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Don Gronning
First league title since 1957
PRIEST RIVER – The Priest River Spartans did what they had to Friday night – getting a tight 16-15 league win over St. Maries to clinch the Spartans’ first league title since 1957.
“It was a hard-fought, admittedly ugly win,” Priest River coach Alex Zepeda says. He says it was probably the Spartans worst offensive performance of the year. “That said, a win is a win—and they don’t all look the same.”
The win earns them a bye in the first round of the state tournament, and they will host a playoff game, probably November 7 or 8, Zepeda says.
Defensively, he thought the team played well.
“We didn’t generate as much pressure as we’d like,” he says. “Even so, the defense kept this pass-heavy team in check and stopped their run game effectively, even while in pass coverage.”
Priest River didn’t blow out St. Maries, always a tough opponent. The Spartans scored first in the opening quarter, on a 6-yard run by junior Nate Fergert. Colton Kuprienko, in his second game back from an ankle injury, ran in the 2-point extra points.
St. Maries answered with a scoring drive of their own and kicked the extra point to pull within one point early in the second quarter.
Following an interception by Braden Leach, the Spartans were back in the end zone drive with an 8-yard TD run by Kuprienko, who also converted the extra point run to put Priest River up 16-7 going into halftime.
The Lumberjacks came out halftime and quickly drove down the field capping the drive with a 3-yard TD run on their first possession in the first minute of the half. This time they went for a 2-point conversion pass, which they completed to pull back within one point.
For the rest of the game the teams held each other scoreless.
Braden Leach was the game’s defensive standout, Zepeda says. He had two interceptions in the game and nearly came away with a third. “He’s definitely our player of the game,” Zepeda says. In addition to his two interceptions, he had three solo tackles, an assist and one tackle for loss.
Gavin Griesemer also had a tackle for a loss among his four total tackles, including three assists and one solo tackle, including a sack. Eight Spartans were in on at least four total tackles each, led by Layton Goins, who chalked up eight tackles, including three solo tackles and five assists. Niki Porinchok had a tackle for a loss and two sacks, among his four total tackles, three of them assists. Kuprienko was in on four tackles in his first game back on defense since his ankle injury. He had two assists and two solo tackles. Nate Fergert had four tackles, two of them assists. Braden Hatten was also in on four tackles, two of them assists.
Matthews was back at quarterback, after missing a game last week recovering from a minor knee injury. He completed nine of 14 passes for 94 yards. Goins caught four passes for 60 yards, Leach had four catches for 24 yards and Kuprienko had four catches for 16 yards.
Zepeda is proud of securing the league title with one game to go.
“Despite the ups and downs, winning the league title for the first time since 1957 is an incredible feeling,” he says. “I’m so happy for the boys and for the town of Priest River. Clinching a guaranteed playoff spot definitely takes some pressure off heading into this week against Kellogg, but we’re approaching it like any other game.”
Priest River plays its last regular season game at Kellogg Friday, Oct.24. The game starts at 7 p.m.
