Trojans’ Horses Prevail Mort’s Four-Touchdown Night Proves Too Much For Wv

In a game featuring perhaps the two top college football prospects in the region - Post Falls’ Austin Lee and West Valley’s Ty Gregorak - it was Lee’s supporting cast that provided the difference.

Lee’s support came in the form of the quick feet of running back Josh Mort, the blocking in front of Mort and the Trojans’ defense.

Mort scored four touchdowns, pushing his season total to 13 as the Trojans wore out West Valley 28-12 in a non-league game at Post Falls Junior High School.

It served as a tuneup for Post Falls (3-0 overall), which entertains Inland Empire League nemesis Lewiston in a huge conference opener Friday.

West Valley (0-2), which fell 49-21 at Lewiston last week, continues its non-league trip through the IEL when the Eagles play their home opener next week against Sandpoint.

Mort rushed for 260 yards on 25 carries, pushing his season total to 695.

“He’s just a great, great running back and he’s going to have a big year,” said Gregorak, a two-way starter at linebacker and quarterback. Gregorak and the Eagles witnessed many of Mort’s scampers as he sprinted through and around the Eagles.

Mort had the Eagles chasing him from the opening play. The 5-foot-8 senior took a pitch right, cut up a seam behind his blockers, then cut back across the field at the 50-yard on the way to a 64-yard romp.

Barely 22 seconds into the contest the Trojans were ahead 7-0.

But West Valley fought gamely, as defensive lineman Brian Lawler would recover back-to-back fumbles to set up what would prove to be the Eagles’ lone touchdown.

Lawler’s first recovery put the Eagles in ideal position at the Post Falls 13. Four plays later, the 6-3, 245-pound Gregorak bulled over on a 1-yard scoring run. The extra-point kick was short.

But two plays later, Lawler pounced on a bungled snap between quarterback and center, putting the Eagles at the Post Falls 36.

Moments later, on third and 10, Gregorak lofted a 36-yard pass to Chris Hilsabeck, who caught the ball in stride and ran into the end zone untouched. The two-point conversion failed, but WV led 12-7 with 5:08 left in the first half.

Post Falls showed some character, though, on the ensuing drive. The Trojans mixed the pass and run effectively, marching 88 yards on nine plays. The Trojans seemed to catch the Eagles off guard on fourth and four from the 18 when Mort bounced outside off left tackle for his second TD.

The Trojans led 14-12 at halftime.

As Post Falls gained momentum in the second half, the Eagles were grounded by the Trojans’ defense.

Mort added a touchdown run of 41 yards in the third quarter and raced 9 yards for another fourth-quarter TD that capped the scoring with 8:08 remaining.

WV coach Steve Kent told his players afterward they had nothing to be discouraged about.

“You’ve just played two of the best teams in the state of Idaho,” Kent said.

Gregorak and Lee - good friends the past three years - hugged each other afterward and made plans to get together today. Gregorak earned a tough 68 yards on 18 carries while passing for 53 more. He threw seven straight incomplete passes in the second half under constant pressure.

”(Post Falls) is a very good team,” Gregorak said. “Lewiston is probably a much quicker team - besides Mort - but Post Falls is bigger up front, more physical. I’ve looked forward to this game - of playing against Austin again - since last year. It was a thrill to play against (Post Falls). They’re all class acts, they’re all gentlemen. It was a good atmosphere to play in, a great community.”

Gregorak stopped short of making a prediction on the Lewiston-Post Falls game.

“It’s going to be a great game. In fact, I wish I could see it, but I’ve got Sandpoint,” Gregorak said, smiling. “I’ll be rooting for the Trojans.”

Post Falls 28, West Valley 12

West Valley 0 12 0 0 -12

Post Falls 7 7 7 7 -28

P-Mort 64 run ( Atwell kick) W-Gregorak 1 run ( kick failed) W-Hilsabeck 36 pass from Gregorak ( pass failed) P-Mort 18 run ( Atwell kick) P-Mort 41 run ( Atwell kick) P-Mort 9 run ( Atwell kick)

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo