Viks league champs again ... Coeur d'Alene clinches playoff berth, first-round bye with shutout

Editor's note: This story has been corrected from the print version to reflect Kai Wheeler scoring all three touchdowns for Coeur d'Alene.

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

POST FALLS — When you have a defense as stout as Coeur d’Alene, it only takes a couple scores or so by the offense to give the feeling the Vikings are in control of the game. 

On Friday night, Coeur d’Alene did all its scoring in the first half, and the Viking defense pitched a shutout against a pretty good offense in a 21-0 triumph over the Post Falls Trojans before an overflow crowd at Trojan Stadium to wrap up the 6A Inland League title and a first-round bye in the state playoffs. 

"It’s always a big deal for these kids, especially these seniors, to win a league title,” Coeur d’Alene coach Shawn Amos said. “Beating two good football teams, two weeks in a row, and beating Post Falls at Post Falls is tough. Our kids played a good game, and now we start prepping. We know where we are in the playoffs.” 

Kolby Coey had an interception and a fumble recovery, Evan Williams had an interception and completed a pass, and Kai Wheeler caught three TD passes and recovered a fumble for Coeur d’Alene (6-2, 2-0 6A IEL), which won its 12th league title since 2010, and 10th title outright. 

Caden Symons threw three touchdown passes and was 17 of 22 for 270 yards for the Vikings, who outgained the Trojans (5-3, 0-1) 383-213. 

“Our defense is very good,” Amos said. “That was a big deal, because Post Falls does have a good offense, and can run the ball. It’s hard to run the ball against us.” 

Symons connected with Wheeler on a screen pass to the left, and Wheeler ran it in from 4 yards out on Coeur d’Alene’s second drive of the game.  

Wheeler caught just two other passes, but both were worthy of the highlight reel. 

In the second quarter, Wheeler caught a screen pass from Symons, stiff-armed one defender and raced past everyone else on a 56-yard scoring play. 

After Williams’ interception, Coeur d’Alene drove for another score. Symons scrambled for 27 yards on third down and 12 to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, Symons rolled out to the right, hit Wheeler crossing into the flat, and Wheeler broke tackles and zipped down the sideline for a 40-yard score and a 21-0 halftime lead. 

Coeur d’Alene came up empty on a pair of drives inside the Post Falls 10 in the second half, but the Trojans couldn’t capitalize.  

“Congratulations to Shawn Amos and the Coeur d’Alene team,” Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett said. “Our defense played well; we came up with some good stops. Offensively we turned the ball over a couple of times, and you can’t do that against a good football team, and then we just couldn’t get any points on the board. We couldn’t finish drives; that was the disappointing part.” 

Williams connected with Coey on a double pass for 33 yards in the second half. 

Williams finished with eight receptions for 64 yards. Coey caught three passes for 109 yards. 

Post Falls was outgained 226-86 in the first half. In addition to committing four turnovers in the game, the Trojans turned the ball over on downs twice in Viking territory. 

Isaac McKeown had 57 of his 55 rushing yards in the second half — he had minus 2 yards rushing in the first half. Caleb Jimerson had five catches for 36 yards. 

Coeur d’Alene wraps up the regular season at home next Friday against Raymond (Alberta) High. After a week off, the Vikings will play host to a state quarterfinal game the weekend of Nov. 8. 

Post Falls travels to Lake City (4-4, 0-1) next Friday, with the winner earning a berth in the state playoffs, and the loser hoping their MaxPreps ranking is good enough to earn an at-large berth.

Coeur d’Alene     7    14    0    0    —    21 

Post Falls    0    0    0    0    —    0 

First quarter 

Cd’A — Kai Wheeler 4 pass from Caden Symons (Anthony Thompson kick), 7:31 

Second quarter 

Cd’A — Wheeler 56 pass from Symons (Thompson kick), 4:28 

Cd’A — Wheeler 40 pass from Symons (Thompson kick), 1:26 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

RUSHING — Cd’A, Symons 8-41, Young 8-28, Thompson 5-15, Myers 2-5, Stern 5-(minus 15). PF, McKeown 13-55, Felix 8-42, Burton 10-19, Jimerson 1-8. 

PASSING — Cd’A, Symons 17-22-0-270, Stern 2-3-1-20, Williams 1-1-0-33. PF,  McKeown 12-20-2-89. 

RECEIVING — Cd’A, Williams 8-64, Coey 3-109, Booth 2-12, Wheeler 3-100, Cady 1-19, Murray 1-7, Thompson 1-5, Sutich 1-7. PF, Jimerson 5-36, McLean 3-23, Ostlund 1-8, Mathews 1-11, Felix 1-5, Burton 1-6. 

    MARK NELKE/Press Trenton McLean (8) of Post Falls tries to escape the tackle of Jayson Cady (5) of Coeur d'Alene, as Caleb Jimerson (1) of Post Falls looks to help Friday night at Trojan Stadium.