'Stuff happens': A few plays here and there don't go the Vikings' way, and visiting Mustangs advance

By MARK NELKE

Sports editor

COEUR d'ALENE — An errant snap just as the home team was ready to go in for the go-ahead touchdown — instead, it resulted in a turnover that the visitors cashed in for six points six plays later.

The star running back for the home team, who had done yeoman work to that point, hobbling off before a key fourth-down play late in the fourth quarter.

On the next snap, with a chance to take the lead, the home team had the field goal blocked.

Three plays later, the home team just missed a quarterback sack that would have gotten the ball back. Instead, the pass was completed and the receiver zipped down the sideline for the clinching touchdown.

It was that kind of night for Coeur d'Alene — a couple of plays didn't go the Vikings' way, and a couple of plays went Eagle's way as the Mustangs triumphed 23-14 in the quarterfinals of the state 5A football playoffs Friday night at Viking Stadium.

"Yeah, we came up a little short," said Coeur d'Alene do-it-all senior Gunner Giulio, who rushed for 196 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, caught five passes and had an interception late in the fourth quarter that set up what was shaping up as the game-winning drive. "But we busted our butts all season long; even during the summer. We came in early, we worked hard, we got together as a team, we love each other. This is a family; a Viking family, this is a culture here. I love everything that has come out of Viking football; I love CHS and I love Coeur d'Alene."

Instead, Coeur d'Alene (6-3) lost at home in the playoffs for the first time since 2015, and just the third time since this run of 13 straight playoff appearances began in 2009.

"Real proud of these guys; it's been a pleasure coaching these seniors, and this group of kids," Coeur d'Alene coach Shawn Amos said. "They have nothing to be ashamed of. The game of football sometimes doesn't go your way, and they kept their heads high and battled to the end."

Eagle (9-2) advanced to the state semifinals, where the Mustangs will play host to Highland (9-2) of Pocatello next week.

Meridian (8-3), which handed Mountain View of Meridian its first loss with a 35-6 whipping, will travel to Rigby (9-1) in the other semi.

"We had a few things bounce our way," said Eagle coach John Hartz, who was the head boys basketball coach at Timberlake High for three seasons (2001-04), and a football assistant under Tim Kiefer during that time. "We knew what we had to do when we came here. We really felt like we needed to neutralize Cameren Cope a little bit (as a pass rusher); we had to make sure we were aware of where he was. But also, 23 (Giulio) ran the ball so hard and well against us. We wanted to stop him running; I don't think we were great at it, but we were just good enough."

Jack Benson passed for 252 yards and a touchdown for Eagle. Ian Duarte caught eight passes for 168 yards and Roy Hull ran for 97 yards and two scores.

In a first half where each team had just four possessions, Giulio ran 25 yards for a touchdown to put Coeur d'Alene ahead 7-3 with 7:51 left in the half. Eagle answered with Hull's 2-yard run for a 10-7 halftime lead.

Midway through the third quarter, Coeur d'Alene had a third-and-2 and the Eagle 10, and were in the wildcat formation. But the snap sailed over the head of Giulio, the running back in the wildcat, and when the chase for the football was over, Eagle had recovered at the 30.

Six plays later, Hull ran 21 yards for a 16-7 lead.

Coeur d'Alene pulled to within 16-14 when Isaiah Griffin took a short pass from Brayden Bengtson on a slant route and zipped 22 yards through traffic for a touchdown.

On the next possession, Giulio intercepted Benson near the Eagle sideline at the Mustangs’ 45.

Coeur d'Alene drove and thought it was 1 yard from the lead, but a holding penalty pushed the Vikings back to the 22. On third-and-12, Giulio ran it to the 12, but stayed down on the field, and had to be helped to the sideline.

"Basically I got hit from the bottom of my ankle, and the top, so my ankle rolled in, and my fibula/knee rolled out," Giulio explained. "And I already have compartment syndrome in my leg, so my ankle's all messed up already. I may have a bone bruise, or a crack ... I'm not sure yet."

Coeur d'Alene's tried a 29-yard field goal on fourth-and-2, but Eagle blocked it.

"I can't tell you if I was or wasn't (going to go for it if Giulio was still on the field), but that sealed it," Amos said.

Three plays later, Eagle had third-and-2 from its 28. Benson was chased out of the pocket by Cameren Cope, who nearly got the sack. Instead, Benson hit Duarte on a crossing route. Duarte cut upfield, eluded a couple tacklers and was gone to complete the 72-yard pass-and-run scoring play.

"Stuff happens, and you've got to move on from there," Giulio said.

"A few plays here and there, a tight ballgame like that, happens," Amos said. "That's the way it goes when you're playing other good teams. Congratulations to Eagle, they found a way to get it done. I'm mainly just proud of this group of coaches, and this group of kids. ... Brayden Bengtson, playing hurt. These kids kept battling; they never quit."

Eagle 3 7 6 7 — 23

Coeur d’Alene 0 7 0 7 — 14

First quarter

Eag — FG Ethan Cutler 21, 2:59

Second quarter

Cd’A — Gunner Giulio 25 run (Brayden Bengtson kick), 7:51

Eag — Roy Hull 2 run (Cutler kick), 1:20

Third quarter

Eag — Hull 21 run (kick failed), 3:20

Fourth quarter

Cd’A — Isaiah Griffin 22 pass from Bengtson (Bengtson kick), 10:02

Eag — Ian Duarte 72 pass from Jack Benson (Cutler kick), 2:35

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Eag, Hull 19-97, Jones 2-7, Benson 9-2. Cd’A, Giulio 25-196, Bengtson 3-6, Griffin 1-11.

PASSING — Eag, Benson 17-28-1-252. Cd’A, Bengtson 22-35-1-208.

RECEIVING — Eag, Duarte 8-168, Jones 7-63, Makita 1-12, Fales 1-7. Cd’A, Griffin 5-65, Giulio 5-12, Wuolle 5-57, Entzi 2-17, Mallory 2-17, Walker 1-11, Farrar 1-4, Cope 1-40.