RMFL Championship Box Score
July 7, 2001, Boise Roughriders vs. Pocatello Silverbacks

POCATELLO SILVERBACKS 48 BOISE ROUGHRIDERS 20

PAUL, IDAHO - The first year Pocatello Silverbacks demonstrated remarkable poise in the Rocky Mountain Football League Championship game, falling behind 17-6 to the Boise Roughriders after one quarter of play only to outscore the red and black, 42-3 over the last three quarters to capture the RMFL title 48-20 Saturday night at Minico High School. Offensively for Pocatello, the Silverback ground game came full strength with the three amigos, Clint Whitworth (14 carries, 100 yards), Tyler Wheatley (11 carries, 89 yards) and Jared Anderson (9 carries, 67 yards) combining for more than 250 rushing yards in the game, while the Silverback defense, lead by Dean Byington (8 tackles, 1 sack), Trent Sutton (7 tackles) and Spencer Perry (6-1/2 tackles) held the Roughrider rushing attack to only 103 yards rushing. The Roughrider passing attack was on, however, particularly early in the game as Boise quarterback, Paul Dovel (16-31-0-181) looked as sharp as ever and wide receiver, Chance Leeds (9 receptions, 122 yards) looked all of the league-leading receiver he had been all year as the Roughriders struck back after Pocatello scored first on a Clint Whitworth run. The Roughriders blocked the extra point and then took the ensuing kickoff keyed by some critical Dovel to Leeds passes. The drive was capped by a short, Tom Bicandi run and the extra point made the score 7-6, in favor of Boise. After Pocatello took the kickoff and drove for a couple of first downs, Roughrider defensive back, Casey Wittenborn made the games most exciting play, picking off a Jeff Belnap pass intended for Brandon Palmer, he raced 65 yards to paydirt, barely edging into the end zone after a diving attempt by a frustrated Belnap.

With the score 14-6 after the interception, the Roughriders shut down the Silverbacks and drove into S-back territory setting up the first of two Jim Slocum field goals. Slocum, who enjoyed an incredible year as the leagues best place-kicker, split the uprights from 42-yards out to put the Roughriders up 17-6 as the first quarter drew to a close. As it seemed the Roughriders might have the momentum to carry them to a rout of the Silverbacks, the Silver and Black came back. League-leading rusher, Tyler Wheatley started the scoring fest with an exciting 30-yard touchdown jaunt and then a few minutes later scored from 4 yards. Brock Gunter completed the three unanswered touchdown scoring streak with a 23-yard catch from Belnap. After falling behind 17-6 at the start of the second quarter, the Silverbacks now lead 27-17. Slocum's second field goal of 41-yards in the final seconds of the half accounted for a tight 27-20 halftime score.

For as much as the first quarter was free of penalties (no flags in the first quarter), the second half turned into a penalty fiasco. Pocatello finished the game with 80 yards in penalties, while Boise one-upped them with 110 yards in infractions. The third quarter bogged down by critical penalty calls, only saw one score, a 21-yard Jeff Belnap to Brock Gunter score putting the Silverbacks up 34-20 going into the final period. Clint Whitworth tacked on two more touchdowns in the fourth period on a 9-yard run and a 10-yard reception to complete the scoring. Unfortuneately, a few of the proud Roughriders finally had had enough of what was felt to be poor officiating and the game ended amidst a flurry of heated tempers.

The Roughrider defense did get superior efforts from Donald Nelson (6-1/2 tackles), Wittenborn (5 tackles, interception), Aaron Crawford (5 tackles) and Nate Saari (5 tackles). In then end, though, the Silverback rushing attack proved to be too much as the game wore on.

Both teams performed admirably and although each team felt they did not play the kind of game they wanted to going in, the football teams made a great statement for the strength and passion of Idaho football. Congratulations to the Silverbacks and Roughriders!

Boise

Pocatello

Scoring Summary:

1st Quarter:

Pocatello - Whitworth 4-yard run (kick blocked) 11:09

Boise - Bicandi 1-yard run (Slocum kick) 7:49

Boise - Wittenborn 65-yard interception return (Slocum kick) 4:01

Boise - Slocum 42-yard field goal 0:36

2nd Quarter:

Pocatello Wheatley 30-yard run (Belnap kick) 14:09

Pocatello Wheatley 4-yard run (Belnap kick) 11:51

Pocatello Gunter 21-yard pass from Belnap (Belnap kick) 3:31

Boise Slocum 41-yard field goal 0:37

3rd Quarter:

Pocatello Gunter 21-yard pass from Belnap (Belnap kick) 6:35

4th Quarter:

Pocatello Whitworth 9-yard run (Belnap kick) 10:56

Pocatello Whitworth 10-yard pass from Belnap (Belnap kick) 6:01

	Boise	Pocatello
First Downs	11	21
Rushes, Yards	20-103	35-257
Passes	16-31-0	9-20-1
Passing Yards	181	186
Sacked-Yds lost	3-16	0-0
Total Net Yards	268	443
Punts, Average	2-33.5	2-33.0
Penalties, Yards	8-100	6-80
Fumbles, Lost	2-1	0-0

Individual Statistics

Rushing:Boise - Lopez 5-35, Dovel 3-24, Redman 4-22, Bicandi 6-13, Leeds 2-11. Pocatello - Whitworth 14-100, Wheatley 11-89, Anderson 9-67, Belnap 1-1.

Passing:Boise - Dovel 16-31-0-181-0. Pocatello - Belnap 9-20-1-186-3.

Receiving: Boise - Leeds 9-122, Bicandi 3-39, Vincent 2-16, Lopez 2-4. Pocatello - Gunter 4-86, Fillingame 4-62, Anderson 1-38.

Tackles: Boise - Don Nelson 6.5, A.Crawford 5, Saari 5, Wittenborn 5, Avent 4, Manderschied 4, Gast 4, T.J. Martin 4, Redman 3, Reitmann 3, Vincent 3, Rice 2, Brokaw 1, Brown 1, Willingham 1, Dennison 1/2. Pocatello - Byington 8 (1 sack), Sutton 7, Perry 6.5, Hicks 4, Covington 4, O'Hearn 3 (1 sack), Foreman 2, Jolley 2, Jenkins 2, Howerton 2.5 (1 sack), O'Lexey 1, Anderson 1, Dahlke 1, Jordan 1/2.

Interceptions: Boise - Wittenborn. Pocatello - None.

Missed Field Goals: Slocum - 45-yards (wl).