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Trojans win a wild one

by Eric Plummer
| August 30, 2014 9:00 PM

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<p>Kameron Welker of Post Falls catches a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.</p>

SANDPOINT - Big plays, momentum swings, a regional television audience and drama galore were the order of the night, as Post Falls and Sandpoint welcomed back the Friday Night Lights in style in a hard-hitting season opener at Barlow Stadium.

When the dust finally settled, the Trojans walked off the field with a thrilling 42-39 win, after the Bulldogs came up inches short on a fourth down attempt deep in the Trojans' territory with 90 seconds left in the game.

The Trojans got touchdowns from six different players, and capitalized on a couple of critical errors by Sandpoint, seizing control of a game that went back and forth from the first quarter to the final horn. Senior quarterback Dalton Thompson finished with five touchdown passes, connecting on a highly-efficient 19 of 22 passes for 105 yards while hitting six different receivers.

Sandpoint head coach Satini Puailoa lamented the loss, but was encouraged with how his team matched up against a quality 5A program.

"For us, there were too many mistakes. We had them on the ropes several times, and in many ways we outplayed them," said Puailoa, whose team out-gained the Trojans 448 yards to 307 in total offense. "We've got to take a team like this and finish it off."

Collin Hildreth scored on a short run and Chaz Bailey hauled in a five yard strike to stake the Trojans to an early 14-0 first quarter lead, capitalizing on short fields and finishing drives, something they were able to do all night.

Sandpoint junior running back Kyle Perry, who finished with a game-high 142 yards on the ground, found paydirt from 2 and 17 yards out to cut the lead to 14-13 after a missed extra point. After three straight punts by the Trojans, Matthew Timothy hauled in a 65-yard strike from quarterback Nate Loutzenhiser to give Sandpoint a 19-14 lead.

After a Zach Hillman interception, Ryan English hauled in a one yard catch from quarterback Dalton Thompson to give the Trojans a 21-19 lead with 30 seconds left in the half.

Perry fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and on the final play of the first half, a Thompson pass went through the hands of a Bulldog defender, deflecting right to a wide open Hillman for a five yard touchdown and 28-19 halftime lead.

Perry wouldn't have to wait long for redemption, taking the second half kickoff up the middle, making one move, then outrunning the pursuit for a 91 yard return, quickly cutting the Trojans' lead to 28-26.

Like they did all game, the Trojans had an answer, as Thompson, who was especially sharp in the red zone, found a wide open Preston Bourgard for a 22 yard score, giving his team a 35-26 lead.

After a couple of defensive stops, the Bulldogs struck with yet another big play, this time a 77 yard throw and catch from Loutzenhiser to a wide open Wyatt McCormmick, who ran in untouched to cut the lead to 35-33 late in the third quarter.

Momentum swung yet again for the Trojans after punter Nathan Gregory picked up a big gain on a fake punt, setting up a 15 yard touchdown catch by tight end Kamerom Welker for 42-33 lead with seven minutes left in the game.

A big catch and run by Curtis Roop put the Bulldogs in the red zone two minutes later, and Perry punched in his third touchdown run from 10 yards out for the final score of the game. The Bulldogs would get a stop and drive down to the Trojans 17 yard line with under two minutes left, but came up inches short on a fourth down catch to end the game.

"Our kids were prepared to win this game," said Puailoa. "We just need to finish, can't shoot ourselves in the foot. We let this one get away."

Post Falls travels to Skyview High in Nampa next Friday.

Post Falls 14 14 7 7 - 42

Sandpoint 7 12 14 6 - 39

PF - Collin Hilldreth 1 run (Nathan Gregory kick)

PF - Chaz Bailey 5 pass from Dalton Thompson (Gregory kick)

SHS - Kyle Perry 2 run (Michael Plaster kick)

SHS - Perry 17 run (kick blocked)

SHS - Matthew Timothy 65 pass from Nate Loutzenhiser (run fail)

PF - Ryan English 1 pass from Thompson (Gregory kick )

PF - Zach Hillman 6 pass from Thompson Gregory kick)

SHS - Perry 91 kickoff return (Plaster kick)

PF - Preston Bourgard 22 pass from Thompson (Gregory kick)

SHS - Wyatt Mccormick 77 pass from Loutzenhiser (Plaster kick)

PF - Kameron Welker 16 pass from Thompson (Gregory kick)

SHS - Perry 10 run (kick blocked)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - PF, Kaden Nelson 2-(-1), Austin Jensen 16-102, Dalton Thompson 16-36. Spt, Curtis Roop 6-20, Kyle Perry 16-142, Matthew Timothy 1-8, Nate Loutzenhiser 3-19.

PASSING - PF, Thompson, 19-22-0-102. Spt, Loutzenhiser, 12-21-1-255.

RECEIVING - PF, Kaden Nelson 2-25, Zach Hilman 3-39, Mark Haines 1-1, Chaz Bailey 1-5, Preston Bourgard 1-22, Kameron Welker 1-16. Spt, Curtis Roop 1-38, Jake Timothy 1-4, Wyatt McCormick 2-103, Kyle Perry 3-19, Matthew Timothy 4-85.