Trojans fall short
Saturday’s Post Falls-Ontario high school football game was chock-full of so much scoring that many of the fans may need treatment for sprained necks.
The teams combined for 14 touchdowns and 880 yards of total offense before the visiting Tigers of Oregon prevailed 56-42 in a game that had the wild appeal of arena football.
The key difference turned out to be yards not reflected in the aforementioned total. Ontario (6-0) – ranked second in Oregon’s third-biggest classification, 4A – scored touchdowns on 87- and 84-yard kickoff returns.
Special teams have a special spot in the Tigers’ game plan. In its third game of the season, Ontario scored TDs on three punts and one kickoff return.
“Special teams … we pride ourselves on that,” Ontario coach Randy Waite said. “We won by two scores and that was two special-team scores.”
Less than 2 minutes had been played and the track meet was on. Post Falls scored on the game’s third play when wide receiver Levi Buckles hauled in a 55-yard pass from Nikk Reinhardt and Ontario answered when Loren Stewart returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards.
Post Falls kicked away from Stewart thereafter, but the Trojans couldn’t stop him in the Tigers’ fly offense. He gained a career-high 272 yards on 19 attempts, including TD scampers of 73 and 61 yards.
Jake Turner, who had the other kickoff return, added 76 yards on 11 carries. The Tigers finished with 398 yards on the ground.
Ontario’s first-team defense had yielded just a field goal prior to the game. Waite figured his team would be more than challenged by Buckles and the Trojans’ passing game.
“We knew we were in for a handful … because they can throw the ball,” Waite said.
So after Buckles got loose early, the Tigers adjusted. He had seven catches for 178 yards in the first half and three TDs.
“Buckles is the best player we’ve seen by far,” Waite said. “He catches everything that’s thrown to him. That’s why we doubled him the rest of the time. We slowed him down, but we didn’t stop him by any stretch.”
The teams combined for six TDs in the first quarter and four in the fourth. Post Falls (4-2) finished with more yards in total offense (449) than Ontario (431).
The Trojans had 388 yards passing, split evenly between Reinhardt and Casey Dragon, who replaced Reinhardt late in the second quarter when he was hit late while punting.
Dragon, the starter coming into the season, suffered a sprained ankle and missed two games. He completed 19 of 29 for 194 yards and three TDs in relief, but he was picked off four times.
With Buckles being double covered, most of Dragon’s passes went to Brandon Brubaker (nine for 109) and Randy Hamilton (six for 38).
The Trojans had fits of undisciplined play, and that’s a concern for coach Jeff Hinz. The Trojans open Inland Empire League play Friday at Lake City.
“We couldn’t stop the run and gave up the big plays on special teams,” Hinz said. “I thought we beat ourselves a lot. At times I thought we took a step forward, but I’d say overall it was a step backward. There was a lack of focus and discipline.”