Coeur d’Alene makes a big jump in second game, whips Central Valley

Coeur d’Alene got better from Week 1 to Week 2. A lot better.

One week after needing a big fourth quarter to defeat Skyline, the Vikings put up six touchdowns in the first half and cruised past visiting Central Valley 50-14 on Friday night.

Second-ranked Coeur d’Alene improved to 2-0 entering next Friday’s showdown against Ferris. Central Valley moved the ball well at times in its season opener but missed several opportunities to finish drives.

“Our kids responded really well after last week,” Vikings coach Shawn Amos said. “We fixed some things. We still have penalty issues but it wasn’t with our mouths or after-the-play stuff. The good thing is we still have a long way to go.”

Senior running back/linebacker Drew Berger scored three touchdowns, one on a 65-yard screen pass, another on a 66-yard interception return and a third on a 5-yard run. Junior quarterback Austin Lee tossed four touchdown passes in the first half as CdA built a 40-7 lead. He finished with 241 yards passing.

Gibson Green, another senior running back/linebacker, added a team-high 67 yards rushing and one touchdown.

“Those two guys (Berger and Green) are horses,” Amos said.

Coeur d’Alene jumped in front 20-0 in the first quarter. The Viks scored three touchdowns despite running just five offensive plays. After a three-and-out on their opening series, Berger turned a screen pass into a 65-yard touchdown.

The Bears drove into CdA territory for the second straight time but came away empty when Green deflected a Tanner Sloan pass into the arms of Berger, who raced 66 yards to extend the Vikings lead to 14-0.

“They’re an explosive offense,” Central Valley coach Rick Giampietri said. “We probably could have had a couple (scores) in the first quarter and got that thing evened up a little, but then 22 (Berger’s number) took charge and had two big ones in a row.”

Lee zipped a 32-yard strike to Ryan Walde, boosting CdA’s lead to 20-0. The Viks put together three solid scoring drives in the second quarter. Lee tossed TD passes to Colby Daniels and Walde and Green tallied on a 1-yard run.

Central Valley got on the scoreboard just before halftime on Sloan’s 7-yard pass to Tucker Stout. CV caught the Vikings napping with an onside kick to open the third quarter. The Bears recovered and Sloan connected with P.J. Bowden for a 36-yard scoring play.