CdA defense makes amends as Vikings roll over Post Falls

One week ago, the Coeur d’Alene Vikings were humbled to the tune of 53 points by the Borah Lions.

That left a bitter taste in the mouths of football coach Shawn Amos and his players.

But they took their first step toward wiping it away Friday.

CdA used a mostly stingy defense and a healthier Kevin Ah-Hi to cruise past the Post Falls Trojans 42-6 in an Inland Empire League contest before a meager, soggy crowd at Viking Field.

CdA, which gave up more than 400 yards in total offense in a 53-35 loss to Borah, wasn’t about to repeat that effort. The Vikings (4-1) gave up just 164 total yards to the Trojans (1-4), and just 52 in the second half.

“We did a great job defensively tonight,” Amos said. “We had a really strong feeling that that was just one of those nights (the Borah game) and we knew we were better than we showed last week.

“Everyone was embarrassed by last week’s performance. We had something to prove and we did it.”

CdA wasted no time. Starting at its 45 after the opening kickoff, two Ah-Hi carries gave the Vikings a first down at the Post Falls 38.

Ah-Hi took a pitch from quarterback Jake Hall and started left. He got a crunching block from tight end Jake Chissie at the 30, made a nice cut back to the right and outran the Trojans defense for a 7-0 lead with just more than 1 1/2 minutes gone.

Following a Post Falls punt, CdA performed a football déjÀ vu. Ah-Hi went off left tackle, got a nearly identical block from Chissie and went in from 47 yards out.

“I thought the (PF player) was going to hit me and Jake just crushed the guy,” Ah-Hi said of the first block.

“I’m glad we came out with a win. We really needed it as a team. We just came out fired up after last week’s loss. It was just pure adrenaline,” he added.

Ah-Hi, still recovering from a knee injury suffered earlier in the season, said he is about 90 percent. But the senior running back looked more like 110 percent as he gained 158 yards on 15 carries and scored four touchdowns.

The Trojans pulled to within 13-6 on their second possession of the second quarter, completing a 12-play, 51-yard drive when junior Mike Aune bulled in from the 2.

But Ah-Hi returned the kickoff to the PF 32, giving CdA one more scoring opportunity before the half.

The Vikings converted four plays later when PF’s defense was fooled by a play-action fake and Hall found tight end Jason Valois wide open in the right flat. It was 21-6 at halftime.

CdA broke open the game in the third quarter, scoring on all three of its possessions. The first was a 4-yard Ah-Hi plunge.

Then it was the defense’s turn.

Interceptions by lineman Leevi Martin and safety Neal Goodwin led to two quick scores and it was 42-6 with 16 seconds left in the third.

“There were times when we looked good and other times we didn’t,” PF coach Jeff Hinz said. “But CdA’s a real good ball club. We still have our 4A schedule and we’ll strive to get better. We win those last games and then we’ll see what happens.”

Senior Bobby Kuber led the Trojans with 57 yards on 16 carries.