Lightner, Malar Lead Trojans Post Falls Uses Comeback To Defeat Moscow 34-20
Around here, they are called the Mosco Bears. There’s no W in the pronunciation, and come to think of it, there’s no W in the record book, either.
Not after Post Falls came to town, anyway. The Trojans beat the Bears 34-20 Friday night in the season football opener for both schools.
“We were able to overcome some adversity tonight,” said Post Falls coach Jeff Choate. “We had some key starters missing on defense and we came into this game knowing we had to figure out a way to win.”
After a shaky first half in which the Trojans allowed 20 points, Post Falls figured the best way was to give the ball to Doug Malar. The senior logged 161 yards. “And we could have fed him some more,” said Choate. “He was just a workhorse.”
Post Falls began the game by going over the top of Moscow. Quarterback Tyler Smith hit his first four passes for 106 yards. Two went for touchdowns.
When the game got tight in the third quarter, the ground game took over. Trailing 20-14, Malar tore off a big 53-yard run up the middle to the Bears’ 13. Two Moscow penalties later and the Trojans were staring at a first-and-goal from the 3. From there Kelly Lightner squeezed through for the touchdown, the second of three he scored. The extra point by Cameron Chesnut put the Trojans in the lead for good 21-20 with less than a minute left in the third period.
“We dug ourselves a hole early in the game (two turnovers inside their own 20) and I think it took us that long to really steady ourselves and figure out what we wanted to do,” said Choate. “But once we did that and got into our Power I stuff we were able to control the ball.”
The Trojans continued to keep the ball on the ground in the fourth. Thanks to solid blocking and more Bears penalties, they were able to punch it in again and push the lead to 27-20.
Moscow’s Joel Sumner blocked the extra point to keep the Bears within a touchdown with 5:37 remaining, but the enthusiasm of the crowd was short-lived as the Trojans’ Keith VanSlate got his second interception of the fourth quarter.
Post Falls tried to keep the ball on the ground to chew up the clock, but Moscow forced a fourth-and-10 at the Bears 30. Smith rolled out and converted a 14-strike on the sideline to Kyle Hutchison.
“That was a big catch there … and a big play by Tyler Smith, who was starting his first game,” said Choate.
Early on, the Bears were punching with the Trojans. Moscow put 13 on the board in the first quarter and only trailed by one, 14-13. The Bears then went ahead when Post Falls fumbled inside the red zone.
Three plays later, Trent Baysinger found Darnell Williams in the back of the end zone and the Bears led 20-13.
Moscow didn’t sniff the end zone again.
Moscow will play host to Pullman next week. Post Falls is at Clarkston.
Post Falls 34, Moscow 20
Moscow 13 7 0 0 - 20
Post Falls 14 0 7 13 - 34
M-Baysinger 10 run (Parce kick) PF-Hutchison 51 pass from Smith (Chesnut kick) PF-Lightner 32 pass from Smith (Chesnut kick) M-Pitman 5 run (kick blocked) M-Williams 12 pass from Baysinger (Parce kick) PF-Lightner 3 run (Chesnut kick) PF-Cranford 1 run (kick blocked) PF-Lightner 5 run (Chesnut kick)