Trojans run over Sandpoint

SANDPOINT — Post Falls turned back the clock and brought some smash-mouth, old school 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust football to Barlow Stadium on Friday night, grinding out a convincing 49-7 win over Sandpoint.

5A Post Falls (5-1) established the run early and stuck with it all game, churning out a whopping 418 yards rushing on 48 carries, moving the chains and stringing together numerous lengthy scoring drives.

The Trojans drove more than 70 yards on their first two methodical scoring drives, capped by touchdown runs by Trevor Wood and Matt Lickfold to make it 14-0 early. Linebacker Josh Saless then intercepted a Sandpoint pass over the middle, followed by a 5-yard scoring plunge by Tyson Johnson to make it 21-0.

Colton Peugh picked off another Sandpoint pass on the ensuing possession, weaving his way 11 yards to paydirt to put the finishing touches on a dominating first half by Post Falls, which went into the locker room leading 28-0.

The Trojans dominated both lines of scrimmage the entire game, holding 4A Sandpoint (2-4) to just 73 yards on 31 carries while keeping Sandpoint feature running back Anthony Gold bottled up.

The one-sided game became secondary with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, when Gold dove airborne over the line on a dive play and landed on the crown of his helmet, bending his neck and briefly knocking himself out and convulsing before the paramedics were immediately summoned by the referee and trainers.

After more than 20 minutes, Gold was strapped to a stretcher and carried to an ambulance, with the entire Sandpoint team walking along with him. He reportedly had feeling in his arms and legs, a positive sign, and the severity of the neck injury won’t be known until he receives further medical attention.

Still swirling with emotions after the injury, the Bulldogs (2-4) put together their lone scoring drive of the game, capped off by an Anthony Bankson 3-yard run to make the score 42-7. Sandpoint passed for 143 yards, most of it in the fourth quarter when the game was already decided.

Wood and Johnson both added their second touchdowns of the game in the second half; Johnson’s on a nice 11-yard jump pass from quarterback Matt Lickfold, and Jordan Pastras would take a sweep 46 yards to cap off the scoring for Post Falls. The Trojans only punted once, and only committed one turnover, a Gold interception which he returned 65 yards for one of the few Sandpoint highlights.

Post Falls 14 14 7 14 — 49

Sandpoint 0 0 0 7 — 7

PF — Trevor Wood 2 run (Scott Benner kick)

PF —Matt Lickfold 10 run (Benner kick)

PF — Tyson Johnson 5 run (Benner kick)

PF — Colton Peugh 14 interception return (Benner kick)

PF — Wood 1 run (Benner kick)

PF — Johnson 11 catch from Matt Lickfold (Benner kick)

SHS — Anthony Bankson 3 run (Cole Fuhrman kick)

PF — Jordon Pastras 46 run (Benner kick)

RUSHING — PF, Johnson 21-139, Wood 11-105, Lickfold 9-75, Pastras 4-90, Gonzales 1-4, Morris 2-5. Spt, Gold 17-28, Hawkins 5-20, Bankson 3-8, Schmid 1-(-11), Heuscher 3-9, Prindiville 1-6.

PASSING — PF, Lickfold 6-15-1-77. Spt, Hawkins 9-14-1-63, Schmid 0-3-1-0, Prindiville 3-8-1-30.

RECEIVING — PF, Carter 2-24, Booth 2-22, Pastras 1-20, Johnson 1-11. Spt, Clad 2-16, Sekona 1-14, Gold 1-26, Nikssarian 1-22, Duarte 7-65.