Making his first start since August and staring down the barrel of a fierce opponent in the No. 5 Sandpoint Bulldogs, Lewiston senior quarterback Mason Way and the Bengals found a way.

And that way featured eight touchdowns, a 54-27 senior night win over Sandpoint and no doubt about what this Lewiston team can do.

On third-and-goal from the 4 on the Bengals’ opening drive and Lewiston (3-4, 1-0) already trailing by six, the play broke down and the Bulldogs (6-2, 0-1) surrounded Way in the backfield.

The senior signal-caller rolled out to his left, shook off a couple of defenders and charged into the end zone for Lewiston’s opening touchdown. Mike Earl’s PAT kick gave the Bengals the lead for good.

Way generated over 200 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns, sophomore DJ Wilkerson produced over 200 all-purpose yards and the Bengal defense kept a high-octane Sandpoint attack in check.

It all led to Lewiston’s 27-point 5A Inland Empire League win over Sandpoint on Friday at the P1FCU Sports Complex in Lewiston.

“I’m super proud of the kids in the way they conducted themselves the last week-and-a-half in practice to prepare for this game, to perform like that,” first-year Lewiston coach Zane Hobart said. “That’s all the kids. I’m just super proud of them.”

A senior night to remember

Sandpoint seemed to move the ball with ease on the opening drive, with Bulldogs QB Braden Buckhout unloading a 48-yard touchdown pass to put Lewiston in an early 6-0 deficit.

Sandpoint running back Jensen Sheetz was relentless as well, with 18 carries for 142 yards on the night.

Then, the Bengals got the ball.

Way led Lewiston on a steady scoring drive, turning frequently to Wilkerson.

It was Way’s first start since Week 1. After suffering an injury in the season opener, Way had gradually rehabbed his way back, circling this senior night game versus Sandpoint as a possible and desired return.

“Kids get hurt like that, and it’s really hard mentally to prepare for this game when he got hurt Game 1,” Hobart said. “It just kind of shows what kind of athlete — what kind of kid he is — to work his butt off to get back, to be able to play.”

The Bengals shoved their proverbial paws to the gas, attempting a pooch kick that they recovered to set up another touchdown drive to go up 14-6.

When the Bulldogs clawed within one point of Lewiston’s lead, the Bengal defense turned it up.

Senior Jeffrey Yoder led a ferocious pass-rush effort to bring Sandpoint’s QB to the ground.

Then, on the very next play, Buckhout tossed an interception to Jimmy Woody, who returned it about 30 yards.

“That feeling when you make a play, there’s nothing else like it, like going down there and returning the kickoff or getting a sack or a deflected pass,” Yoder said. “It’s just one of the best feelings in the world.”

Lewiston took the short field and punched the ball in, with running back Sawyer Casey running 27 yards and then 3 yards for the score.

In the second half, running back Austin Topp broke free for wide-open touchdown runs of 30 and 70 yards behind a determined Lewiston offensive line.

And the cherry on top is that it was potentially the Bengal seniors’ last time playing on their home field.

“I’ve been growing up with these guys, some of my best friends,” Way said. “And I’m just glad I got to come out here one last time on senior night with them.”

A product of preparation

The Bengals understand the value of preparation.

With two weeks to prepare for this game, Lewiston took its time seriously, focusing on what it needed to do to neutralize Sandpoint’s deep-threat receivers and zero out its passing game.

Under the Friday night lights, the Bengals did just that.

Hobart’s speech following the victory focused on Lewiston’s ability to beat anybody in the state of Idaho’s 5A classification with enough preparation and dedication.

“We’ve got to find the ability to continue to practice the way we did the last week-and-a-half,” Hobart said. “There is a noticeable difference in the way the kids are prepared and their mentalities. We’ve got to continue that and just continue to build upon that.”