Shannon puts town on map

Prep football fans who haven’t braved a Friday night drive around the lake may not know it yet, but Harrison has a football team.

Thanks in no small part to the exploits of sophomore running back Ben Shannon, the Kootenai Warriors have qualified for the State 1A playoffs for the first time.

Shannon, 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds, has amassed 1,170 yards on 105 carries – more than 11 yards per carry – with nine touchdowns this season.

He said he’s flattered when he receives attention for his success, but sheds most of the praise.

Instead, Shannon credits his offensive line and fullback for opening the massive holes through which he runs.

“I wouldn’t be doing any of this without those guys up front,” he said, referring to linemen Jason Dutton, Brett Speelman and Jesse Cress, among others, and fullback Kolten Willms. “They are responsible for every yard and every touchdown.”

Although the postseason looms large, the Warriors still have a pair of regular-season games left – against winless Lakeside on Friday before a showdown with Mullan the following week for the North Star League title. Maybe more important, the winner of the latter game plays host to the loser in the State 1A Division II playoff opener.

Shannon said he and his teammates aren’t looking past anybody, though they did easily handle Mullan in a non-league contest earlier this season.

“We know that we have to go out every game and perform the way our coaches have taught us,” said Shannon, who also has six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown this season. “One of the best things about this team is that we all get along so well and everybody is on the same page.

“Yeah, I think we’re good enough to make a deep run at state, but there are some pretty tough teams down south and that’s why we have to take them one at a time.”

Shannon said his dad Keith tossed him a football when he was in first grade and he’s been carrying one around, more or less, ever since – much to the delight of his school and the entire town.

“What motivates me is trying to do best I can for all those people in the stands and everybody else in Harrison,” Shannon said. “It would be really nice if we can keep winning.”