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Saturday, 21 November 2009 |
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By MARK HIGH
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MOSCOW – After building a 20-point third quarter lead, the Blackfoot Broncos looked like a shoo-in for their second state Class 4A football championship in three years.  (The Morning News — Mark High) The Blackfoot Broncos celebrate their class 4A state championship at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow on Friday night. Blackfoot defeated Sandpoint 29-23.
Sandpoint didn’t get the message that Blackfoot had won the game however, as the Bulldogs mounted a valiant comeback attempt, bringing the game down to its final moments before the Broncos secured a heart-stopping 29-23 win.
The Blackfoot defense stiffened on their own 33-yard line on a fourth-and-15 play as Anthony Clarke and Tyson Katseanes combined to defend a deep pass down the far sideline, turning the ball over to the offense with less than two minutes to play.
Chris Percy, who ran for 156 yards on the night, finished the game off with a pair of power runs up the middle for the game’s final first down as the Blackfoot faithful celebrated the victory.
“We got ‘er done.” Blackfoot coach Stan Buck said. “We look like sometimes we don’t even coach out here but the kids made big plays when they had to. We got a big lead and got kind of comfortable and it got a little exciting there at the end.”
For a better portion of the first half the Broncos looked far from the team that has rolled through the state football playoffs thus far.
A muffed punt, 45 penalty yards and a snap through the end zone for a safety told the tale in the first half.
Despite all the trouble, the Broncos showed their explosiveness, making the big play when they had to as they somehow took a 14-9 lead into the locker room at halftime.
An interception by junior cornerback, Beau Hoskins on the Blackfoot 5-yard line offset the muffed punt and a big 43-yard hookup between Clarke and Julio Flores set up a late score, giving the Broncos all the momentum heading into the break.
On the first play from scrimmage after the break, Blackfoot’s do everything quarterback, Clarke took a handoff from Percy from the wildcat formation and then out-raced the Bulldog defense for an 80-yard touchdown.
“I’ve been thinking about this since the fifth grade.” Clarke said. “This team has so much heart. Even when we aren’t playing our best game I knew that we would fight through and get the win. This team has the biggest heart of any team I have ever known.”
After the big run, Blackfoot’s special teams then pinned the Bulldogs on their own 2-yard line for their first possession of the second half. Sandpoint did move the ball down the field but eventually lost possession of the ball when Jacob Snapp recovered a fumble.
Eight plays later, Percy tallied his second touchdown of the game from seven yards out. A Percy 2-point conversion run made the score 29-9 with 4:09 remaining in the third quarter.
“This feels awesome.” Percy said. “I came into the game thinking that this was going to be the toughest game of the season and it was. The offensive line, if they don’t block we don’t get anything but they were great tonight. We’ll celebrate this one forever.”
Blackfoot (11-1) will return to town today with the blue trophy and the school’s second championship banner.
“I’m just real happy.” Coach Buck finished.
BHS 7 7 15 0 29
SHS 0 9 0 14 23
1Q 2:07 BL-L. Chidester 1-yd run, Oseguera kick 7-0
2Q 9:39 SP-C. Hecker 6-yd run, Anderson kick 7-7
8:05 SP- Safety 9-7
0:33 BL-C. Percy 1-yd run, Oseguera kick 14-9
3Q 11:47 BL-A. Clarke 80-yd run, Oseguera kick 21-9
4:09 BL-C. Percy 7 yd run, Percy 2-pt run 29-9
3:21 SP-C. Hecker 14-yd run, Anderson kick 29-16
4Q 10:07 SP-B. Lawrence 47-yd pass from B. Fisher, Anderson kick 29-23
BHS Passing: A. Clarke 16-182, Rushing: A. Clarke 11-111-td, C. Percy 26-156-2td, L. Chidester 2-2-td Receiving: J. Flores 7-141, L. Chidester 1-16, N. Walker 2-25
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Last Updated ( Monday, 23 November 2009 )
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