Bulldogs Stun Twin Falls in Overtime Nail-Biter

Photo by Jason Duchow Photography

Twin Falls, ID – August 22, 2025 The Sandpoint Bulldogs opened their season with grit, determination, and a late surge that silenced a top-five opponent. In a game defined by defensive stops and timely playmaking, the Bulldogs rallied from a 14-point deficit to defeat the Twin Falls Bruins 28–27 in overtime on the road.

Early Struggles, Big Stops

Twin Falls opened with a nine-minute, 78-yard drive that had the Bulldogs on their heels. Facing 1st-and-goal at the 5, Sandpoint’s defense stiffened and denied the Bruins on 4th down at the 2-yard line. It was the first of three turnover-on-downs stops that would prove pivotal.

After trading possessions, the Bruins broke through in the second quarter with a 9-yard TD pass, but the missed PAT loomed large. Moments later, QB Braden Buckhout answered with a 4-yard rushing touchdown to tie it at 7–7.

Twin Falls countered with a 76-yard strike and a successful two-point try to enter halftime up 14–7. They extended the margin to 21–7 in the third quarter on a 34-yard run, putting the Bulldogs in a deep hole.

The Turning Point

With 1:45 left in the 3rd quarter, junior DB Trey Blumenberg intercepted Ty Hess as the Bruins threatened near the red zone, sparking life into Sandpoint’s sideline.

From there, the offense and defense clicked:

• RB Jensen Sheetz pounded in a 10-yard touchdown early in the 4th.

• LB Roman Turnbull stuffed a 4th-and-2 at Sandpoint’s 30 with 6:28 left.

• Sheetz scored again on a 2-yard TD with just over two minutes left to tie it 21–21.

• With a minute to go, the defense delivered another stop. Buckhout then hit WR Brock Yarbrough on a 46-yard bomb to the 1-yard line as time expired, sending the game to OT.

  
  

The Overtime Thriller

Starting at the 10, the Bulldogs fed “Ol’ Reliable” Sheetz, who plowed in for his third touchdown of the night. Yarbrough drilled his fourth PAT, giving Sandpoint the 28–21 edge.

Twin Falls responded with a short touchdown, pulling within one. Going for the win, they lined up for a two-point conversion. But the Bulldogs’ defense slammed the door—Turnbull made the first hit, and senior Jeremiah Palmer cleaned up, preserving the victory.

Bulldog Standouts

• QB Braden Buckhout: 19/27 passing, 212 yards; 12 rushes for 46 yards and a TD.

• RB Jensen Sheetz: 22 carries, 90 yards, 3 TDs; the workhorse in crunch time.

• WR Brock “The Vacuum” Yarbrough: 14 receptions, 150 yards, plus 4/4 on PATs.

• WR Maverick Gomez: 4 catches, 46 yards; 2 rushes for 13 yards.

• Safety Lucas Garrison: 6 solo tackles, 3 assists, 2 TFLs, 2 pass breakups.

• LB Roman Turnbull: Team-high 14 total tackles (3 solo, 11 assists), including the game-saving stop in OT.

• LB/DE Jeremiah Palmer: 7 tackles (1 solo, 6 assists), 1 sack, 1 TFL; sealed the OT stop.

• DB Trey Blumenberg: Key interception late in the 3rd quarter that shifted momentum.

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Final Numbers

• Total Plays: Sandpoint 70 | Twin Falls 69

• Total Yards: Sandpoint 361 | Twin Falls 437

• Passing: Sandpoint 212 | Twin Falls 241

• Rushing: Sandpoint 149 | Twin Falls 196

• Turnovers: Sandpoint 0 | Twin Falls 1 (INT)

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Coach’s Words

Head coach Ryan Knowles praised the resilience:

“Traveling that far and being down 14-7 at halftime, it’s tough… The boys buckled down and we started to get into a rhythm. They had that feeling coming into the fourth quarter that we were going to get this thing—they believed.” (Bonner County Daily Bee, Aug. 24, 2025)

Looking Ahead

With the victory, Sandpoint moves to 1–0 and climbs from #5 to #4 in the state rankings, while Twin Falls drops to #9. Next up: a road trip to face 4A Teton, fresh off a 33–12 win over Declo.

Final: Sandpoint 28, Twin Falls 27 (OT)

A 1,200-mile journey, a fourth-quarter rally, and an overtime stand—this win was Bulldog football at its finest.

Jason Duchow https://www.jasonduchowphotography.com