Vikings Floored By Bengals’ Quick Start

Lewiston High’s first six possessions ended at the same destination: Coeur d’Alene’s end zone.

The visiting Bengals, scoring in an alarmingly efficient manner, throttled Coeur d’Alene 40-13 on a chilly Friday night at Viking Field.

The second-ranked Bengals improved to 7-0, 3-0 in the Inland Empire League. Lewiston entertains unbeaten Sandpoint (7-0, 2-0) in what should be a dandy matchup next Friday.

“They’re a heck of a football team,” said CdA coach Bill Anderson, who saw standout receiver and kicker Ben Davis go down with an apparent season-ending knee injury. “They’re fundamentally sound and they’ve got great skill kids.”

Skill translated into yardage and touchdowns. Lewiston took its first five possessions in for TDs to grab a 34-13 lead at halftime.

The Bengals had 310 total yards by intermission. Quarterback Brad Rice had three rushing touchdowns and chucked a 24-yard scoring pass to Matt Squires.

Lewiston finished with 472 total yards. Second-string quarterback Sennett Pierce entered in the fourth quarter and went 8 of 8 for 65 yards, complementing Rice’s 16 of 25 for 208 yards.

Rice rushed for another 108 yards. His 8-yard TD scamper around right end 1:15 before halftime gave the Bengals a 21-point halftime lead.

“We had a real good first half,” Lewiston coach Nick Menegas understated.

The Bengals delivered the back-breaker with a 10-play, 65-yard scoring march to open the third quarter. On the drive, Rice was 3 of 3 passing and bolted around right end from 3 yards out to score.

“That (Rice) is a heck of a player,” Anderson said.

Coeur d’Alene (3-4, 0-2) moved the ball effectively at times. Ben Ziegler’s 67-yard run set up his own 2-yard TD trot to tie the game at 7-7 midway through the first quarter.

Lewiston went on top 28-7 before CdA’s Nick Rook completed a 16-yard TD pass to Max Peebles with 4:58 left in the second quarter.

Rook’s scrambles accounted for much of the Vikings’ offense after Davis’ injury. Rook ran for 126 yards, but had an off night passing, completing 6 of 16 with four interceptions.

“Losing Ben (Davis) takes away a lot of our weapons,” Anderson said.

Davis’ injury came after he scooped up a low snap and tried to run for a first down out of punt formation. Cruising into open field, he “heard a pop in my left knee,” Davis said. Nobody hit Davis on the play.

CdA finished with 346 yards.

“We got some things done on offense, but we hurt ourselves with penalties and turnovers,” Anderson said.

Squires and Mickey Hewitt both surpassed 100 yards receiving. Laki Ah Hi pitched in 61 rushing yards and another TD.

Lewiston 40, Coeur d’Alene 13

Lewiston 14 20 6 0 -40

Coeur d’Alene 7 6 0 0 -13

L-squires 24 pass from Rice (McCorkle kick) C-Ziegler 2 run (Davis kick) L-Ah Hi 2 run (McCorkle kick) L-Rice 16 run (McCorkle kick) L-Rice 18 run (McCorkle Kick) C-Peebles 16 pass from Rook (pass failed) L-Rice 8 run (McCorkle kick) L-Rice 3 run (pass failed)

, DataTimes