Mullan Gets Off To Fast Start

Mullan football coach John Drager looked relaxed along the sideline before the opening kickoff against Falls Christian in the last season-opening game in his 33 years at Mullan High School.

After all, what is there to be nervous about when playing on a field named in your honor in front of a town that you have continually brought joy to through the amazing success of the young men you coach?

As it turned out, there was no need to worry. The Tigers rolled over the Eagles 60-14, triggering the eight-man football mercy rule that ends a game when a team is up by 45 points.

Although there was no need to worry, Drager still was relieved to start his final season with a win because that’s the way it’s supposed to be in Mullan.

“It’s always been tradition up here to win and we expect to win every time we go out on the field,” Drager said. “We’re the smallest school in the league, but almost every guy in school comes out for the team just like their brothers, and I’ve even coached a lot of their fathers.”

This year, the team is led by quarterback Dan Fritz who recovered a Falls Christian fumble on the third play of the game and then connected with Chris Angle two plays later for a 24-yard touchdown. The Tigers never looked back.

Chad Christopherson then took over with a 43-yard punt return and a 67-yard scoring catch from Fritz to put the Tigers up 22-0 by the end of the first quarter.

“This was a good starter game for the season,” Fritz said while giving a lot of credit for his success to the offensive line.

Walking the other sideline was first-year Eagles’ coach Rick Alexander. Alexander just moved to the area two weeks ago and inherited a team with no seniors.

“We’ve got a lot to work on, but when we get healthy we’ll be all right,” Alexander said.

Getting healthy will be a key for the Eagles as they were missing four starting lineman due to injury or lack of practice. Mullan’s defense was in the backfield as soon as the ball was snapped on almost every down and held the Eagles’ to 53 yards rushing on 28 carries.

Falls Christian’s only bright spot came with 1 second left in the first half when a 65-yard touchdown pass from Seth Whaley to Aaron Mitson kept the Eagles from having the mercy rule imposed at the end of the half.

The celebration would be short-lived as Mullan’s Brad Ban would run 44 yards for the winning touchdown on the Tigers’ first play from scrimmage in the second half.

“I was very happy with our running game tonight, but I was disappointed we didn’t get a chance to throw the ball much,” Drager said.

Next week the Tigers will again step onto John Drager Field but a much different team is coming to town. League favorite Lakeside will be looking to avenge a loss from last season’s league championship tiebreaker.

Lakeside 58, CF 12

In North Star League action at Plummer, Lakeside used a 30-point first quarter and went on to beat Clark Fork in a game cut short by the mercy rule in the third quarter.

Lakeside’s Buck Allen scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one on a punt return).

Defensively, Mario Falciani of Lakeside registered two interceptions and returned them both for scores. His first one was a 100-yard return in the second quarter, and in the third, Falciani returned an interception 48 yards to to end the game.

College volleyball

Washington State University, ranked eighth in the USA Today/ AVCA Top 25 preseason Poll, opened its season with a pair of 3-0 wins over Tulsa and Gonzaga at the Cougar Challenge Tournament at Bohler Gym.

The host Cougars defeated Tulsa 15-9, 15-6, 15-4, and Gonzaga 15-5, 15-6, 15-6.

In other tournament games, Idaho State defeated Tulsa 16-14, 15-10, 15-7, and Southern Illinois 15-12, 16-14, 15-9 and Gonzaga defeated Southern Illinois 15-7, 15-13, 15-10.

Prep volleyball

Kellogg defeated Falls Christian 15-6, 15-13 in the high school volleyball opener for both teams.

Amy Lemon had four kills for Kellogg and Marcy Swift added nine service points. Liesl Runkle had five aces for Falls Christian.