Stepping up

POST FALLS - Heading into the season, junior Tyson Johnson figured to be a part of the offensive attack for Post Falls High - somewhere.

With junior Marcus Colbert, the Trojans' starting tailback last year, unable to play so far this season because of a back injury, Johnson found himself as the No. 1 tailback.

The 5-foot-8, 150-pound Johnson has made the most of his opportunity so far. On Friday night, he rushed for 122 yards on 19 carries as Post Falls overpowered East Valley 48-12 at Trojan Stadium. Through three games this season, Johnson has rushed for 361 yards for Post Falls (3-0), ranked No. 3 in 5A.

"Tyson, I'll tell you what, yeah, he's a pretty small back, but he's got a lot of heart and runs really, really hard," Post Falls coach Jeff Hinz said. "He just keeps those legs churning."

The game was called with 3 minutes, 45 seconds left in the fourth quarter after East Valley (1-2) linebacker Evan Hunt, who remained on the ground complaining of neck pain after being part of the pile on a running play, was loaded into an ambulance.

Hinz and East Valley coach Adam Fisher mutually agreed to call an end to the late-running game at that point, in part because of a precaution and in part due to some quirky rules involving junior varsity players - with the two teams scheduled to play a JV game today at noon at EV.

Fisher said he thought Hunt, who had suffered a couple of stingers in the past, but had movement in all of his extremities, was going to be OK.

Jose Chavez recovered two fumbles for Post Falls, one on a muffed punt which led to the Trojans’ final touchdown of the first half and a 35-0 halftime lead.

Post Falls scored on its first three possessions, and Colton Peugh scooped up a fumbled lateral and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown with 8:35 left in the first half for a 28-0 lead. He also had a sack.

“I thought we came out and did a fantastic job tonight,” Hinz said. “We ran the ball well, we mixed it up. I thought our defense played lights-out, shutting down their run game. We knew they were going to run the ball right at us, and we had to come out and stop the run.”

Post Falls outgained East Valley 134-35 in the first quarter, though the Knights held a 333-327 yards advantage for the game.

Post Falls quarterback Matt Lickfold and fullback Trevor Wood each rushed for three touchdowns.

“We just didn’t execute to the level that we need to to give them a game,” Fisher said. “I thought if we executed well, than we could have had a game that everybody would have been eager to see. We didn’t do that; we turned the ball over too many times, and made some very costly mistakes, and so it got out of hand.”

Hinz said he hopes to have Colbert back “sometime in October.”

Post Falls travels to Lakeland next Friday, then opens 5A Inland Empire League play Oct. 1 at Lake City.

East Valley 0 0 6 6 — 12

Post Falls 14 21 7 6 — 48

PF — Trevor Wood 1 run (Scott Benner kick)

PF — Matt Lickfold 2 run (Benner kick)

PF — Lickfold 5 run (Benner kick)

PF — Colton Peugh 14 fumble return (Benner kick)

PF — Lickfold 4 run (Benner kick)

PF — Wood 1 run (Benner kick)

EV — Shane Quinn 4 run (pass failed)

PF — Wood 9 run (kick blocked)

EV — Quinn 2 run (pass failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — EV, Quinn 26-120, Hansen 4-11, Rockstrom 1-0, Talley 2-16, Jarvis 1-0. PF, Johnson 19-122, Lickfold 9-49, Wood 12-59, Pastras 2-(-4), Flodin 2-7, Chase 1-1, Wiltse 1-(-2).

PASSING — EV, Hansen 7-17-0-186, Strehlou 0-1-0-0. PF, Lickfold 5-11-0-95.

RECEIVING — EV, Quinn 1-12, Reynolds 1-9, Jarvis 2-92, Mehlbrech 2-35, Hoadley 1-38. PF, Wood 1-23, Johnson 1-9, Carter 2-44, Pastras 1-19.