Colbey Nosworthy scores twice, grabs late interception to lead Coeur d’Alene past Rigby 31-26

Colbey Nosworthy’s fingerprints were all over Coeur d’Alene’s victory Friday night.

Nosworthy hauled down two touchdown passes, but it was the senior’s game-saving interception in the final minute that sealed CdA’s 31-26 nonleague win over Rigby at Viking Field in the season-opening high school football game for both teams.

Nosworthy reeled in 12 receptions for 133 yards, and his touchdowns before halftime proved important as the Vikings tried to hold off the visitors in the waning moments. Rigby faced second-and-10 at the Viking 12 with just over a minute to play, but Nosworthy stepped in front of a Keegan Thompson pass in the CdA end zone for the game-clinching interception.

Asked how that play stacked up with scoring two touchdowns on offense, Nosworthy said, “I gotta go with the interception any day of the week.”

Nosworthy established a quick offensive connection with quarterback Jack Prka, who was making his first start. The receiver collected a Prka pass and weaved against the grain through Rigby’s defense for a 6-yard touchdown and the Vikings’ opening score. Prka located Nosworthy for a 4-yard scoring strike in the back corner of the end zone on CdA’s next possession for a 12-7 advantage with 43 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

“He’s young, for sure,” Nosworthy said, “but he’s one of the smartest quarterbacks around.”

“We like each other. There’s a mutual respect,” Prka added.

Prka used the assets around him and completed 25 of 35 passes for 259 yards. Prka’s 10-yard throw to Gunner Giulio with 8 minutes left in the first half resulted in his third touchdown through the air and an 18-7 advantage.

Giulio’s 20-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter pushed the Vikings’ lead to 24-13, but Thompson answered with a 2-yard touchdown early in the final quarter to pull Rigby within 24-19 with 11:03 remaining.

Brennen Crawford’s 30-yard touchdown run seemed to put the game out of reach for CdA with a 31-19 lead, but Thompson answered with a 70-yard touchdown run two plays later to close the gap to 31-26.

Rigby jumped ahead 7-0 with an 11-play scoring drive culminating in Thompson’s 1-yard plunge into the end zone 3 minutes into the contest. Thompson passed for 46 yards and rushed for 25 more on the drive.

The Trojans clawed within 18-13 when Brigham Youngstrom burst up the middle for a 31-yard touchdown run less than 4 minutes before halftime.

Thompson and Youngstrom combined for 297 rushing yards on 41 carries.