Post Falls routs Lake City to stay undefeated

It was business as usual for Post Falls, and business has been pretty good for the Trojans this season.

Third-ranked Post Falls remained unbeaten with a 49-14 victory over visiting Lake City on a blustery Friday night in the 5A Inland Empire League opener for both teams.

If that score sounds familiar it’s because it falls in line with the Trojans’ season averages. They came in averaging 49.7 points and allowing 19.8.

“We distribute the ball really well,” said quarterback Nate Buer, who passed for 270 yards and three touchdowns. “The line does a great job blocking. We can get the ball outside, we can get the ball inside.”

And they can definitely get it in the end zone. The Trojans (7-0) scored seven touchdowns in the first three quarters and didn’t punt until early in the fourth. They play fast, lining up for the next snap within seconds of the previous play.

Their showdown with No. 2 Coeur d’Alene in two weeks should keep scoreboard operators and stat keepers busy.

“That’s kind of the style of offense we play,” said coach Blaine Bennett, whose team visits Lewiston next Friday. “Nate obviously is doing a great job getting the ball out on the perimeter and we have two excellent running backs (Braden Vaughan and Quin Bennett).”

Lake City (2-4) kept up with the Trojans for a while. The Timberwolves have some firepower with senior running back Grant Clark, senior quarterback Bryce Buttz and senior receiver Mason Morrow.

Morrow hauled in a short pass, eluded a defender and raced 80 yards to cut Post Falls’ lead to 21-14 early in the second quarter.

Buer hit 6-foot-7 receiver Jake Pfennigs for a 4-yard touchdown to give the Trojans a 28-14 lead.

The Timberwolves appeared ready to answer again. They moved to the Trojans’ 17 but Buttz couldn’t corral a snap – a recurring problem for the Timberwolves – and Post Falls’ Coleton Kazmierczak pounced on the ball.

Vaughan’s 1-yard touchdown run bumped Post Falls’ lead to 35-14 at half.

The Trojans rolled up 331 total yards in the first half. Vaughan finished with 105 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Bennett added 97 yards.

Clark ran for 126 yards in the first half but didn’t find as much room in the second half. Lake City was forced to punt on its first two possessions then turned it over on another botched center-quarterback exchange.

Defensive coordinator “Adam Shamion did a great job,” Bennett said. “Holding a team like that with that type of offensive power, the offensive line and the running back, to 14 points was a great defensive effort.”

Post Falls pulled away on a Vaughan touchdown run and Taylor Ryan’s 39-yard touchdown on a screen pass.

Lake City committed four turnovers, including three fumbles. Clark finished with 174 yards and Buttz passed for 173 yards and pair of TDs.