Trojans’ Win Over Lewiston A Milestone

The Post Falls High School football team’s victory over Lewiston last week needs to be put in perspective.

It’s the best game played by a Post Falls team in several years, including last year’s 9-2 Trojans.

But, grab your shoulder pads fans, the Trojans can play better, much better.

“If we all got it together in the same game it could be real scary,” said Trojans running back Josh Mort.

It’s hard to imagine Mort getting it more together than he did against the Bengals. He rushed for 286 yards on 38 carries and scored four touchdowns. But he sees a 300-yard game in his future.

“They were very impressive,” Lewiston coach Nick Menegas said. “We got whipped. That was a good old-fashion fanny kicking.”

Menegas agreed that the key play in the game came late in the first half when Post Falls tied the score at 14-all with a play-action touchdown pass to wide-open Austin Lee in the middle of the field.

“We had prepared for that all week,” Menegas said. “In fact, they took a timeout and we talked them through that exact play.”

“That would be nice, but right now we’re just trying to mend our wounds,” Menegas said.

Unsightly record

The Coeur d’Alene football teams are a combined 1-7 after four weeks.

It could be 1-9 after this week. In fact, when both teams collide in a season-ending game, there could be just one win between the two teams.

That final game has been moved to Thursday, Oct. 26 at Lake City, to avoid conflict with the State A-1 and A-2 volleyball tourneys at LC on Oct. 27-28.

“Our biggest problem is every time we make a mistake the other team takes advantage of it,” CdA coach Bill Anderson said. “It’s very frustrating at this point. But I’m happy with the kids’ attitudes. They’re still working hard.”

A foot above the rest

Coeur d’Alene High junior kicker/wide receiver Ben Davis is going to be recruited by colleges next year based on his foot alone.

The three-sport athlete has one of the more accurate and lengthy kicking styles found in some time in North Idaho.

He missed just barely to the right on a 51-yard attempt in CdA’s season-opening game. In the Viks’ win over Deer Park, he nailed a career-long 48 yarder.

And he had plenty of distance to spare. The kick may have been good from as far out as 60 yards.

Davis has midfield range, to be sure. During a recent practice, he made 7 of 12 from 60 yards. Such range shortens the field considerably for CdA’s offense.

More girls participating

The number of girls competing in high school sports reached a record level in 1994-95 and helped boost overall participation for the sixth straight year, the National Federal of State High School Associations said Monday.

A total 5,794,429 boys and girls participated in high school athletics in 1994-95, up 179,446 from the previous academic year, the association reported based on figures from its state associations.

Only the “baby boom” year of 1977-78 had higher total participation, at 6,450,482, the association said.

Girls’ participation reached 2,240,461 last year, an increase of 115,706 from the previous year, the association said.

Soccer gained 25,177 female participants from the previous year for a total of 191,350 - moving it from the No. 12 spot in popularity among girls to No. 5. Basketball again ranked first among girls, followed by track and field, volleyball and softball.

Among boys, 3,536,359 took part in athletics programs last year, up 57,829 from the previous year and the highest since 1978-79.

Football had the biggest increase among boys’ sports, up 27,113, to remain the leader with 955,247 participants.

This ‘n that

Longtime Madison of Rexburg girls basketball coach Garry Parkinson is retiring after 13 seasons as head coach. He coached the Bobcats to three consecutive State A-1 titles (1988-90) and two straight A-2 championships (1984-85). He will continue as the school’s athletic director.

Kari Burg, the top returning hitter on the St. Maries High volleyball team who was lost for the season with a foot injury, expects to return next year for her senior season. Though she’s not playing this year, she’s assisting coach Mitch Santos during practice and matches.

, DataTimes