Eagles Use Fresh Legs To Wrap Up Opener

Ah, the luxury of numbers.

Falls Christian used all 25 of its players during Friday afternoon’s North Star League eight-man football opener at David Hutchison Memorial Field.

And the Eagles’ fresher legs were evident at the end of a 36-23 victory over Clark Fork.

“Last year, I had to play defense and offense,” Falls Christian junior running back Tyson Allen said. “This year, I’m just playing offense. I felt fresher all throughout the game. It helped with the last run.”

Allen ran for 258 yards on 28 carries, including four touchdowns.

Allen’s final score, a 29-yard run on a pitch over the right side, came with 1:44 left in the game.

Fall Christian regained possession two plays later, as senior tackle David Slater intercepted Clark Fork on the Wampus Cats’ own 22-yard line.

And time ran out with the Eagles converting a first down on the Clark Fork nine.

“We’re not the type of team that has been there (winning) before,” said second-year Falls Christian coach Brian Cruess. “I went out there (during a timeout with 1:55 remaining), and I was talking to some real tired ballplayers. That last touchdown was a championship touchdown.”

“Winning, it’s a new thing,” Allen added. “Usually, we’re the major underdogs.”

Allen was quick to give Falls Christian a 14-0 lead less than 7 minutes into the game.

On the Eagles’ first possession, Allen grabbed a high pitch, then followed the block of Luke Swank to get outside and ramble 46 yards over the left side into the end zone.

Clark Fork drove 50 yards on the next possession, reaching the Falls Christian two before quarterback Ian Reuter fumbled. The Eagles Matt Backs recovered the ball on the five.

Two plays later, Allen won a 95-yard footrace down the right sideline for a TD.

“He’s going to be somebody you’re going to have to look out for a lot,” Wampus Cats coach Frank Hammersley said. “He never stops.”

The teams combined for 28 points in the second quarter.

Falls Christian gained 309 yards on the ground. Clark Fork ran for 217 yards, including 134 by Brent Stevens.

Falls 36, Clark Fork 23

Clark Fork 0 14 6 3 - 23

Falls Christian 14 14 0 8 - 36

FC-Allen 46 run (run fails)

FC-Allen 95 run (Berg run)

FC-Swank 15 run (Horton pass from Backs)

CF-Blaine Stevens 30 pass from Reuter (pass fails)

FC-Allen 56 run (run fails)

CF-Brent Stevens 62 run (Blaine Stevens run)

CF-Blaine Stevens 26 fumble return (pass fails)

CF-Reuter 24 field goal

FC-Allen 29 run (Allen run)

Lakeside 58, Kootenai 14

The Knights put up some impressive numbers in their season debut at Harrison.

Lakeside, which had three TDs called back, rushed for 372 yards and passed for 193 yards.

Sophomore Todd Morris ran for 157 yards, including an 80-yard TD, plus caught four passes for 63 yards, including a 30-yard TD, to lead Lakeside.

Lakeside 14 22 14 8 - 58

Kootenai 0 0 14 0 - 14

L-Allen 35 interception return (Falciani run)

L-Falciani 46 run (run fails)

L-Daniels 48 fumble return (Pluff pass from Falciani)

L-Pluff 15 pass from Falciani (Allen)

L-Morris 80 run (run fails)

L-Pluff 50 pass from Falciani (Lachnit run)

K-Bissaillon 80 kickoff return (run fails)

L-Falciani 87 run (Morris run)

K-Bissaillon 95 run (Ausman run)

L-Morris 30 pass from Bone (run fails)