Post Falls Darts Past Lakeland Hollenbeck, Mort Get Off To Quick Starts As Trojans Win The ‘Battle Of The Prairie’
Post Falls High School’s fleet-footed wide receiver Brett Hollenbeck turned the “Battle of the Prairie” into a track meet in the first quarter.
In the sprint events, Hollenbeck hauled in a 93-yard touchdown pass from Travis O’Briant and returned a punt 85 yards as Post Falls easily handled the Lakeland Hawks 27-7 in a season-opening game Friday.
After the first quarter, the game returned to the “field” and that’s where junior running back Josh Mort took over. Mort rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns in the second and third quarters as the Trojans put the Hawks away early.
Big plays such as Hollenbeck’s TDs and the ground attack led by Mort are things that will give many teams, not just Lakeland, problems this season.
“We sort of figured we’d be fighting an uphill battle coming over here anyway, but then when you allow two touchdowns like that … well that’s going to happen when you have some kids that are inexperienced and playing new positions,” Lakeland coach Terry Kiefer said. “It wasn’t something we didn’t expect to a certain extent, but you have to hand it to Post Falls. They’re a good football team and played a good game.”
The Trojans didn’t waste any time scoring - even though they were pinned at their 2-yard line on a well-executed punt by Lakeland’s Cameron Napora.
On third-and-5 from the 7, O’Briant dropped deep in the pocket, remained calm and then lofted a deep pass to Hollenbeck, who caught the ball in stride. Hollenbeck darted through a pair of Hawk defensive backs and won a sprint to the end zone.
With a minute before the end of the first quarter, Hollenbeck struck for his second TD on the punt return.
But Hollenbeck was quick to share the credit.
Hollenbeck got outside of Lakeland’s containment thanks largely to the blocking of Shawn Huff and Jeremy Wallace.
“Shawn Huff took down about three guys and there was (Jeremy) Wallace down field a little further,” Hollenbeck said. “It was their touchdown as well mine.”
Don’t tell the Trojans the game was non-league and doesn’t count toward the state playoffs. Their opener Friday was as important as any game on their schedule.
“It’s the ‘Battle of the Prairie’ and it’s always great to beat Lakeland,” Hollenbeck said.
Post Falls coach Jerry Lee agreed.
“To start the season off with a win over an always well-coached Lakeland team is good,” said Lee, whose team also opened last season with a win over the Hawks. “It’s been a long time since we beat them two years in a row. It’s a great feeling and our kids deserve a lot of credit.”
Lakeland, which over the years hasn’t found itself playing from behind, fell behind 21-0 midway through the second quarter.
Taking the ball from its 46, Post Falls marched to the end zone in nine plays, capped by a gutty 3-yard dive by Mort, who carried the ball five times in the series for 41 yards.
Post Falls put the game away on its second possession of the third quarter. It was Mort right, Mort up the middle, Mort left as the Trojans drove 69 yards. The score came on another big play, a well-executed and disguised play at that.
With third-and-18 at the Lakeland 29, O’Briant dropped back deep but slipped the ball into Mort’s belly.
Mort did the rest, dashing 29 yards and taking advantage of a nice block by sophomore wide receiver Cameron Christiansen.
The TD put Post Falls ahead 27-0 with 6:06 left in the period.
Lakeland’s best opportunity to score in the first half stalled at the Trojan 14 just before halftime.
The Hawks avoided the shutout late in the fourth quarter when quarterback Al Bevacqua, who faked a reverse handoff, found Josh Phelps wide open on a 39-yard connection.
Post Falls 27, Clark Fork 7
Lakeland 0 0 0 7 - 7
Post Falls 14 7 6 0 - 27
PF-Hollenbeck 93 pass from O’Briant (Lee kick)
PF-Hollenbeck 85 punt return (Lee kick)
PF-Mort 3 run (Lee kick)
PF-Mort 29 run (kick failed)
LL-Phelps 39 pass from Bevacqua (Pluid kick)
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo
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