District I Rules In All-Star Game Wallace, Myers Play Major Roles In 16-9 Victory That Evens Series

Neither Jeremy Wallace nor Matt Myers were particularly thrilled by the way their high school football seasons ended last fall.

So they made the most of Saturday’s last chance to erase some bad memories by leading District I to a 16-9 win over District II in the 12th annual all-star football game for North Idaho seniors.

Wallace, a defensive end from Post Falls, collected three sacks in earning the District I offensive player of the game award and Myers, a running back from Bonners Ferry, was named his team’s offensive player of the game after rushing for 140 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

In distinctly different ways, their regular seasons ended far too abruptly.

Wallace and the Trojans captured the Inland Empire League championship, advancing to the state semi-finals before dropping a heartbreaker in the final minutes to rival Lewiston, 30-27.

Myers also had postseason aspirations, but Bonners Ferry finished a disappointing 0-5 in the Intermountain League.

Saturday, however, Wallace led a stout District I defense that held District II’s potent offense scoreless in the second half. The quick-footed 6-foot-3, 230-pounder was constantly in the opponent’s backfield and had a tackle for a loss to go with his three sacks.

Complementing the defense was the gutty running of Myers, who came into the game hurt. He sprained an ankle during practice Wednesday, then suffered a deep thigh bruise Thursday.

And early in the third quarter, Myers slightly strained a quad muscle.

Still, he managed to gain 90 of his game-high 140 yards (on 27 carries) in the second half and put District I ahead for good with a 5-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.

“It’s a good way to end the year because we had such a disappointing season,” Myers said. “But I was pretty banged up coming into (the game) and I was just hoping to survive.”

Myers did more than survive, and the defense did the rest.

“I was a little disappointed in the end of our season so I was pretty excited about the game,” said Wallace, who will walk on at Idaho. “The defense was all fired up to make our last game special.”

Moscow head coach Eric Bjorkman, who coached District II, was impressed with Wallace, too.

“He’s a great player. I don’t know if he’s that good or if we’re that bad, but he had an outstanding game,” Bjorkman said. “We were just paralyzed on offense in the second half. We just didn’t have enough time to throw the ball.”

St. Maries coach Curt Carr, who served as District I head coach, gave praise where it was due.

“The defense played outstanding, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that out,” said Carr, who credited Post Falls coach Jerry Lee with the defensive game plan. “They kept us in the game and when we had to score we did. It wasn’t pretty, wasn’t flashy, but it got the job done.”

The victory snapped District II’s three-game winning streak and evened the series at 6-6.

“I’m 3-0 in all-star games, but I can’t get it done in the (state) playoffs,” Carr said, smiling.

District I 16, District II 9

District II 6 3 0 0 - 9 District I 8 0 8 0 - 16

DII-Stinebaugh 7 pass from Holden (kick failed)

DI-Hall 1 run (O’Briant run)

DII-Schillinger FG 26

DI-Myers 5 run (Hall run)

Individual statistics

Rushing: DIIWorkman 14-54, Stinebaugh 8-25, Miles 4-25, Engle 2-0, Holden 8-(-36), Farris 1-5; DI-Myers 27-140, Lamb 4-14, Holdahl 4-(-11), Daly 3-19, Hall 4-17.

Passing: DIIHolden 8-18-119, Engle 2-8-37; DI-Holdahl 3-11-36, O’Briant 3-7-35.

Receiving: DIIFarris 5-94, Stinebaugh 1-7, Lathen 1-17, Wood 1-11, Alfrey 1-16, Workman 1-11; DI-Hollenbeck 1-12, Nipp 2-31, Daly 1-4, Corbeill 1-13, Lamb 1-11.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo