Expect Many Points In Big Showdown
Football
Post Falls High School football coach Jerry Lee enjoyed not having to answer this week what had become an annual question going into the fourth week.
Can your team finally beat Lewiston?
Until last fall, Post Falls teams were winless against the Bengals since the teams started playing in 1980. Specifically, the Trojans were 0-16 in the series.
“It’s nice not to hear that,” Lee said.
Post Falls took care of the goose egg in impressive fashion, knocking off the Bengals 41-20 at Lewiston.
The Bengals got a measure of revenge in the State A-1 Division II semifinals, using a late field goal to upend the Inland Empire League champions 30-27.
That playoff loss was tough to swallow for the Trojans, who felt they should have been playing in the state title game. It was the second loss by Post Falls in the semifinals in as many years.
So there’s plenty of drama building up for the league opener Friday. Kickoff at Post Falls Junior High is at 7:30 p.m.
Both teams are 3-0.
In other games, Coeur d’Alene (1-2) visits Lakeland (1-2); Moses Lake (1-1) of central Washington is at ever-improving Lake City (2-1); and Sandpoint (3-0) goes to West Valley (0-2).
Elsewhere, Bonners Ferry (1-2) is at Moscow (1-2) in an Intermountain League opener; Kellogg (3-1, 0-1) treks to Priest River (2-2, 0-1); St. Maries (2-1) goes to Wallace (1-3); Odessa (2-0), the State B power from Washington, visits Mullan (3-1); Falls Christian (0-3) travels to Clark Fork (2-1); and Kootenai (1-2) is at Lakeside (3-1, 2-1).
Lewiston at Post Falls
The third-ranked Trojans will be after another first - their first win at home against No. 2-rated Lewiston.
A close contest is expected Friday, but both coaches predict the scoreboard will be lit up.
The obvious key for Lewiston is containing, to some degree, Post Falls running back Josh Mort.
Mort went off for 286 yards and four touchdowns in the league opener last year. Lewiston managed to slow him down in the playoff rematch.
Lee expects the Bengals to overload against the run.
“We’re used to teams trying to stop the run,” Lee said. “We’re going to have to be able to pass the ball. And I think we will.”
Said Menegas: “He’s (Mort) still unstoppable. The key for us is to keep him off the field as much as possible. We’re going to mix it up (defensively). We’re not going to give them a steady diet of anything.”
Ball control is something Lee desires. Although his defense is much stronger than a year ago, Lee believes his offense can aid the defense significantly.
“We’ve got to frustrate their offense by keeping them on the sideline,” Lee said.
Lewiston and Post Falls shared one common opponent in the first three weeks: West Valley.
West Valley coach Steve Kent predicted a Post Falls victory last year.
“I hit it right on the head (last year),” said Kent, whose team fell to Lewiston 49-21 two weeks ago and 28-12 to Post Falls last week. “They’re obviously two different football teams. Lewiston is very quick, but Post Falls is much more physical. If Post Falls can control the football - and I think they will, we had 400 yards total offense against Lewiston - then Post Falls should do well.”
Lewiston is led by seniors Brad Rice (quarterback) and Laki Ah Hi (running back/linebacker). Rice has completed 41 of 68 passes for 502 yards and seven touchdowns. He hasn’t thrown an interception. He’s also scrambled effectively for 146 yards on 18 attempts.
Menegas is impressed with the strength of Post Falls’ defense - linebackers Josh Dolan, Mike Heston and Matt Curlee.
, DataTimes