CdA can smile after easy win

At the time, Coeur d’Alene’s first play from scrimmage Friday was no laughing matter.

Two hours later, CdA senior quarterback Gunnar Amos could joke about the snap that went over his head and was recovered by Minico at the Vikings 15-yard line.

“I just kind of got a bad angle on it and I spun around and didn’t have good footing,” Amos said after he threw for 230 yards in one half during CdA’s 60-14 nonleague homecoming romp. “So their coach was making fun of me that I got outrun by a ‘D’ tackle. That wasn’t very much fun, but we started off with a bad play and it was good to bounce back right away and score on the next series.”

Make that the next seven series – and on one of Minico’s series – to build a 54-7 halftime lead.

Both teams agreed to let the second-half clock run without interruption, allowing the Spartans of Rupert, Idaho, to head home early.

“We just appreciate Minico coming all the way up here and playing us,” Vikings coach Shawn Amos said. “They played a 10th game for us.”

Both teams sported 2-3 records following the game, but the Vikings can be excused after scheduling nonleague games with powers Bothell (Wash.), Skyline (Wash.) and Highland (Idaho).

“We’ve had a rough schedule to start the season and haven’t started out exactly as we’ve wanted to, so we wanted to come off fast and finish strong, and I think we did,” Amos said after completing 12 of 14 passes for one touchdown and rushing for 46 yards and a TD. “It was a good boost of confidence for us, something we kind of needed.”

“We had a pretty rough first four games, so it was nice to get back and get rolling,” coach Amos said.

After the botched snap on the first play, CdA’s defense clamped down to stop Minico at the Vikings 9. CdA’s no-huddle offense was then off to the races, starting with an eight-play, 91-yard drive capped by Amos’ 29-yard pass to Chase Blakley.

Less than 3 minutes later, Amos scored on a 4-yard keeper. The quarter ended 20-0 after the Vikings recovered a blocked punt in the end zone.

Drew Berger and Jonny Plum led CdA’s second-quarter offense. Berger scored on runs of 3 and 17 yards while Plum, in his only carry, scored from 40 yards out and added a 75-kickoff return less than a minute later.

“(Plum) touched the ball twice and scored two touchdowns,” coach Amos said. “If we do our job, we have some weapons on offense.”

CdA’s starters rested in the second half. Griphen Le came off the bench to lead CdA with 54 rushing yards on eight carries, including a 2-yard TD.

Minico’s Peyton Bailey rushed for a game-best 76 yards.

The Vikings begin Inland Empire League 5A play at home Friday against Lewiston.