Trojans blanked in opener
POST FALLS - While they moved the ball well early on, the Post Falls Trojans could not finish on either of their first two opening drives.
Both times, visiting Capital of Boise punished them for it Friday at Trojan Stadium in a 35-0 nonleague win, the season opener for both teams.
The Trojans could have easily gone ahead 14-0 in the first quarter. But both times, they could not punch it in from inside the 25-yard line of the Eagles.
"It was encouraging when we moved the ball," Post Falls coach Jeff Hinz said. "It was discouraging when we didn't score."
On the game's opening drive, Post Falls quarterback Joey Pfennigs fired a pass to wide-open receiver Mike McKeown in the end zone. But McKeown dropped the pass as he slipped.
With 5:53 left in the first quarter, Capital made the Trojans pay. Speedy quarterback Conner Paulson scooted in from 20 yards out for the game's first touchdown.
"We've got to finish those drives and get off the field on third down," Hinz said. "They came out with a good option game. There were times we were able to stop it, other times they gashed us with it."
Paulson ran for 128 of the Eagles' 360 rushing yards on just seven carries. He was also an efficient 10 of 16 passing for 120 yards and a touchdown.
"It was preparation, watching film on what they were going to do," Paulson said. "(It was) having an idea in my head of what I'm going to do."
Pfennigs and Post Falls' offense came up short on the next drive. With a defender pressuring him, Pfennigs' was intercepted by Capital linebacker Jovie Kahoiwai at the Eagles' 9-yard line.
Again, the Eagles made the Trojans pay for their mistakes. Jacob Foley scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns with 11:51 left in the second quarter, as Capital took a 14-0 lead going into halftime.
"Our skill guys have a lot of speed and athleticism," Eagles coach Todd Simis said. "Post Falls controlled the clock early on."
Pfennigs finished 11 for 21 passing with 105 yards, and 52 rushing yards on nine carries.
Seth McLeod, who was injured midway during the third quarter, tacked on another 38 yards on six carries. Trent Liebergot caught four passes for 33 yards.
"We've got to build on those highs," Hinz said.
Capital scored three touchdowns in the second half. In the third quarter, Ian Kinkead caught a 23-yard pass from Paulson, then Isaiah Jackson ran one in from 11 yards out. Foley completed the scoring in the fourth quarter, on a 4-yard TD run.
Post Falls' next game is Thursday in a nonleague game at home against Graham-Kapowsin of Graham, Wash.
Capital 6 8 14 7- 35
Post Falls 0 0 0 0 - 0
Cap - Conner Paulson 20 run (kick failed), 5:53.
Cap - Jacob Foley 16 run (Reece Ruzicka pass from Paulson), 11:51.
Cap - Ian Kinkead 23 pass from Paulson (Colby Larsen kick), 10:37.
Cap - Isaiah Jackson 11 run (Larsen kick), 4:15.
Cap - Foley 4 run (Larsen kick), 5:10.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING - PF, Pfennigs 9-52, Conradi 6-40, Agueros 8-16, McLeod 6-38, Thompson 2-15, Triplett 2-8, Roman 1-2, Davenport 1-(minus 5). Cap, Paulson 8-128, Fontenot 7-27, Idoeta 6-45, King 4-58, Littlejohn 3-22, Larsen 2-47, Jackson 2-23, Kingmixay 2-10.
PASSING - PF, Pfennigs 11-21-1-105, Thompson 2-8-0-13. Cap, Paulson 10-16-0-120.
RECEIVING - PF, Liebergot 4-33, Triplett 3-40, Morris 3-24, McKeown 2-14, McLeod 2-14, Davenport 2-23, Conradi 1-9. Cap, Littlejohn 5-74, Kinkead 3-46, Kingmixay 1-9, King 1-0, Foley 1-0.