CdA pulls away for rout of Ferris

It took a half, but the Coeur d’Alene Vikings finally hit the stride most thought they would Friday.

The Vikings got in the way of themselves more than the Ferris Saxons did, but Coeur d’Alene finally wrested control for a telling 31-8 victory in a nonleague game at Albi Stadium.

CdA’s defense didn’t allow Ferris to sustain any drives. The Viks swarmed the Saxons play after play.

The Vikings (3-0) committed four turnovers or it could have been an even more decisive victory.

The Saxons’ defense kept them in the game until midway in the third quarter.

Brennen Barber extended CdA’s lead to 10-0 when he booted a 29-yard field goal at the 9:47 mark.

Then on CdA’s first play on its next possession, Viks junior quarterback Austin Lee hit KC Hutchings in stride for a 71-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 17-0.

CdA senior linebacker Drew Berger jumped a route and sprinted 70 yards on an interception return to make it 24-0 with 1:50 to go in the third quarter.

The rout was on when Lee lofted an 11-yard screen pass that Griphen Le took into the end zone unscathed, advancing the lead to 31-0 with 7:21 remaining.

Lee completed 18 of 28 passes for 364 yards and two TDs.

The way the Vikings started, it seemed as if they were going to score and score often.

On CdA’s third play, Lee hit Cole Williams on a 75-yard gain to inches from the goal line. Lee punched it in on the next play.

And then the teams proceeded to combine for a bunch of nothing.

Ferris (0-2) had six possessions in the first two quarters and zip to show for it. The Saxons finished with 77 yards total offense and turned the ball over once.

The Viks had six more possessions, fumbling three times and losing two. Lee threw for 244 yards, completing 13 of 18 passes,

CdA lost 32 yards rushing, most of which came on a snap over Lee’s head when he was in shotgun formation.

On the Viks’ last possession before halftime, they drove from their 18-yard line to Ferris’ 23, powered by six completed passes.

CdA called a timeout with 3 seconds remaining, and Barber attempted a 39-yard field goal after Ferris called a timeout to try and ice him. The kick fell well short of the cross bar as time expired.

Mitch Pike, a senior transfer from North Carolina, is now the Saxons’ starting quarterback. Projected start Tanner Parker has been lost for the season because of a shoulder injury suffered in fall camp.

Pike completed 10 of 20 passes in the first half, but it was just for 39 yards as the Saxons couldn’t get behind CdA’s secondary. He also rushed nine times for 24 yards.

Ferris scored on a 21-yard pass from Pike to Tim Kirby and converted a two-point attempt.