8-0 Trojans qualify for 4A state
The Post Falls high school football team made history Friday.
The Trojans’ 47-6 Inland Empire League victory over Moscow upped their overall record to 8-0, the best start to a season in school history.
Equally as important, the win gives the Trojans a 2-0 record in 4A play and secured them a berth in the Idaho 4A state playoffs.
Moscow’s loss also guarantees the Sandpoint Bulldogs the second 4A playoff berth. Post Falls and Sandpoint will wrap up the regular season Friday in Sandpoint, a game Post Falls coach Jerry Lee sees as critical.
“It’s a huge game for us and it’s a huge game for them,” Lee said. “We’ve always said that the road to the playoffs goes through Sandpoint.”
Post Falls appeared to be a bit sluggish in the opening moments against the Bears.
After receiving the opening kickoff, Moscow (1-7 overall, 0-2) made some noise against the Trojansdefense, gaining two consecutive first downs and picking up 38 yards on its first two carries.
But the Trojans defense stiffened and forced the Bears to punt.
After failing to move the ball into Moscow territory on its first possession, Post Falls completed a seven-play, 41-yard drive with 1:45 left in the first quarter when Mike Kuber found a hole on the left side of the Moscow defense and scored from 4 yards out. The point-after made it 7-0.
The Trojans dispelled any thoughts of a Moscow upset with a huge second quarter.
Post Falls scored on five of its six possessions in the period. The only thing that slowed the Trojans was an interception by Moscow defensive tackle Aaron Prichard early in the quarter after a pass by Post Falls quarterback K.C. Billetz was tipped at the line of scrimmage.
The Trojans rolled up 175 yards in total offense in the second quarter while their defense held Moscow to minus eight yards.
“We knew they were going to come out ready to play,” Trojans linebacker Adam Shamion said of Moscow’s early success. “But we were ready to play, too. We responded and shut ‘em down quick. It really shows how we have come together as a team.”
The big play of the first half for the Trojans came with 7:54 to go in the second quarter. On first down from the 28 with Post Falls leading 13-0, wide receiver Nick Canger took a Billetz handoff on a reverse. Canger found running room on the left side, made a nice move on a Moscow defender at midfield and raced 72 yards for the score.
The Trojans added three more touchdowns before halftime.
“I thought our kids did a really good job tonight,” Lee said. “But my hat’s off to Moscow, too. Their kids never quit.”
Following a touchdown on the Trojans’ first possession of the third quarter, Moscow got on the board minutes later. Starting at their own 32, the Bears marched to the Trojans 3-yard line where sophomore Derek Farley muscled his way into the end zone.
Both teams emptied their benches in the game’s final minutes.
Canger finished with 136 yards rushing on seven carries. The Trojans gained 361 yards on the ground.
Moscow had 140 yards in total offense led by the 85 yards passing of quarterback Paul Wimer.