Knights too special for Post Falls

BOISE – Bishop Kelly’s special teams proved to be the difference as the Knights knocked Post Falls out of the State 4A football playoffs, 48-20, in a first-round game Friday night.

Undefeated Bishop Kelly (10-0) scoredon a punt return and a kickoff return and had two more touchdowns set up with long punt returns.

“Take four touchdowns off that board and the score looks a little different,” Post Falls coach Jerry Lee said.

Bishop Kelly owned a 27-6 lead after the first quarter and had the game virtually out of reach before Post Falls (8-2) was able to get its bearings in the second quarter on a chilly night at Bishop Kelly’s Nick Ysursa Field.

“We just weren’t in sync,” Lee said.

Although the loss was a disappointing way to end a season that included victories over 5A foes Lake City and Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls finished the year 8-2, one season after going 2-7.

“It’s like we’re in a storybook. We couldn’t have asked for a better season,” Trojans quarterback K.C. Billetz said. “Of course, we’re going to take this loss hard.”

Billetz demonstrated his arm strength with long passes throughout the game, but too many fell incomplete on a night that the Trojans struggled on offense and defense.

Billetz, a senior who hopes to play at Carroll College or walk on at the University of Idaho, finished 13 for 32 for 119 yards, throwing one interception and one touchdown pass.

“We had some guys open and just didn’t connect,” Lee said.

The Knights, meanwhile, bested their average of 47 points per game and will host a second-round playoff game next week.

Post Falls couldn’t find an answer for Bishop Kelly’s Steve Tracy. After the Trojans went four-and-out on their first possession of the game, Tracy returned a punt for a touchdown to give the Knights an early 7-0 lead.

Post Falls went four-and-out again, and Tracy returned his second punt to the 10-yard line, setting up a pass from quarterback Cody Hawkins – the son of Boise State coach Dan Hawkins – to Tommy Bleymaier that gave the Knights a quick 14-0 lead with 8 minutes, 10 seconds left in the first half.

Post Falls was forced to punt again, and if it weren’t for an illegal block by Bishop Kelly, the Knights’ Cory Griffith would have returned another punt for a touchdown. Three plays later, Tracy hauled in a 30-yard pass to give Bishop Kelly a 21-0 lead.

The Trojans got on the board with 1:08 left in the first quarter when Nick Canger scored on a 14-yard run.

But Bishop Kelly responded when Max Davis returned a punt 88 yards to the 4-yard line. One play later, Davis ran in for a touchdown, giving Bishop Kelly a 27-6 lead after the first quarter.

But the game slowed down after the first quarter. Neither team scored again until after halftime, when Davis returned the second-half kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown to give Bishop Kelly a 34-6 lead – giving the Knights four touchdowns by special teams or set up by special teams.

“We’ve had great special teams all year,” Bishop Kelly coach Tim Brennan said. “All 11 kids on special teams just execute well.”

Post Falls made things interesting in the fourth quarter.

Adam Shamion scored on a 15-yard pass from Billetz to pull the Trojans within 41-13. Chris Wilhelm recovered an onside kick and five plays later, Daniel Hamilton ran up the left side for a 12-yard touchdown to make the score 41-20 with 7:57 left in the fourth quarter.

Bishop Kelly added another touchdown, and after the Trojans were forced to punt again, the second string went in.

But although the Trojans were disappointed, they also remembered where they came from.

“We couldn’t even guess we’d have this great of a year,” Billetz said.