SANDPOINT — With 2:19 left in the fourth quarter, the Sandpoint Bulldogs got the ball back in a tie game, looking to hold off a comeback from the Lewiston Bengals in an Inland Empire League game on Friday. 

Sandpoint gained eight yards in three plays, punted, but were able to pin Lewiston back deep in their own territory thanks to a stellar punt from Gage Martin. All the Bulldogs needed to do was stop an 86-yard drive with 1:13 on the clock. 

Things looked promising until a long run from Michael Moody Jr. breathed new life into Lewiston. The Bengals didn’t waste it, as just two plays later quarterback Dallas Richardson found wideout David Wilkerson wide open for a 59-yard touchdown to seal the Bulldogs’ fate. 

“In critical situations we failed to convert on offense and get off the field on defense,” Sandpoint head coach Ryan Knowles said. “On that last play we had [Wilkerson] double covered, and neither of the guys covered him. So, it’s frustrating. It all starts at the top, and we’ll get back to work on Monday.” 

The Bulldogs fell 42-35 to the Bengals in a shootout, where they led by as many as 14 points in the first half. Sandpoint’s offense fired on all cylinders from the jump with senior quarterback Logan Iverson returning to his Week 1 form, finishing with 196 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. 

Iverson found senior star Brock Yarbrough for a 13-yard touchdown on the Bulldogs’ third play from scrimmage to give Sandpoint an early 7-0 lead. The two connected again in the second quarter for a 7-yard score that gave Sandpoint a 28-14 lead. Yarbrough caught seven passes for 76 yards and two scores against the Bengals. 

On the ground, the thunder and lightning duo of senior Jensen Sheetz and junior Trenton Cross were on full display on senior night. Sheetz ran for 119 yards with two scores, including a 33-yard scamper that tied the game at 35-all in the fourth, while Cross added 36 total yards and a massive opening kickoff return. 

“We didn’t punt the ball until late in the game. We moved the ball very well,” Knowles said. “They did a lot of good things, just from a coach's standpoint of lessons learned, we need to be able to get those plays when it counts. That’s what good teams do.” 

While the offense starred, they were unable to come up with a score in both of the team’s two-minute drills. Sandpoint had the ball in Lewiston territory before the halftime break but came away empty. A snap over the head of Iverson handed Lewiston quality field position that they used to score a touchdown. 

“At the end of the day though, we’ve got to get off the field,” Knowles said. 

Sandpoint’s defense played a rollercoaster of a game, floating between elite and disastrous all night. Damian Porter led the unit with nine tackles and a half sack on the night, while Mason McLain dominated off the defensive line, grabbing one and a half sacks and two tackles.  

Despite putting pressure on Richardson every play, the Bengals quarterback killed the Bulldogs with his legs. Richardson extended several drives with his legs, limiting the Bulldogs’ ability to get off the field and get their offense the ball, especially in the second half. 

“It’s a lack of vision. We have to see through the pass rush to the quarterback and respond to his movements,” Knowles said. “We've got to do a better job with lane integrity, getting off blocks and find a way to get his legs out from underneath him.” 

While Sandpoint fell in their league opener, Knowles said all the team’s goals are right in front of them. Because Lewiston lost to Lakeland last week, Sandpoint has a chance to tie up the league record at 1-1 all with a victory next week against the Hawks. 

“Love Hawk week. It’s always one that we play out for,” Knowles said. “I know they’ll be ready.” 

If Sandpoint can force a tie, the first tiebreaker will be point differential as the teams voted against doing a Kansas City-style tiebreaker again this offseason. A Bulldog victory by more than seven points would secure the IEL title for Sandpoint, but any Hawks win would give them the league crown. 

With the league on the line, Sandpoint will head to Rathdrum for a showdown with Lakeland on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.