2021 Senior Bulldogs

#13 Gerrit Cox GO BULLDOGS!

Every practice, every game, you give 100% Gerrit, you were made for BULLDOG FOOTBALL! Have an amazing Senior year. Thanks for all the cheers! Love, Mom & Dad

#47 Ty Eacret GO BULLDOGS!

We are so proud of you!! Go Bulldogs! Mom, Dad and Bode

#14 Joseph Uzabel GO BULLDOGS!

“Fall down 7 times, stand up 8.” - N. Yaoki

Merek Bauck - When asked about a standout moment in his football career, Merek Bauck said that he was proud of the progress he has made over the years and continues to progress as a healthy player.

“I was injured my freshman and sophomore year, but I came back from my injury and played a full season as a starter on junior varsity last year,” he said. “Having that season to play for a whole year without being injured was a big step in my career as a football player, and I can’t be more grateful for it. I hope to carry that through this year.

“I’m looking forward to playing with my brothers and going to war with them each and every day,” he added. “We’re going to prepare for each and every game and win that state title.”

Advice to younger players: “Keep your eyes forward. Keep working and living in the present. Keep doing what you can to make your football careers better.”

Nate Blagrove - “If I were to pick a moment that sticks out to me, it would probably have to be last year when our game with Hillcrest was tied 27 to 27, and we sent out Elek Christoferson to kick that gamewinning field goal,” Blagrove reminisced. “I’d have to say that was a pretty incredible moment.”

Blagrove said that he was looking forward to a number of things this season, but he is most looking forward to spending time with his teammates and continuing to strengthen the bonds which already exist on this team.

“The strong brotherhood that we forged after losing that game against Skyline has only become stronger,” Blagrove said. “This year we are going to be a pretty hard team to stop.”

Although not a Sandpoint native, Blagrove has nothing but good things to say about the town of Sandpoint and recognizes the unique opportunity to someday return. “I would definitely come back to Sandpoint to watch some Bulldog football after I graduate. It’s really about Memorial Field and the nice fall breeze. There’s just something special about it.”

Michael Chapman - Michael Chapman is a football player who loves his team and loves his town. “I love being with my team and winning games,” Chapman said.

A baller with few words, Chapman has one thing on his mind, and that’s bringing a championship home for his teammates, Sandpoint High School and the City of Sandpoint.

“I just want to win a championship with my teammates,” he said. “That’s it.”

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Advice to younger players: As a starter on varsity, Chapman had one piece of advice for the underclassmen: “Show up.”

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Gerrit Cox - Sandpoint native Gerrit Cox is looking forward to this year’s playoffs and being ready for standout moments like he had last year.

“During last year’s district championship was the most memorable moment for me,” Cox said. “Coach said that we are going to get the stop and return the punt back. We lined up with 25 seconds left in the first half, the score was zero to zero. The ball bounced in front of me, and I picked it up and ran it for a touchdown. That ended up being the one and only score of the game.”

With the new season approaching, Cox and his teammates are confident that they will go all the way to win a championship. And with this confidence, Cox had a few words of advice for underclassmen.

Advice to younger players: “Work hard every day,” he said. “Pay attention, keep your focus and know your assignment. Just be the best player you can be.”

Layne Dunkel - Layne Dunkel started his football career in the third grade. Over the thousands of moments in his 10 years of football, the moment that sticks out to him the most is when his dad started a new football league when Dunkel was in the seventh grade.

“It was at that time that I had to step up and be a leader,” he recalled. “We only had three or four other guys who had ever played before, and it was my time to shine.”

As Dunkel has grown into his leadership role, he has also tuned up his playing skills, looking forward to shining under the bright lights this season with one thing on his mind: winning. “I’m looking forward to winning and getting a ring.”

After the season, Dunkel is looking to go to college close to his alma mater. But even if someday a college or job opportunity pulls him away, his retirement plans will always include moving back to his hometown of Sandpoint.

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Whatever happens to Dunkel in the future, he will always remember the time Garrett Cox threw him a touchdown pass his freshman year of high school.

