Thankful for prep football around here
A few memories from the recently completed high school football season:
The most recent memories were of Coeur d’Alene’s run to the state championship game in football. ... A special quarterback in Colson Yankoff who had a strong arm and exceptional speed to boot ... But the Vikings had much, much more. Let’s start with the one-two punch at running back, with Caleb Beggerly and Shilo Morgan. The versatile Beggerly also shined on defense and on kick returns. The smaller Morgan was a nice change of pace, though it seemed like he handed out more big hits running the ball than he took. ... There was a bevy of wide receivers, including tight end Cole Ramseyer getting open over the middle, and Kyler Prendergast beating his man down the sideline to haul in a deep one ... There was the all-senior offensive line, led by left tackle Noah Gunn, who opened the holes and protected the passer. ... Coeur d’Alene’s defense was noteworthy as well, led by linebacker Ross Chadderdon — mohawk or not. Until the Highland game in the final, the Vikings seemed to move the ball at will on nearly everybody. When they had to punt, well, it just seemed like they were setting something up for the next drive. Stack the box, and Yankoff and his fleet of receivers would beat you on the outside. Spread out the defense, and Coeur d’Alene gashes you with the run. Pressure the QB, and Yankoff would step up and dash for a big gainer ... Sometimes the seasons don’t end the way you’d think, but the memories from the games before the finale are still there. ...
... Post Falls quarterback Nate Buer, small in stature but big in heart, leading the Trojans to an 8-0 start. Perhaps more impressive was Buer standing in there and taking shots, especially in the Coeur d’Alene game, and getting right back up and continuing to compete ... Running back Braden Vaughan sifting through the line for a touchdown, then kicking the extra point ... Buer throwing passes high in the air for 6-foot-7 Jake Pfennigs to go up and catch. I hear Pfennigs is pretty good at a couple other sports as well ...
... All the hubbub over the poor air quality in early September — some games moved to a different date and/or a different site, others canceled. One of Post Falls’ bigger wins was a triumph at University High on a Saturday afternoon, a game that was in jeapardy of not being played until about an hour before gametime. How many of you still have airnow.gov bookmarked?
... Lake City running back Grant Clark, running hard and for big yardage, even against the top two teams in the 5A IEL, Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls. Fun watching him the last two years. ... Fun to see Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene, two local teams, battling for the league title, just like it was fun watching Lake City and Coeur d’Alene duke it out in past years. Maybe one of these years, all three of them will be in the hunt.
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.