Spartans spear Wildcats

KELLOGG – The Priest River Spartans got a satisfying 48-14 win over the rival Kellogg Wildcats Friday at Kellogg.

“It was an extremely long first half — without a doubt the longest I’ve ever coached,” Priest River coach Alex Zepeda says. He says a mix of penalties on both sides, incomplete passes and big plays stretched things out. “We didn’t even start the second half until around 9:30. Still, it was a great game by the boys and an awesome way to close out the regular season.”

Priest River scored all 48 points in the first half. Colton Kuprienko scored three touchdowns and rushed for 265 yards on 21 carries. That broke Sawyer Staudt’s single game rushing record of 264 yards from last year.

Senior quarterback Lucas Matthews threw three touchdown passes, hitting Layton Goins for two TDs and Madden Redinger for another. Goins, a sophomore, had six catches for 116 yards, including a 33-yarder. Redinger, another sophomore, had one for 4 yards and senior Braden Leach had a pair of catches for 38 yards.

Matthews completed nine of 16 passes for 158 yards. He had one interception and a fumble.

Zepeda says the Spartans played a good defensive game.

“Niki Porinchok and Brady Hatten both had outstanding performances again, each recording about 1.5 sacks,” he says. Braden Leach had a fumble recovery to go with three tackles.

Haiden Leach was in on nine tackles, including four solo tackles. Porinchok chalked up nine tackles, including a half dozen solo tackles. Layton Goins also had a half dozen solo tackles.

It’s been a good year offensively for the Spartans. “We also broke the total points scored record for a season, surpassing last year’s mark of 288 with 296 this year,” Zepeda says. “It might not feel like it since we finished 5–4 through 9 games instead of 6–3, but that’s still a huge accomplishment for our program.”

He says he’s proud of his players and the season. “This season might not have gone exactly how we envisioned it, but to go undefeated in league play, win the title for the first time since 1957, and clinch a quarterfinal playoff spot are massive steps forward for Spartan football,” he says.

The Spartans won’t play again until the first week in November at the state tournament.