Eagle’s Trench Work, Big Plays Drop Post Falls

The Eagle Mustangs won the war in the trenches en route to a 38-6 victory over the Post Falls Trojans in the first round of the Idaho A-1 Division II football playoffs Friday night.

Eagle (9-1) held the Trojans to 222 yards in total offense while rolling up 468 yards of their own.

“They were really physical up front (on defense),” Post Falls coach Jerry Lee said. “They did a great job; they just dominated us. We knew they were a great team and that it would take our best game to beat them, but we just didn’t get the job done.”

The Trojans grabbed the momentum early in the first quarter, stopping the Mustangs’ first drive with an interception by Cameron Christiansen.

His 39-yard return set up the Trojans’ only score. Josh Mort ran for 8 yards, then 3 yards for the touchdown, providing Post Falls with a short-lived lead.

Eagle promptly marched down the field with a seven-play, 62-yard scoring drive capped by Scott Thompson’s 3-yard touchdown run.

Shaun McLean added the point-after and the Mustangs led from then on.

Post Falls (8-2) was a frequent victim of the big play, being stopped on three fourth-down plays and allowing touchdown plays of 74, 61 and 44 yards.

Eagle’s Thompson rushed for 190 yards on 23 carries. Eagle quarterback Tyler Moyer completed 6 of 13 attempts for 178 yards.

Mort gained 98 yards rushing on 28 carries and Shawn Michael had three receptions for 85 yards, but the Trojans had difficulty sustaining drives.

“Mort got pounded tonight. We couldn’t get any holes for him,” quarterback Adam Fehling said. “We couldn’t do anything offensively. We didn’t get it done anywhere tonight.”

Late in the first half, Post Falls tight end Austin Lee suffered a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the second half.

“We knew that with a big team like this we had to go toe-to-toe with them,” Eagle coach Mike Glen said. “It takes time and you have to be patient, but in the second half the patience paid off and we started popping off big plays.”

Eagle advances to a second-round matchup against Lewiston, which defeated Nampa 50-17.

Eagle 38, Post Falls 6

Post Falls 6 0 0 0 - 6

Eagle 7 3 14 14 - 38

PF-Mort 3 run (kick fail) E-Thompson 3 run (McLean kick) E-FG McLean 21 E-Putzier 74 pass from Moyer (McLean kick) E-Moyer 2 run (McLean kick) E-Putzier 61 pass from Moyer (McLean kick) E-Mittleider 44 run (McLean kick)