Friday night light football games are always something the Rathdrum community looks forward to. Additionally, the Hawks’ rivalry with the Sandpoint Bulldogs made this football game all the more captivating.
Oct. 6, at 7 p.m., the Lakeland Hawks (3-4) faced their arch-rivals, the Sandpoint Bulldogs (4-3), at War Memorial Field in Sandpoint. Despite an improved offensive effort for the Hawks, the Bulldogs came off the field with the 49-21 victory.
The Hawks played an abysmal first half in which everything seemed to go wrong. With a score of 35-0 through two quarters, it seemed the Hawks would be demolished for the third consecutive game. However, the Hawks picked up the slack and played a very respectable second half, where they outscored the Bulldogs 21-14.
Hawks sophomore quarterback Peyton Hillman threw for 310 yards throughout the game and passed for three touchdowns in the second half.
“I think we came out a little flat in the beginning. We were pretty much told to work harder,” Hillman said.
He believes that this is what made the difference between the first and second halves.
Junior Lovie Weil returned from his high ankle sprain and finished with 59 receiving yards. Weil finished with 59 yards receiving. Senior Roan Reilly ended the game with a team-high 113 yards receiving and a touchdown.
“We started passing the ball more,” Reilly said.
When asked about the difference between the two halves, he said that he thinks that the passing game will win them future games.
After the Hawks were outscored 109-0 in the two previous games, the Hawks settled back down and began to play better against Sandpoint.
With similar playing styles and an even 3-3 record, this may have been the Hawk’s most closely matched game of their season.
The Hawks have now lost four consecutive games and cannot afford another loss if they hope to make the postseason.
Despite the cold weather and distance, LHS students attended the game and sported the “white lies” theme.
The Hawks will play next on Oct. 20 for the LHS homecoming game against the Timberlake Tigers. The game will be broadcast live on the Hello Hawks YouTube channel for those who can’t make it.
