Kootenai toppled in semis

TWIN FALLS - Adam Taylor and Dylan Van Esch scored two touchdowns apiece to lead the Lighthouse Christian Lions past the Kootenai Warriors 66-20 in the semifinals of the state 1A Division II football playoffs on Saturday.

Lighthouse Christian (8-3) advances to play Carey (11-0) for the state title Friday at Holt Arena in Pocatello.

Kootenai, which made it to the semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons, finished 5-6.

Lighthouse Christian opened the scoring on a 69-yard punt return by Eli Berndt as the Lions scored the first 28 points of the game.

Kootenai quarterback Brandon Carman scored on a 1-yard run with seven seconds remaining in the first half. Warrior tailback Daniel Whipple scored on a 2-yard run early in the third quarter, but the Lions scored 20 unanswered points to pull away in the third quarter.

Carman scored again on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter, but Lighthouse Christian closed out the game with 5:45 remaining on a 30-yard run by Taylor and conversion on a pass from Logan Bosma to Van Esch to make it 66-20.

Kootenai 0 8 6 6 - 20

Lighthouse Christ. 14 14 22 16 - 66

Game called with 5:45 remaining in fourth quarter due to 45-point mercy rule

LC - Eli Berndt 69 punt return (Adam Taylor run)

LC - Dylan Van Esch 2 run (run failed)

LC - Van Esch 10 run (run failed)

LC - Taylor 30 run (Logan Bosma run)

Koot - Brandon Carman 1 run (Michael Sluka pass from Carman)

Koot - Daniel Whipple 2 run (run failed)

LC - Van Esch 60 run (run failed)

LC - Taylor 1 run (Taylor run)

LC - Berndt 69 pass from Bosma (Berndt pass from Bosma)

Koot - Carman 4 run (run failed)

LC - Bosma 3 run (Taylor run)

LC - Taylor 30 run (Van Esch pass from Bosma)