Loggers highlighted on KREM-TV; Libby football loses on road at Priest River, 44-14

The Libby Loggers traveled to Priest River, Idaho, Friday evening and took part in KREM television’s Tom’s Tailgate Weather feature. The online audience voted the Libby-Priest River game as meteorologist Tom Sherry’s destination for the week by an overwhelming 62 percent margin.

“It was a fun atmosphere at Priest River,” Libby head coach Neil Fuller said. “They have a great setting for a football field and the kids had fun with the TV crew.”

In the end, the $222 check from the television station was the only victory of the night for the Loggers. The Spartans handed Libby a 44-14 drubbing, dropping the Loggers to an 0-3 start for the season.

Fuller attributes mismatches in size and strength for much of the team’s early-season woes.

“Our kids played hard at Priest River, but we got out-muscled up front and weren’t able to get anything going offensively,” he said. “We don’t match up physically well with anyone up front, we are going to have to become better technicians.”

A lack of varsity-level experience has also hampered the Loggers this season, Fuller said. Experience, though, happens on the field and he is focused on his team getting better with each game they play.

“We are in a position where we are starting and playing several kids who aren’t necessarily ready for varsity football,” Fuller said. “We have to figure out ways to overcome our lack of experience and physicality. As a team, one of our primary goals is to improve each week. We need to do a better job of protecting our quarterback and that has to come from the backs as well as the linemen. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get some offense going this week.”

Despite the early setbacks, Fuller is pleased with how his team is performing so far this season.

“The team is keeping a positive outlook, they practice hard and they play hard,” he said. “We’ll go back to basics again this week and get ready for Eureka.”

The Loggers travel to Eureka Friday for an in-county matchup with the Lions of Lincoln County High School. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The game is Lincoln County High’s homecoming game, which will be the first of two back-to-back homecoming matchups for the Loggers. The team will travel to Troy the following week for the Trojans’ homecoming game.