SANDPOINT — It didn't take long for junior midfielder Pax Longanecker to leave his mark on the Sandpoint Bulldogs' 5A state semi-final against the Idaho Falls Tigers on Friday. 

After a few quick runs, Sandpoint junior Dixon Reed drew a free kick in the second minute of the match. Reed used the opportunity to find a sprinting Longanecker, who corralled the ball before sending it spinning past the Idaho Falls goalkeeper Harrison Parker to give Sandpoint a 1-0 lead before either team was able to settle into the game. 

The Bulldogs never let go of the early lead, withstanding an all-out blitz from the Tigers to win the semi-final 3-1 and advance to the 5A State Championship at War Memorial Field. 

"Getting into the lead so early... you're on the back foot regardless. You're the team that's winning, and the other team has to chase the game," Sandpoint head coach Dan Anderson said. "So as much as you want to play the way you want to play, it's just a game state and having to kind of hold on and weather some storms. But we counterattacked when we needed to and got the job done." 

Following Longanecker's first goal, Idaho Falls turned up the intensity as the teams battled in a very physical game. The Tigers spent much of the first half trying to break through the Bulldogs' backline but not finding much success. 

Late in the first half, Sandpoint found a counterpunch. A long ball found Longanecker, who found space in the middle of the Tigers' defense to fire off a shot that would find the back of the net and put the Bulldogs up 2-0.  

"[Longanecker] always seems to come up clutch in the right moments," Anderson said. "Him and Dixon have developed a partnership where they're looking for each other when one is on the ball, and the two of them are the ones making stuff happen. Those Pax goals don't come without Dixon feeding him and putting him in a place where he can finish it off for us." 

With Sandpoint grabbing hold of the game before half, Idaho Falls went into desperation mode, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Sandpoint's defense. The Bulldogs' goalkeeper Landon Brinkmeier hasn't been tested recently, but the Tigers were putting shot after shot toward the net with Brinkmeier standing tall. 

Despite Idaho Falls' possession dominance, it was Sandpoint who found the next score. This time it was Reed who ran onto a ball and drilled it home to extend Sandpoint's lead to 3-0 with just 20 minutes left to play. 

Not to be denied, the Tigers' attack continued and finally found the back of the net just two minutes later. A free kick ricocheted off Sandpoint's wall to a Tiger, who slipped the ball past Brinkmeier to give Idaho Falls life in the waning minutes of the semi-final. 

However, that was the last breath the Tigers would have as the Bulldogs' backline suffocated their offensive attack to close out the 3-1 victory. 

"Landon is the best goalkeeper in the state, and our backline is, I think, the best back line as well this year," Anderson said. "So, when we needed them to stand tall and be strong back there, they were ready to do it. I can't say enough about our backline, Landon and the whole team as far as sticking together." 

With the win, Sandpoint moves to the State Championship Game where they will face Caldwell at 4 p.m. on Saturday at War Memorial Field. Caldwell barely escaped their semi-final game, winning in penalty kicks over reigning 5A champ Wood River. 

"We just want to continue to stick together as a group, stick to our principles and play the game we want to play it," Anderson said. "We couldn't be happier to get to play a state final in our hometown." 

Sandpoint 2 1 — 3

Idaho Falls 0 1 — 1

First half — SPT, Pax Longanecker (Dixon Reed), 2:00. SPT, Longanecker (Reed), 36:00. Second half — SPT, Reed (Longanecker), 59:00. IF, unknown, 61:00.

Shots on goal: Sandpoint 6, Idaho Falls 6.

Saves: Sandpoint, Landon Brinkmeier 5; Idaho Falls, Harrison Parker 3.

    Sandpoint mob teammate Pax Longanecker after his second goal of the day against Idaho Falls on Saturday.