Post Falls passes by Lake City, clinches state playoff berth

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

COEUR d’ALENE — Post Falls had some tradition to uphold Friday night. 

But first, the Trojans had to find a way to move the darn football. 

Its run game slowed in the first half by a staunch Lake City defense, Post Falls went to the air with eventual success in a 28-6 victory over the Timberwolves at Van Troxel Field to wrap up a berth in the state 6A playoffs. 

"It took us awhile, but we’re real happy with the win, and keeping that tradition of going to the playoffs,” Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett said.  

By winning, Post Falls (6-3, 1-1 6A Inland Empire League) claimed the league’s second berth to the 12-team state playoffs. The Trojans will play at home next week against an at-large team, but likely won’t find out who that is until Sunday when the MaxPreps rankings are updated, as those rankings are used to determine the two at-large playoff teams in 6A.

"It’s a great feeling,” said Post Falls senior quarterback Isaac McKeown, who passed for 207 yards and a touchdown, and ran for one score. “Coach Bennett keeps a good tradition, and we had to keep the tradition going.” 

Senior slot receiver Trenton McLean caught six passes for 135 yards for the Trojans, who took the lead late in the first half, then pulled away in the second half with three touchdown drives on their first four possessions. 

“Very confident in Isaac, and our receivers,” Bennett said. “They were loading the box; they had seven or eight guys in the box, and we knew we had to throw the ball out on the perimeter, and we have some receivers who can make some plays. Today was a big day for Trenton, and we have been using him more and more. We’re trying to create ways to get him the ball.” 

Lake City, which finished 4-5, 0-2, was bidding for its first playoff berth since 2019. The T-Wolves started strong when sophomore Cadey Tony returned the opening kickoff 79 yards to the Post Falls 16. 

But Lake City was unable to punch it in, turning the ball over on downs at the Trojan 8. 

“It all started with that big kickoff return, and then we held them,” Bennett said. “That was a big stop.” 

The T-Wolves scored on their next possession, Avrey Cherry hitting Tony up the right seed, and Tony speeding to the end zone to complete the 56-yard scoring play. 

Lake City muffed a punt late in the first half and Post Falls recovered at the T-Wolf 30. Five plays later, junior Cruze Woydziak slipped into the right flat and hauled in a 2-yard TD toss from McKeown for a 7-6 halftime lead.  

Devin Burton scored on short touchdown runs on the first two drives of the second half for Post Falls, which ran for just 16 yards in the first half, then gained 102 on the ground after intermission. 

Lake City turned the ball over on downs four times, getting stopped at the Post Falls 8 in the second quarter, and at the Trojan 31 on its first drive of the third quarter. 

"We had some opportunities,” second-year Lake City coach Byron Hout said. “Getting in the red zone (twice) and not coming out with points. And they turn around and get points on their drives. That was the story.” 

Post Falls outgained Lake City 325-176, and beat the Timberwolves for the 10th straight time. 

“I thought our defense did a great job,” Bennett said. “When your back’s against the wall, great things happen. I thought our team really came through, and our senior leadership was excellent.” 

“Lake City’s a great team; props to them,” McKeown said. “We definitely had a little confidence going in, but we knew we had to take care of business.” 

Post Falls    0    7    7    14    —    28 

Lake City    6    0    0    0    —    6 

First quarter 

LC — Caden Tony 56 pass from Avrey Cherry (kick blocked), 7:12 

Second quarter 

PF —Cruze Woydziak 2 pass from Isaac McKeown (Bradyn Singleton kick), :37 

Third quarter 

PF — Devin Burton 6 run (Singleton kick), 7:40 

Fourth quarter 

PF — Burton 9 run (Singleton kick), 11:20 

PF — McKeown 1 run (Singleton kick), 1:01 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

RUSHING — PF, Burton 19-52, Felix 11-46, McKeown 9-18, McLean 1-2. LC, Cherry 12-56, Wullenwaber 12-32, Van Leuven 2-14, Team 1-(minus 15). 

PASSING — PF, McKeown 14-26-0-207, Jimerson 0-1-0-0. LC, Cherry 5-21-0-89. 

RECEIVING — PF, McLean 6-135, Ostlund 2-7, Burton 1-17, Felix 1-14, Woydziak 1-2, Jimerson 1-14, Sage 1-18, Mathews 1-0. LC, Hill 2-24, Johnson 2-9, Tony 1-56. 

    MARK NELKE/Press Lake City sophomore Caden Tony (13) streaks down the middle of the field on a 56-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter Friday night at Lake City, as Shawn Hudson (10) of Post Falls pursues and Preston Beamesderfer (19) of Lake City trails the play.