first three quarters. Iverson, making his first start for the Bulldogs, threw for over 300 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. 

A majority of those touchdowns were caught by senior wide receiver and linebacker Brock Yarbrough, who was once again everywhere he needed to be for Sandpoint. Yarbrough brought in three touchdowns, all impressive catches, and made five tackles, including one for a loss. 

"He’s a natural playmaker. He’ll go up and get a ball, he knows how to make a tackle. He made one screen tackle that if he hadn’t, that thing would still be running,” Knowles said. “That’s why he’s an All-State player, he anticipates well and makes plays. Where guys are a step behind, he’s a step in front of.” 

Senior running back Jensen Sheetz was a stalwart in the backfield, totaling 102 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Knowles said he was proud of how his offense took care of the ball and was pleased with Sheetz in his return to action. 

"I thought Sheetz looked like Sheetz always does, rumbling and stumbling against a good defense,” Knowles said.  

The Bulldogs' offense also saw massive contributions from wide receiver Knox Williams, who made two impressive high-point grabs, including a 21-yard touchdown, and Schriber, who added four grabs on the night. 

In addition to the offensive plays, Schriber was swarming from his safety position on defense. The two-way player racked up eight tackles and nabbed the first of two Sandpoint interceptions. Schriber’s pick set up a 29-yard field goal by Yarbrough, which extended the team’s lead to eight and was ultimately enough to seal the game. 

"He’s like Brock in the way that he’s smart and understands what’s going on,” Knowles said of Schriber. “We’re better with him out there because of his experience and ability.” 

Junior Chase Miller made a diving grab for Sandpoint’s second interception. He finished the day with two tackles on top of the pick after rotating in and out of the secondary. Tucker Overland and Damian Porter were also keys to the Bulldogs’ defense. Both made four tackles each, including a tackle for loss. 

Knowles’ son, Drew Knowles, also rotated in as a defensive lineman and made a few massive stops in the run game. 

"It was great,” Ryan Knowles said of his son’s play. “He’s all about football, always has been because he grew up on the sideline with dad. It was fun to see him out there.” 

The reigning 5A Great Basin Conference champion Bruins were led by returning All-League running back Jackson Sattelberg, who looked like he was going to be a force in the first half. Sattleberg’s highlight of the day came early with an 87-yard touchdown run that gave Twin Falls an early lead that they couldn’t hold onto. 

While the Bulldogs walked away with a non-conference win, Knowles said the game was a bit sloppy, and both teams will learn a lot from it. Knowles thanked the Twin Falls team, who have become a staple of the Bulldogs’ season openers, for coming out and giving them another thrilling game. 

"I’m happy to be out on top, and you want to have good games like this and get ready for when league rolls around,” Knowles said.  

Knowles also thanked his coaching, support staff and players for stepping up to support him following the loss of his wife, Megan Knowles. The Bulldogs head coach said everyone on the team had his back, and the on-field result speaks volumes about the program. 

"That’s what we want. We want a program here that can absorb some strain. Obviously, this is over-the-top strain, but the staff and the players, I will forever be thankful for getting through it with me,” Knowles said.  

Sandpoint 6 13 14 3 — 36 

Twin Falls 14 0 8 12 — 34 

1st quarter 

TFB — Jackson Sattleberg 60-yard run (conversion failed), 9:12 

SPT — Brock Yarbrough 13-yard pass from Logan Iverson (extra point missed), 7:33 

TFB — Jackson Sattleberg 87-yard run (conversion successful), 2:48 

2nd quarter 

SPT — Jensen Sheetz 2-yard run (conversion missed), 11:57 

SPT — Yarbrough 30-yard pass from Iverson (Yarbrough kick), 0:24 

3rd quarter 

SPT — Yarbrough 15-yard pass from Iverson (Yarbrough kick), 8:54 

TFB — Draikyn Ferreira 9-yard pass from Andryk Reynolds (conversion successful), 4:48 

SPT — Knox Williams 21-yard pass from Iverson (Yarbrough kick), 0:45 

4th quarter 

TFB — 15-yard pass from Reynolds (conversion failed), 10:53 

SPT — Yarbrough 29-yard field goal, 6:24  

TFB — Sattleberg 2-yard run (conversion failed), 0:22