Big bounceback — Post Falls rebounds from first loss, shuts out University

By MARK NELKE

Sports editor

POST FALLS — Sure, the Post Falls Trojans were anxious to finally play in front of their home fans, after spending their first three weeks on the road.

But, bigger than that, the Trojans were eager to erase the memory of their first loss of the season, last week at Sunnyside (Wash.)

“It really drove us to have good practices, and come back for this week,” said Post Falls junior defensive back Tyras Blake, who had an interception and fumble recovery in the Trojans’ 69-0 victory over the University Titans on Friday night at Trojan Stadium. “We just needed to bring the energy up, and be ready for anything. We weren’t prepared fully last week, and we came out as well as we could this week.”

Post Falls (3-1) scored on its first five possessions of the game, and seven of its first eight, and led University (0-3) 48-0 at halftime. The Trojan defense held the Titans to 8 yards in the first half, 11 through three quarters, and 54 for the game.

“We didn’t play very well last week,“ Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett said. “For whatever reason. But I thought our staff did a great job putting together a game plan for tonight, our kids did a good job working hard all week, got better. And I think that first half was a good football game. We came out in all three phases and executed like we wanted to execute. I’m really pleased how our kids took on the challenge after a loss, and they came out and played a good first half.”

Tevin Burns ran for 160 yards and four touchdowns for the Trojans, all in the first half. Isaac McKeown threw for one touchdown and ran for another. The Post Falls starters departed after scoring on the first drive of the third quarter to up its lead to 55-0.

“We’ve got a lot of seniors that have played a lot of football,” Bennett said. “I don’t think we did a good job as a staff preparing them last week. We learned from it; it’s nice to do that early in the season, and tonight we came out and executed and put a good first half together.”

Taycen Genatone and Blair Crain also had interceptions for Post Falls, and Kyle Miller had a pick-6 for the Trojans in the third quarter.

“I think they just dominated the line of scrimmage,” Bennett said of his defense. “Cooper Craig dominates that inside, and our D-line played well. We created a lot of turnovers; Adam Shamion (defensive coordinator) did a great job with the game plan, and the kids executed that defensive game plan to perfection. And created turnovers, and we didn’t do that last week.”

Ayden Triana set the tone for Post Falls, returning the opening kickoff 73 yards to the U-Hi 20. McKeown scored seven plays later on a 3-yard keeper.

Genatone picked off pass on the Titans’ second play and returned it to the 2. Burns scored from a yard out two plays later.

Blake’s interception set up Burns’ 15-yard TD run for a 21-0 lead.

“It felt amazing,” Burns said. “At that point on, we just knew we were the guys, and were going to get the job done.”

A big punt return by Triana set up another Burns TD run that made it 35-0 in the second quarter.

University did not complete a pass.

“We just all did our jobs, filled our gaps, and hit hard,” Burns said.

Post Falls never punted.

“The turnovers were huge,” Bennett said. “Any time you can create turnovers and give the offense the football on a short field, points are going to go up on that board.”

Post Falls plays host to Lakeland next Friday.

University 0 0 0 0 — 0

Post Falls 28 20 14 7 — 69

First quarter

PF — Isaac McKeown 3 run (Seth Martin kick), 9:29

PF — Tevin Burns 2 run (Martin kick), 7:53

PF — Burns 15 run (Martin kick), 4:53

PF — Devin Burton 3 run (Martin kick), 2:01

Second quarter

PF — Burns 5 run (Martin kick), 11:13

PF — Burns 5 run (Martin kick), 5:35

PF — Troy Ostlund (kick failed), 3:00

Third quarter

PF — Alex Shields 15 pass from McKeown (Martin kick), 10:53

PF — Kyle Miller 22 interception return (Martin kick), 6:21

Fourth quarter

PF — Caden Smith 10 run (Martin kick), 7:25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Univ, Troutman 17-25, Wolcott 6-3, Ramirez 3-9, Cunanan 1-2, Breeden 6-28. PF, Burns 15-160, McKeown 1-3, Burton 8-65, Ostlund 1-12, Goetz 1-10, Stone 5-20, Smith 3-39, Williams 1-4.

PASSING — Univ, Wolcott 0-7-4-0, Breeden 0-1-0-0. PF, McKeown 8-11-0-127, Smith 1-3-0-5.

RECEIVING — Univ, none. PF, Rutherford 4-72, Bowie 3-40, Shields 1-15, Jimerson 1-5.