Coeur d’Alene defense rules the day in 35-7 win over Moses Lake

With a quick strike-offense such as Coeur d’Alene’s, its defense is disproportionately on the field, leaving it more susceptible to scoring plays.

“Sometimes our defense gets a bad rap, but it’s sometimes our offense can score fast and the other team gets more possessions,” longtime Vikings head coach Shawn Amos said.

In Coeur d’Alene’s 35-7 drubbing of visiting Moses Lake on Friday night at Viking Field, it wouldn’t have mattered if that unit never took a breather.

The Vikings’ defense forced five turnovers and kept Moses Lake out of the end zone – the Chiefs’ lone score was a defensive touchdown in garbage time – to earn their third straight win.

“Our defense flew around. They did a great job. They had a shutout, really,” Amos said. “They did outstanding.”

Moses Lake (1-2), a playoff team a year ago which returned 16 starters including nine on defense, appeared to be in a buzzsaw early.

University of Washington-bound quarterback Colson Yankoff orchestrated 77 and 71 yard touchdown drives to boost Coeur d’Alene (3-1) right out of the chute.

A bad snap on a Moses Lake punt attempt then put the Vikings on the Chiefs’ five yard line. Coeur d’Alene scored on the next play, a 5-yard hook-up from Yankoff to Caleb Beggerly, to take a 22-0 lead into the second quarter.

Both teams went scoreless in a second quarter marred by penalties and turnovers.

On the Vikings’ first play of the second half, however, Shilo Morgan ripped off a 49-yard touchdown run.

Yankoff, who finished with three touchdown passes in three quarters of work, praised his offense for pushing past the bad quarter. When Cole Ramseyer caught his second touchdown pass of the game later in the quarter, the cushion was enough for Amos to pull most of his starters.

“We had a good first quarter, a little spotty in the second,” Yankoff said. “But we just kept telling ourselves to do our jobs and good things would happen.”

Moses Lake defensive coordinator Jared Pope tipped his cap to Coeur d’Alene.

“They’re a talented team. You can’t let then have big plays like that,” Pope said. “Maybe a 20-yard play here and there, but that’s it. They’ll take advantage of what you give them.”

Coeur d’Alene, ranked second in the Idaho 5A media poll, travels to top-ranked and defending Washington state 4A champion Camas next week.