Will Hurst - “During our Lake City game last season, I had a tackle for loss that saved a touchdown,” said Will Hurst. “That was really important to me.”

When asked if he was looking forward to more moments like the game-winning play he had last season, Hurst’s response was, “Yes, definitely. I’m really excited for this season. I’m looking forward to my first sack. That’s one accomplishment that is still on my list to achieve.”

As a Sandpoint native, Hurst hopes to someday work in Sandpoint after graduation. “I would really like to go into construction,” he said. “That’s something I would really like to do in Sandpoint.”

Advice to younger players: Before he left, Hurst had a few words of advice for his fellow underclassmen wanting to make an impact on the football team: “I would overemphasize the weight room. The weight room is very important.”

Lasse Kuhn - Brand new to football, Lasse Kuhn is coming off his first week of practice and looking forward to this season.

“I’ve only been playing for a week,” Khun said. “I got my first interception the other day, and I’m looking forward to getting more this season.” Although Kuhn is new to Sandpoint, he has nothing but good things to say about the city. “Sandpoint is a very beautiful city,” he said. “It’s small, but cool. I’m really looking forward to playing at Memorial Field.”

Luke McCorkel - Luke McCorkel is excited to get the season started. He can’t wait to get out there and beat the teams that the Sandpoint Bulldogs haven’t beat in the past year.

What stands out for McCorkel during his high school career as a football player is getting a chance to prove himself as an underclassman. “Getting repetitions on the varsity football squad as a sophomore has really helped get to the next level,” he said. “Also, beating Moscow in that second game to move on in the playoffs was really special to me."

With aspirations to get a degree in kinesiology, McCorkel plans to come back to Sandpoint someday to coach the Sandpoint Bulldogs and/or train future teams.

Advice to younger players: With parting words of wisdom for his underclassmen teammates, McCorkel implored that they act now. “Get on the grind now. It goes by so fast. Get in the weight room. I wished I had focused on the weight room, even more so back then than I even do now.”

Nathan Robere - Although senior wide receiver Nathan Robere hasn’t been under the bright lights of the state finals in Sandpoint, he has been to the finals at his previous school in Southern California— and he knows what it takes.

“A standout for me with this team is when we made it to the semi-finals last year,” he said. “It was pretty special how we’ve grown together as a team. I’m looking forward to the state finals this season.”

Although not originally from Sandpoint, Robere said that he plans on returning to Sandpoint someday because, as he said, “It’s a great place to live.”

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Advice to younger players: “Work hard— and don’t stop.”

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Blake Sherrill - For Blake Sherrill, starting for the Sandpoint Bulldog varsity football team on defense as a junior at Sandpoint High School was just one of many standout moments in his football career.

“When I heard them calling out my name and introducing me at Memorial Stadium right after the renovations were made, that was very special to me.”

After being so close to winning state last year, Sherrill can’t shake the taste for a championship. “I’m looking forward to winning state this year,” he said. “I feel like this year is the year that we will push through and win it all.”

Cody Steiger - “It’s all about winning, hanging with my friends and having fun,” said senior DB Cody Steiger.

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Cody has his eyes set on going to the state championships this season, and from the determination on his face, nothing is going to stop him and the Bulldogs.

Advice to younger players: When asked about a piece of advice that he would give to underclassmen trying to make varsity, Steiger said, “Do your best and try your hardest, and everything will fall into place.”

Dakota Wilson - Although Dakota Wilson started his football career a little later than most other players on the team, he couldn’t help but expound upon the privilege he has had playing for Coach Knowles.

“Coach Knowles has been the best coach I’ve ever had,” Wilson said. “I can honestly say that he has been the most knowledgeable coach that I’ve ever had for any sport. I feel like he’s easy to connect with. I can even talk with him about more personal stuff. He is truly a father figure to me.”

When asked about the upcoming season, Wilson shared, “I’m looking forward to beating Post Falls and beating Lakeland. I’m also looking at getting playing time in those games and getting a few sacks.”

The Sandpoint native has even bigger plans once he’s completed his education.

“I plan on someday returning to Sandpoint and opening my own gym,” he said. “I know Sandpoint, I know the people, and I just

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