Undersized Overachievers Post Falls’ Linebacking Trio Earns Coaches’ Praises

Who are the most valuable players on the Post Falls High School football team?

Obvious, you say. Take three guesses, though, and the first two will be wrong.

Josh Mort, the speedy all-Inland Empire League running back and three-year starter who’s picked up this year where he left off last season? No.

Austin Lee, the all-state tight end/ defensive end who will likely be the hottest recruited player in the state this year? No.

Three is the key number here. The answer in the minds of the Post Falls coaches - and the aforementioned standouts - is the Trojans’ trio of undersized yet tenacious linebackers: Mike Heston, Josh Dolan and Matt Curlee.

Starters last season as juniors, Heston, Dolan and Curlee earned the distinction as the Trojans’ ministers of defense. After two games, they’ve done nothing to tarnish that reputation.

Heston was named the most valuable linebacker last year when he led in tackles, averaging 13 per game. Dolan, the smallest of the trio at a wrecking ball-size 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds but perhaps the strongest pound for pound, was the second leading tackler.

Curlee moved into a starting position in the fourth game of the season after an injury to the starter in front of him. But he proved by season’s end that he belonged in the lineup - injury or no injury.

“They’re three of the more valuable guys on the whole team,” Lee said. “Without them our defense wouldn’t be what it is. It makes my job as a defensive lineman so much easier because they’re behind me.”

The Trojans’ defensive scheme calls for the vast majority of tackles to be made by the linebackers. If the ends do their jobs in running situations, ball carriers will be forced to the middle of the field and into the awaiting grasps of Heston, Dolan and Curlee.

Going into the third game of the season, Heston is well in front as the team leader with 26 tackles. Curlee has 11 and Dolan nine. Curlee also had an interception and fumble recovery in Post Falls’ season-opening win over Lakeland.

“They’re the three best (linebackers) I’ve ever coached,” said defensive coordinator Mike Blowers, in his 16th season as an assistant coach, sixth at Post Falls.

They’re also the Trojans’ most intense players - especially Heston and Dolan.

“They’re easily our emotional leaders,” coach Jerry Lee said.

Added Blowers: “They play with a fearlessness; that’s something you can’t coach in a linebacker.”

Heston plays in the middle with Curlee flanked to the strong side and Dolan to the weak side. Dolan’s primary responsibilities are to stop sweeps and assist pass coverage. Curlee generally finds himself one on one with an uncovered tackle and he must stop opponents’ power running plays. Heston must stop straight ahead rushing plays by avoiding as many as two blockers.

“Physically, Curlee is the one that’s way over his head,” Blowers said. “We don’t have the prototypical linebackers. But they overcome it with their intensity and athletic ability. They get everything out of themselves.”

They play as if attached together by an elastic belt that’s flexible enough to allow them to be in their assigned areas but also feel where each is at.

The trio also share time at fullback, primarily blocking for Mort.

But there’s no place they’d rather be than on defense.

“I play for the thrill of the game, and I love to hit people,” Heston said. “It’s controlled violence.” Dolan started for an injured Mort last year against Shadle Park and gained nearly 100 yards. But he gets the most satisfaction doling out the hits than receiving them.

“I like defense most because you can fly around and punish people more,” Dolan said.

Heston and Dolan were first team all-league picks last year. Curlee, a second team selection, would like to join his friends on the first team this fall. But that could be difficult in a league deep in talented linebackers.

The defense must be at its best on Sept. 27 when the Trojans open Inland Empire League play against nemesis Lewiston.

“We should be as good as last year on defense,” Curlee said. “But we’ve got the potential to be better.”

Lee, meanwhile, said the linebackers’ intensity rubs off on him.

“They’re a real inspiration to me,” Lee said. “You could be slacking off and you look at them and they motivate you.”

And about the linebackers being undersized. Disregard that, Lee says.

“They’re probably the hardest hitters on the team,” he said.

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