'Survive and move on': Coeur d'Alene defense comes up big as Vikings advance to state 5A title game

EAGLE — A goal-line stand. A pick in the red zone. 

A fumble recovery turned into a touchdown.

A partially blocked extra point.

Another stop in its own territory with the game on the line.

As it has most of the season, Coeur d’Alene’s defense came up big again, and the Vikings sweated out a missed field goal by Eagle in the final minute for a 7-6 victory over the Mustangs in a state 5A football semifinal Friday night at Thunder Stadium.

“That was quite a game,” Coeur d’Alene coach Shawn Amos said. “There’s a reason I’m gray and bald, or one (reason), anyway. Eagle is a good football team, and we got just enough stops to survive and move on.”

Coeur d’Alene (9-2), which advanced to its first state title game since 2019, will play Highland (10-1) of Pocatello for the championship next Saturday at noon PST at Holt Arena in Pocatello.

Highland defeated Meridian 20-14 in the other semifinal Friday night at Holt.

The Vikings bounced back this season after going 4-5 last year and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

“Our kids invested, and they’re reaping the rewards,” Amos said. “And the coaches kept working. For some of us old guys, it's our eight state title game. They (the players) knew what needed to be done. They put in the time … You don’t get to state title games in August, you get to them in January. The kids put in the time the whole offseason.”

Eagle finished 10-1.

Eagle outgained Coeur d’Alene 326 yards to 148, and had 19 first downs to the Vikings’ five.

However, Coeur d’Alene bent but didn’t break on defense, and took advantage of its biggest opportunity on offense.

Still, Eagle drove to the Coeur d’Alene 18 yard-line in the final minute. On fourth down and 7 with 34 seconds left, the Mustangs missed a 35-yard field goal wide left. 

The Vikings took a knee, then celebrated.

“They moved the ball on us,” Amos said. “Their running back was good; they were tough up front. It was one of those games we just had to make enough plays. In playoff football, that’s what you have to do.”

It was Coeur d’Alene’s first playoff win on the road since 2014, when the Vikings won at Meridian in the first round.

Coeur d’Alene got the break it needed midway through the second quarter, after Eagle started at the Coeur d’Alene 43 after a short punt.

On the first play, the snap went through the hands of Eagle quarterback Davis Harsin. He bobbled the ball trying to pick it up, and Viking Jayson Cady recovered at the Mustangs 43.

On the next play, Caden Symons hit a wide-open Jamison Kizziar down the middle for 37 yards — the Vikings’ first (and only) first down of the first half.

Owen Harris ran it to the 1, and on third and goal, Symons scored on the "tush push," and Jayson Cady’s kick made it a 7-0 lead with 5:51 left in the half.

Prior to that drive, Coeur d’Alene had 5 yards of total offense.

At the half, Eagle had outgained Coeur d’Alene 162 yards to 48.

In the third quarter, Eagle had a potential tying touchdown pass from Harsin to Cal Huish from 7 yards out called back for an ineligible lineman downfield. 

On fourth and goal from the 3, Kizziar shot through and tripped up Noah Burnham a yard short of the end zone. Burnham finished with 158 yards on 34 carries, but only two of those runs went for more than 10 yards.

“We were definitely focused on the run game,” Amos said. “They didn't break any backbreaking runs … we just kept swinging.”

Eagle got the ball back at the Viking 31 after a short punt, and Harsin sprinted left 16 yards for a touchdown on the read option. But the PAT was partially blocked and fell just short of the crossbar, keeping the Vikings in the lead.

Coeur d’Alene got its only other two first downs on a drive early in the fourth quarter. Symons connected with Cady for 38 yards on a deep ball, and Harris weaved his way 28 yards up the middle to the 6 on third and 12. But Symons was picked off by Aaron Zrno at the Eagle 5.

The Vikings forced a three-and-out, then hung tough during a final Eagle drive that started with a 38-yard completion from Harsin to Cal Huish to the Cd’A 38.

“It was crazy, it was crazy,” Amos said. “We knew it was going to be a defensive battle. Eagle was as advertised. And we made just enough plays.”

Eagle took the opening kickoff and, on three straight completions by Harsin and the running of sophomore Burnham, drove to the Viking 14.

But after a penalty, on third and 9 from the 19, Harsin’s pass was intercepted by junior linebacker Alex Brown.

Coeur d'Alene had eight three-and-outs on offense, and punted nine times. Eagle had three three-and-outs.

But in the end ...

“We survived, and we get to play for a state title,” Amos said. 

Coeur d’Alene     0    7    0    0    —    7

Eagle    0    0    6    0    —    0

Second quarter

Cd’A — Caden Symons 1 run (Jayson Cady kick), 5:51

Third quarter

Eagle — Davis Harsin 16 run (kick blocked), 2:12

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Cd’A, Harris 12-52, Hagel 1-3, Symons 8-(minus 29). Eagle, Burnham 34-158, Harsin 5-12, Wright 1-2.

PASSING — Cd’A, Symons 10-21-1-122. Eagle, Harsin 13-29-1-154.

RECEIVING — Cd’A, Coey 5-36, Cady 2-43, Hagel 1-5, Kizziar 1-37, Wheeler 1-10. Eagle, Huish 3-67, Sneddon 3-32, Burnham 3-20, Wright 2-20, Crawford 1-12, Brock 1-5.

    DARIN OSWALD/Idaho Statesman Coeur d’Alene quarterback Caden Symons is pressured by Eagle defensive lineman Seth Brock in the third quarter of the 5A state football semifinals on Friday at Eagle High.

    Photo by BUSCEMA PHOTOGRAPHY Parker Neff of Coeur d'Alene tackles an Eagle player during Friday's state 5A football semifinal game at Eagle High.