A majority of athletes, particularly football players at Lakeland High School, would consider the Sandpoint Bulldogs the Hawk’s greatest rival. They face the Bulldogs every season, and it never fails to be an intense and emotional matchup.
Lakeland (3-3) and Sandpoint (3-3) are set to face off on Oct. 6. Having the same record and both being in the Inland Empire 4A League presents even more motivation for the Hawks to win. Currently, Mike Schroeder’s team is preparing for Friday’s crucial game that will likely determine the league champion.
Lakeland and Sandpoint’s rivalry on the gridiron is not a new concept.
There has been a strong tension between the two schools ever since the two became a part of the same division years ago.
Clive Hobbs, a junior running back, believes that this matchup is so different because it will be a more physically and mentally involved game, and emotions will be higher. Ultimately, a fight versus Sandpoint simply means more to the players.
“There’s more importance based off of a win and loss, and it makes it more detrimental to the rest of the season,” said Carter Vanek.
Lakeland plays Sandpoint every season, providing another reason for the rivalry.
“It is a division game, and playoffs may be on the line or a higher seed, and we live close to one another. Even if the game is away, there will still be Lakeland fans,” said Hobbs.
The football players strongly believe the rivalry will continue as long as Sandpoint continues to play with intensity and as long as the two teams take up spots in the same division.
The conflict takes place in other areas of athletics, such as Battle for the Paddle, which takes place in January each year against the Bulldogs. Lakeland currently holds a lengthy win streak of four that spans back to the 2018-19 school year.
The idea of having to play away from home this week leaves players with conflicting thoughts.
“I think it is more intense when we’re at home because we’re fighting to win on our field and earn their respect,” said Hobbs.
Vanek thinks the opposite. He believes it is more nerve-racking to play there based on the fact that there will be a lot more Bulldog fans.
“Sandpoint’s student section, their parents, and a bus ride before a game are all things no one looks forward to,” said senior Roan Reilly.
Last year, the Bulldogs were able to defeat the Hawks 38-13 at Corbit Field, but the rivalry itself and the want to beat Sandpoint is outweighing every other form of motivation.
Heading into Friday, Lakeland feels they will be capable of coming out ready to fight.
Vanek feels much more confident than he was last year around this time. He says the Hawk’s defense will improve greatly in comparison to recent games, and many important skill players finally get to return from injuries. The absence of injured players has greatly impacted the team, so it will be helpful to have these individuals back.
As long as the Hawks can bring their best selves onto the field, it will certainly be a game to watch for both Lakeland and Sandpoint fans.
“The intensity is going to get picked up, and we will play better than we did the last two weeks,” said Hobbs.
Unfortunately, Lakeland is coming off three consecutive losses against West Valley, Coeur d’Alene, and Post Falls, but these defeats have also caused an increased desire to win. Sandpoint is one of the few remaining games left in the regular season.
The Hawks have the opportunity to settle the tension, for at least this season, on Friday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. at War Memorial Field in Sandpoint.
