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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Vikings advance to 5A state final


Coeur d'Alene's Kevin Ah-Hi (11) breaks away from Centennial's Jake Smith (32) for a short gain during Friday night's Idaho 5A football semifinal at Viking Field in Coeur d'Alene. 
 (Tom Davenport/ / The Spokesman-Review)

Coeur d’Alene High defensive coordinator Ron Nelson has had to congratulate the Vikings’ offense after most of the football team’s victories this season.

And many times Nelson had to thank the offense for bailing out the defense. Friday, for perhaps the first time in 11 games, Nelson got to revel in a win secured by his defense.

Interestingly, it was one of the usual offensive stars that came up huge for the Vikings’ defense. Running back Gabe Le, who plays about half time at linebacker, forced a fumble on a backside blitz in overtime and teammate Mike Taylor covered the ball as if he were protecting gold as Coeur d’Alene knocked off defending state champion Centennial 28-21 in a State 5A semifinal played before an estimated 3,000 fans at Viking Field.

The Vikings (9-2) will travel to Pocatello next week to meet Twin Falls (10-1) in the state final at Idaho State University’s Holt Arena. The day and time won’t be finalized until Sunday.

Twin Falls topped Capital 31-21 at Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium in the other semifinal.

CdA will play for a state title for the first time since 1987. The Viks last won a state championship in 1985.

Nelson said the Viks put in the backside blitz in practice this week especially for Centennial (8-3).

“A lot of their play-action stuff is to our left and their right and we have to cover the flat to that side so we wanted to try and chase him down (quarterback Kevin Pond),” Nelson said. “So we kind of keyed on that and ran him down a little bit more than he was used to.”

On the series in which Centennial tied the score at 21-21 to ultimately force overtime, CdA blitzed on fourth-and-17 at its 49-yard line. But the Viks didn’t get to Pond soon enough, and the Patriots quarterback found Justin Hurd on a 51-yard TD connection.

Hurd had gotten past Mitch Aguilar and ran under the ball almost like he was catching a punt before completing the score with 2:09 to play.

“We brought seven on that last play and if we don’t get him that puts our (defensive backs) in a bad situation – and that’s what gave up the (TD). It was my fault,” Nelson said.

CdA went first in OT. Le gained 3 yards on the first play. On second-and-goal at the 7, Vik quarterback Max Lyons rolled to his right, seemingly luring Centennial’s pass coverage to the right, and then he threw back behind the Patriots’ coverage to a wide-open Kyle Mills in the end zone. Lyons kicked the point-after.

“I was bringing it all on that one,” Le said of the game-preserving play. “I was frustrated most of the game. I felt the offense didn’t play very well. They have a good defense, but I know we could have played better than that.”

On the Pats’ first play, running back Jordan Latham let a pass in the flat skip off his hands. The game ended on the next play when Le, sprinting from the backside, stuck his helmet into Pond’s back, causing him to cough up the ball that Taylor alertly recovered.

And CdA players, coaches and fans flooded the field in celebration immediately thereafter.

Le had to force a smile afterward. He said it was a frustrating night for the offense. He finished with 72 yards on 23 carries, and he was frequently seen arguing with teammates throughout the game. Backfield mate Kevin Ah-Hi was limited to 40 yards on 15 carries.

Centennial’s defense caused much of the Viks’ offensive frustration. The Patriots’ sizeable line rarely allowed the CdA line any push.

CdA took a 21-7 lead when Le scored from 4 yards out with 9:52 to go in the third quarter.

But the Pats took advantage of a muffed fair catch attempt by Tom Bjornson when he fumbled at his own 7. Three plays later, Pond scored on a sneak from the 1 to pull Centennial within 21-14 with 3 minutes remaining in the third period.

That’s where the score remained until Pond converted on fourth-and-17 for the tying TD.

“Our defense battled all night long,” Centennial coach Lee Neumann said. “We were put in tough positions and we fought and fought and fought. Turnovers killed us. That’s why we lost, really.”

The Pats lost all five of their fumbles and were intercepted once.

CdA coach Shawn Amos couldn’t praise his defense enough, either.

“It’s been all talk about our offense, but boy our defense was outstanding,” Amos said. “And their defense was really, really good. Our defense has been making plays for us all year, you just haven’t been able to notice. Tonight it was obvious. Our defense is better than people think.”

Amos noticed the offensive players’ frustration.

“As a team we lost focus sometimes,” Amos said. “You can’t do that in games like this. But we found a way to win.”