PREP FOOTBALL: Trojans turn up tempo, rout Battle Ground

By JASON ELLIOTT 

Sports writer 

POST FALLS — Post Falls senior Devin Burton knew that after three uncharacteristic starts from the Trojan offense, a fourth on Friday wasn’t going to do sit well with the rest of his teammates. 

So the Trojans took off. 

Again and again and again. 

Burton scored on a 4-yard touchdown run 1:30 into the game for the Trojans, who rolled past Battle Ground (Wash.) 45-6 in a nonleague football game at Trojan Stadium. 

“It was our homecoming game, I had to put some people down,” Burton said. “We had to start the game off right and set the tone early. I trust in our offensive line, and they do a great job every game.” 

Post Falls added scores on an 44-yard run from Trenton McLean and a blocked punt that was recovered in the endzone by Damion Hamilton to take a 21-0 lead after the first quarter. 

“The first half, it was really all three phases for us,” Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett said. “And that’s a tough offense and they spread it all over the play. (Defensive coordinator) Adam Shamion did a great job and the kids executed it really well. We pretty much had a zero that entire first half.” 

Hamilton blocked a punt of his own in the third quarter to set up a 2-yard run by Burton to give Post Falls a 42-6 lead. 

“We got going a little bit and were able to get going a little bit,” Bennett said. “We were able to do what we wanted to do.” 

Burton finished with 103 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Junior Brandon Felix had 116, including a 66-yard run in the fourth quarter to set up a field goal. 

“Every year, we’ve had a guy like Devin and really had two good backs,” Bennett said. “They’re two good running backs and the guys did a good job up front and got into the endzone in all three phases tonight.” 

Post Falls fell behind 40-14 before rallying last Saturday against Glacier Peak of Snohomish, Wash., eventually falling 47-42. The Trojans held off rival Lakeland 21-20 in Rathdrum on Sept. 20 and beat Eastmont of East Wenatchee, Wash., 14-7 on Sept. 13. 

“It was really important to get going early,” Bennett said. “We didn’t think we played very well in the first half last week (at Glacier Peak) and we talked about it all week. We start fast and take care of business, and that’s kind of been our slogan. And I thought we did a good job of that tonight. We wanted to come out in the second half and make sure we were in control.” 

“Those last three games were definitely off games for us,” Burton said. “I think it was the aspect of getting off the bus and playing the game.” 

Post Falls forced four turnovers, with senior Kyle Miller and junior Elliott Ries picking off Battle Ground quarterback Ethan Adams, and Kyle Chamberlin recovering a fumble in Tigers’ territory. 

“All three aspects of the game, we were working hard and getting it done,” Burton said.  

Post Falls (5-1) travels to Moses Lake next Friday.

Battle Ground is 3-2. 

Battle Ground    0    6    0    0    —    6 

Post Falls    21    14    7    3    —    45 

First quarter 

PF — Devin Burton 4 run (Bradyn Singleton kick), 10:30 

PF — Trenton McLean 44 run (Singleton kick), 2:03 

PF — Damion Hamilton punt recovery in endzone (Singleton kick), :04 

Second quarter 

PF — Caleb Jimmerson 28 pass from Isaac McKeown (Singleton kick), 8:09 

PF — McLean 21 pass from McKeown (Singleton kick), 4:35 

BG —Trent Richardson 18 pass from Ethan Adams (kick failed), :00 

Third quarter 

PF — Burton 2 run (Singleton kick), 4:28 

Fourth quarter 

PF — FG, Singleton, 28, 8:40 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

RUSHING — BG, Rivas 8-18, Overholser 3-2, Adams 9-34, Tkachenko 1-0, Waldal 2-17. PF, Burton 22-103, McKeown 5-2, McLean 1-44, Felix 6-115, Stone 6-12. 

PASSING — BG, Adams, 13-34-2-231. PF, McKeown, 7-12-1-109. 

RECEIVING — BG, Walker 1-0, Overholser 2-26, Richardson 4-99, O. Mereen 3-38, Rivas 1-25, Adams 1-0, Duckworth 1-14, F. Mereen 1-29. PF, Jimmerson 2-37, McLean 2-29, Ostlund 2-43, Morrison 1-0. 

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Post Falls freshman Bradyn Singleton (37) celebrates with junior teammate Alexander Dean (31) after Singleton's 28-yard field goal in the fourth quarter of Friday's 45-6 win over Battle Ground at Trojan Stadium.