THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE, Oct. 30, 2014

It appears the only people who thought Post Falls could beat Coeur d'Alene last week and sneak its way into the state 5A high school football playoffs were ... those in the Trojans' locker room.

Apparently that was all that was needed, as Post Falls edged the two-time defending state champs 37-36 in a thrilling finish to make it into the state playoffs for the first time since 2004.

The Trojans didn't appreciate that those on the outside were all but conceding the game to Coeur d'Alene, based on past history.

"That definitely irritated me a lot," Post Falls senior center Justin Farnsworth said.

Post Falls coach Jeff Hinz, a longtime assistant before taking over as head coach in 2005, said eliminating turnovers and controlling the tempo with their offense was key.

"I guess our attitude the last couple of weeks was, we've got to take care of ourselves, not who we're playing," Hinz said.

IT'S NOT as if the Trojans haven't had their chances to make it back to the playoffs since '04, Jerry Lee's last year as head coach, when Post Falls was still in 4A.

In 2009, Post Falls lost in a Kansas tiebreaker for the second state playoff berth from the north. In 2011, the Trojans needed just a victory at Lewiston the final week to make the playoffs. But Lewiston upset Post Falls, and three days later, the Trojans lost in a Kansas tiebreaker to Lake City for the final playoff spot.

Results can affect turnout. This year, there are 13 seniors on the Post Falls roster.

Elijah Bennett, a senior right guard for the Trojans, said he's the only one left from his Junior Tackle team still playing football.

"We're hoping, by us making the playoffs, there will be more interest in Post Falls football," Farnsworth said.

ASTUTE BRACKETOLOGISTS wondered how Post Falls, despite earning a higher seed than Coeur d'Alene, drew a tougher opponent. The Trojans (5-4), the No. 2 seed from the North, play at Eagle (8-1), the No. 2 seed from its pod, in the first round on Friday.

Coeur d'Alene (6-3), which earned the wild card (in theory, the 12th and final seed), drew Meridian (4-5), the No. 3 seed from its pod.

The Idaho High School Activities Association usually draws the state playoff/tournament brackets. But not in this case.

"It came from the 5A schools and our board approved it because they said that's what they wanted," said Ty Jones, executive director of the IHSAA. "It honestly was luck of the draw. I didn't really understand why the 5A schools set it up as they did with the bottom part of the bracket but they all agreed on it."

So there you go. Like it or not, from the Post Falls perspective, it's better than not being in the bracket at all.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.