Pirates lose at Potlatch
The Prairie football team struggled to sustain any offense and couldn’t contain Potlatch’s quarterback as they lost 8-50 at Potlatch Friday, Sept. 8.
The Pirates were dealing with the loss of last week’s starting quarterback, Trenton Lorentz, who will be out for much of the rest of the season. That had the Pirates moving senior lineman Noah Behler to the quarterback position which weakened their offensive line as a replacement was needed for Behler.
Potlatch received the opening kickoff and the Loggers moved 69 yards in 10 plays with quarterback Jack Clark either running the ball or throwing it on 8 of those 10 plays. The Loggers scored on a 13 yard pass play from Clark to Waylon Marshall. Chris Schumacher broke up the 2-point pass attempt as Potlatch led 0-6.
The ensuing kickoff got past kick returner Dylan Uhlenkott who retrieved it at the 2 yard line where he was tackled.
The Pirates were able to pick up a couple of first down as they moved out to the 39 yard line. One was on a 15 yard pass from Behler to Bennie Elven and the other on a 6 yard run by Uhlenkott. The drive stalled at the 39 as Uhlenkott was stopped after a 1 yard gain on fourth and 2 and Potlatch took over at the Prairie 40.
Potlatch needed just 4 plays to add a second touchdown with Clark converting a fourth and 1 at the 31 for a touchdown. The 2-point try again failed as Potlatch now led 0-12.
Prairie again started with terrible field position this time at their own 8. They picked up a first down when Levi Gehring caught a pass for 5 yards after Uhlenkott had gained 7 on a run. However the possession end 2 plays later when Behler’s pass to Blake Bunce bounced up into the air and was intercepted by Potlatch lineman Tanner Garrels who took the ball 18 yards to the end zone. Clark ran in the 2-pointer to give Potlatch a 0-20 lead early in the second quarter.
Prairie took over at the own 25 on their next possession and managed to cross midfield for the first time as Uhlenkott had runs of 14 and 8 yards and Behler completed 2 passes to Elven for 17 and 9 yards.
They got down to the Potlatch 30 before they were stopped on fourth and 3 for a 2 yard loss.
Potlatch took over at their own 32 and scored their fourth touchdown in 8 plays. Clark finished off the drive with a 5 yard run. Jay Marshall ran in the 2-pointer to make it 0-28.
Prairie started their next drive at their own 35 after the kickoff went out of bounds. They moved the ball out to midfield where this time it was a fumble that turned the ball over at the Potlatch 41.
Potlatch moved the ball down to the Prairie 29 before time ran out in the first half.
Prairie received the second half kickoff, starting at their own 12. Prairie was able to move the ball down the field picking up 5 first downs, mostly on runs by Behler and Uhlenkott except for a 12 yard pass completion to Elven.
A 19 yard run by Uhlenkott gave Prairie a first down at the Potlatch 17. 3 running plays netted 7 yards but Behler’s fourth down pass attempt fell incomplete.
Potlatch took over at their own 10 but the Pirate defense stepped up and forced a punt. Prairie took over at the Potlatch 46. A horse collar penalty on their first play moved the ball down to the Potlatch 33. Behler then passed deep downfield to Gehring who caught the ball at the 5 and went into the end zone to get the Pirates onto the scoreboard. Uhlenkott ran in the 2-pointer to cut the deficit to 8-28.
Prairie tried an onside kick but the ball didn’t go the necessary 10 yards for the Pirates to have a chance to recover. Potlatch took over at the Prairie 46 and any momentum the Pirates may have built by scoring was squashed as Clark scored on the next play. Marshall added the 2-pointer to make it 8-36.
Prairie started their next possession at their own 30 and a 22 yard pass completion to Uhlenkott put them into Potlatch territory. However, 2 plays later and interception ended the drive. Potlatch wound up taking over at their own 29 after a penalty for an illegal block on the interception return.
Potlatch picked up a first down then faced a third and 14 at their own 36. Clark passed downfield to Ben Johnson who wound up going 64 yards for a touchdown. Marshall added the 2-point to make it 8-44.
Prairie’s next possession ended after 2 plays with an interception. Potlatch foot over at their own 44 and Clark scored the game’s final touchdown 4 plays later with a 47 yard run on fourth and 1. The 2-point run was stopped short but Potlatch now led 8-50. That also invoked the running clock mercy rule for the final 7:20 of the game.
Another interception ended Prairie’s next possession. Potlatch put their subs into the game and were forced to punt. Prairie took over at their own 24 and picked up a first down before the game ended on an incomplete pass.
Prairie had 134 yards rushing on 33 attempts led by Uhlenkott who had 87 yards on 18 carries. Behler had 26 yards on 8 attempts and Gehring had 21 yards on 7 carries.
Behler complete 12 of 20 passes with 4 interceptions for 130 yards. Elven caught 6 passes for 62 yards. Gehring caught 4 for 41. Uhlenkott caught 1 for 22 and Bunce caught 1 for 5.
Potlatch had 233 yards rushing on 36 attempts led by Clark who had 195 yards on 22 attempts. Clark also completed 7 of 10 passes for 152 yards.
Prairie is now 1-1 both overall and in league play. Their next game is their first home game of the season and will be played Thursday, Sept. 14 against Timberline. This is also their only non-league game of the season.
Prairie      0   0 8   0 -  8
Potlatch 12 16 8 14 -50
Po-Marshall 13 pass from Clark (pass failed) 7:46 1^st
Po-Clark 31 run (pass faield) 1:52 1^st
Po-Garrells 18 interception return (Clark run) 11:51 2^nd
Po-Clark 5 run (Marshall run) 4:15 2^nd
Pr-Gehring 33 pass from Behler (Uhlenkott run) 3:10 3^rd
Po-Clark 46 run (Marshall run) 2:58 3^rd
Po-Johnson 64 pass from Clark (Marshall run) 8:44 4^th
Po-Clark 47 run (run failed) 7:20 4^th