Terrific in all three phases
POST FALLS — In all three phases, it was just what the coaching staff of Post Falls High wanted.
Fast and effective.
Between the offense on quick scoring drives, to the defense playing lights out and the special teams getting a touchdown on a blocked punt, it was just a complete night at Trojan Stadium.
Senior quarterback Nate Buer completed 12 of 17 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns as the Trojans beat the Cheney Blackhawks 56-10 on Friday night.
“Really, the defense set the tone tonight, they really did,” Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett said. “They did a great job and got a lot of stops. I thought the defense really came out and played well. (Defensive coordinator) Adam Shamion and the entire staff did a great job tonight.”
Buer connected on a 55-yard pass to Allen Ballew, setting up a score by Braden Vaughan, then hit Ballew again on a 15 yard touchdown pass to put the Trojans up 14-0 with 3:52 left in first quarter.
And then they stepped on the gas, building a 35-0 lead with 9:54 remaining in the half when Gage Ficklin blocked a punt and Casey Walker returned it 22 yards for a touchdown.
Jake Pfennigs and Taylor Ryan also had touchdown receptions in the second half for Post Falls (4-0), which hosts Lakeland next Friday. Ryan finished with two TD catches.
“It’s fun to have Jake out there,” Bennett said. “We’ve got a lot of guys at skill positions that are doing an excellent job. Our offensive line coach Luke Roberts, he did an excellent job getting them ready to play and does a great job with them. Nate had some time to throw and put the ball on the money.”
Garrett Sciortino finished with 14 carries for 110 yards — all in the second half — for Post Falls.
“Our second group is pretty good,” Bennett said. “We’ve got some great skill guys and they’re playing really well right now. “We’ve got a strong senior class. It’s great to see them have some success.”
Post Falls held Cheney (0-3) to 72 yards passing and 98 yards rushing in the game. The Blackhawks lost starting quarterback Cole Hinrichs to a knee injury midway through the second quarter. Mekhai Goodloe finished the game, running for a team-high 54 yards.
Cheney 0 3 7 0 — 10
Post Falls 21 21 14 0 — 56
First quarter
PF — Braden Vaughan 3 run (Nate Buer run), 10:54
PF — Allen Ballew 15 pass from Buer (run failed), 3:52
PF — Vaughan 5 run (Vaughan kick), 49.3
Second quarter
PF — Taylor Ryan 23 pass from Buer (Vaughan kick), 11:07
PF — Casey Walker 22 blocked punt return (Vaughan kick), 9:54
Chen — FG, Alex Petropoulos, 27, 5:33
PF — Quin Bennett 26 run (Vaughan kick), 3:16
Third quarter
PF — Jake Pfennigs 23 pass from Buer (Vaughan kick), 6:44
PF — Ryan 8 pass from Buer (Vaughan kick), 2:04
Chen — Peyton Putney 9 run (Petropoulous kick), 22.6
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Chen, Johnson 14-24, VerStrate 1-10, Putney 2-17, Kendall 2-25, Hinrichs 3-(-19), Goodloe 11-54, Pierson 5-(-3). PF, Vaughan 10-73, Bennett 4-34, Buer 4-36, Sciortino 14-110, Horning 1-(-3).
PASSING — Chen, Hinrichs, 1-5-0-3, Goodloe, 7-10-0-69. PF, Buer, 12-17-0-192, Horning, 1-2-0-(-2), Pearse, 0-1-1-0.
RECEIVING — Chen, Kendall 1-3, Martin 1-7, VerStrate 2-18, Johnson 4-44. PF, Ballew 2-70, Bourgard 2-22, Pfennigs 3-52, Ryan 4-34, Bennett 2-5, Thomasson 1-(-2).