Lake City scores 21-15 victory over Post Falls

Lake City has encountered a tough schedule, tough results and several key injuries but the Timberwolves are a resilient bunch.

Resilient, and improving.

The Timberwolves’ 15-point lead vanished early in the fourth quarter but they regrouped and junior quarterback Matt Duchow scored the tie-breaking touchdown in a 21-15 road win over Post Falls in the 5A Inland Empire League football opener for both teams Friday night.

It was technically LC’s second big bounce-back of the week. LC was drubbed by Sandpoint 41-19 last week.

“We’re a work in progress,” coach Van Troxel said. “They had a falloff last week against Sandpoint but what I loved is they responded and came back with probably the best week of practice we’ve had. They grew from it and as a team we got better tonight.”

Post Falls (3-4, 0-1), which has lost four games by a combined 19 points, had early opportunities to take the lead but fumbled inside the Timberwolves’ 10-yard line and tossed an interception at LC’s 15.

The Timberwolves (2-5, 1-0) built their lead on a pair of Duchow touchdown passes in the second quarter. First, Duchow hit receiver Phil Blank, who made a nifty run after the catch on a 36-yard scoring play. Then, facing third-and-13 at Post Falls’ 16, Duchow’s throw-back screen fooled the Trojans defense and Brady Davis sprinted untouched into the end zone.

The PAT snap was botched but holder Duchow improvised and found Chase Moyer for a two-point conversion.

It remained 15-0 until early in the fourth quarter when Post Falls’ Gage Ficklin smothered an LC punt, scooped up the ball and returned it to the 15. Austin Jackson scored on an 8-yard run and the Timberwolves gave the ball back to Post Falls with a fumble on their next play from scrimmage.

Jackson bounced outside to finish off a 6-yard TD run and Collin Hilldreth plowed in on the two-point conversion to tie it at 15.

“We didn’t play very sharp offensively or defensively in the first half,” said Post Falls coach Jeff Hinz, whose team finished with just 141 total yards. “We gave a better effort in the second half and we got a big special-teams play in the fourth quarter.”

After an exchange of punts, LC took over at the Trojans 39 with 3:45 remaining. Duchow, who rushed for 132 yards and passed for 120, and fullback Cameron Chun ran for first downs. Duchow scooted around left end for a 12-yard touchdown with 50.6 seconds left.