T-Wolves holds off Trojans
The Lake City and Post Falls football teams have been slow starters for the most part this season.
So the way Lake City coach Van Troxel figured it, his team needed to be ready to play when it stepped off the bus Friday.
The Timberwolves were, scoring three touchdowns in the first 8 minutes. Lake City needed most of that margin to hold off frantic Post Falls 36-26 in a 5A Inland Empire League opener.
“That’s what we worked on all week – about getting out (fast),” Troxel said. “We didn’t do it (against) Del Oro, we didn’t do it (against) Gonzaga (Prep) and we didn’t do at all against Lewis and Clark. We talked about it offensively, that we’ve got to get on the (scoreboard) and stretch the field.”
The plan worked masterfully. After Post Falls (2-3) attempted an onside kick to see if it could catch LC (3-2) asleep, the T-Wolves struck on their first play.
Quarterback Adam Fenenbock’s pass was well underthrown, but Julian Burgess steadied himself and caught it as a Post Falls defender slipped to the grass. Burgess was able to complete the 58-yard touchdown reception untouched.
After stopping Post Falls on downs at its 16-yard line, LC scored again. Fullback Jared Heston completed the 11-play series by dashing 11 yards off left tackle to put the T-Wolves ahead 14-0.
The T-Wolves stopped Post Falls again, and this time LC struck quickly when running back Justin Bryant sprinted 85 yards to extend the lead to 21-0 with 4:03 to go in the first quarter.
“If it was a three-quarter game we’d be money in the bank,” Post Falls coach Jeff Hinz said. “Same story (against) Eagle and same story last week at Sandpoint, but we overcame it. When you play a better ballclub and you get behind by those three scores … it’s a harder mountain to climb. Our kids – there was no quit in them.”
Post Falls dug into the margin by halftime, pulling within two touchdowns at 27-13.
The Trojans recovered an LC fumble midway in the third quarter and turned it into a 2-yard TD run by Cole Amende, pulling within 27-20 with 3:09 left in the period.
That’s as close as the Trojans would come.
LC added a 35-yard field goal from Heston at the 7:45 mark of the fourth.
Then after LC held on the Trojans’ next possession, T-Wolves receiver Tanner Sanders took a reverse on third-and-13 at midfield and darted 50 yards to extend LC’s lead to 36-20 with 2:48 remaining.
Trojans quarterback Nikk Reinhardt connected with receiver Brett Winn on a 25-yard TD with 1:55 to go.
PF recovered the onside kick, but the Trojans’ rally stalled at LC’s 42.
“It’s a great way to start (league),” Troxel said. “We’re in the driver’s seat. This is our position and everybody is chasing us.”