The Lakeland Hawks competed in their first conference game of the season against their upstate rival, the Sandpoint Bulldogs. The Hawks took the Bulldogs to the pound at Corbet Field 41-7. This is the first time Lakeland has beaten Sandpoint since the 2016 season. It was a huge win for the team, extending their win streak this season. The Hawks move to 6-2, and they bump Sandpoint to 3-6.
“This win was huge for us and one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt,” Haydon Benson said with 41 points on the board, who was leading this offense well.
Starting running back Lovie Weil, on top of this all-star season, put up unreal numbers against the Bulldogs. Weil rushed for 205 yards and 4 touchdowns. Weil put up these numbers with just 22 carries all game. A running back like this for an offense to fall back on is very comforting for the coaches, players and all around the whole team.
“I knew we had the team this year to do it, and to finally take them down was a feeling words can’t describe,” Weil said.
Weil, being a senior this year, said he took some time to really enjoy this win; although Lewiston is coming up soon, it’s important to recognize your success, enjoy the big win, and get ready for next week.
“A part of the run game that sometimes doesn’t get a lot of credit is the offensive lineman, so I’d like to thank them for all their hard work helping me get to the in-zone,” Weil said. A solid offensive line is truly the glue that keeps a team together. It’s the root of the run game and the wall that stands in front of the quarterback to protect him at all costs.
Although coming out with the win, it wasn’t all sunshine for this Lakeland team. The Hawks experienced one of the worst things about a contact sport like football, injuries. Freshman Nate Bevacqua was running down the field on kickoff and delivered a tough blow that would alter the whole team’s perspective on this game. Bevacqua suffered a vertebrae injury and was carefully and safely carted off the field.
“You never want to see your own teammate go through something like this, and it really opened my mind to how quickly a season can be taken away from someone,” Jace Taylor said.
The Hawks look ahead to next week, and the Lewiston Bengals are in their sights. This is the final game of the 2025 season before the playoffs, and the Hawks want to come out and make a statement to all of Idaho.
“We are a team that must be taken seriously, and if you don’t, you’ll regret it on Friday,” Taylor said.
