COEUR d'ALENE - For two series, the Coeur d'Alene Vikings looked like how a lot of other high school football teams look sometimes.

But after that, the Vikings looked like the unstoppable force they have been all season.

After going three-and-out on their first two possessions, the top-ranked Vikings scored touchdowns on their next eight possessions, and racked up 653 total yards in a 63-35 victory over the fourth-ranked Post Falls Trojans on Friday night at Viking Field to move in to first place in the 5A Inland Empire League.

"That was a very emotional, physical football game," Coeur d'Alene coach Shawn Amos said. "This was very good for us; we haven't been in a slug-out for a while. Post Falls, they came to play. They were very physical, and they weren't going to back down. Very good for us, leading into next week. I'm happy it was that kind of emotional, physical game."

Coeur d'Alene (8-0, 2-0 5A IEL) can wrap up the league title and home-field advantage for the first two rounds of the state playoffs with a victory next Thursday at Lake City (5-3, 1-1). Post Falls (6-2, 1-1) can still grab a playoff berth with a victory next Friday at Lewiston (4-4, 0-2).

Chad Chalich completed 32 of 43 passes for 457 yards and four touchdowns for the Vikings. He also rushed for three more scores. He divvied up his completions among four receivers and a running back. Leading the way was Joe Roletto (eight catches for 109 yards and a touchdown), Deon Watson (seven catches for 140 yards and two scores) and Bubba Duran (seven catches for 112 yards).

“The best thing that Chad showed today is, he was getting some extra attention, extra hits, and it didn’t rattle him. He stayed focused,” Amos said. “Everyone knows he can throw the ball, but to get those extra hits and keep coming back, that shows a lot about the kind of kid he is.”

Coeur d’Alene had 169 yards in penalties, Post Falls 91. The Trojans were penalized at least three times for what was ruled personal fouls tackling Chalich.

“Well, it’s option football,” Post Falls coach Jeff Hinz said. “Some penalties happen. It wasn’t trying to beat him up or anything, but we’re trying to play assignment football. On a read series, you have to tackle the quarterback and the back, or they’re going to go the distance.”

Running back Carlos Martinez rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, and caught five passes for 63 yards and a score.

Coeur d’Alene came in averaging just over 55 points per game, but Post Falls struck first on Joey Pfennigs’ 31-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Haskew. It was the first time the Vikings trailed since early in the Moses Lake game in the second week of the season.

Post Falls then drew even at 14 early in the second quarter on halfback Tyson Johnson’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Auston May.

“The best thing is, our kids have not been in that situation, being down, and they responded outstanding,” Amos said. “No panic. They came to play. We needed that (being challenged), and we have a lot to work on.”

Coeur d’Alene closed out the half with three straight touchdowns, and opened the second half with a score for a 42-14 lead.

“It’s tough to keep up with their speed,” Hinz said. “We did everything we could; we played real hard for four quarters.”

Watson stood out with several sticky-hands catches, including an 11-yard TD grab from Chalich late in the third quarter, just inside the pylon, with a defender tightly covering him.

Johnson, who came into the game with 902 rushing yards, was held to 49 yards on 12 carries.

Coeur d’Alene’s pass rushers shined as well, several times getting their hands on passes from Trojan quarterbacks.

Post Falls 7 7 6 15 — 35

Coeur d’Alene 14 21 14 14 — 63

PF — Johnny Haskew 31 pass from Joey Pfennigs (Tyler Booth kick)

Cd’A — Deon Watson 50 pass from Chad Chalich (Parker Wilson kick)

Cd’A — Chalich 1 run (Wilson kick)

PF — Auston May 14 pass from Tyson Johnson (Booth kick)

Cd’A — Carlos Martinez 20 pass from Chalich (Wilson kick)

Cd’A — Reece Mahaffy 3 run (Wilson kick)

Cd’A — Chalich 3 run (Wilson kick)

Cd’A — Martinez 12 run (Wilson kick)

PF — Marcus Colbert 2 run (kick failed)

Cd’A — Watson 11 pass from Chalich (Wilson kick)

PF — Taylor Valente 43 run (Tyler Morris pass from Haskew)

Cd’A — Chalich 1 run (Wilson kick)

PF — Colbert 58 pass from Valente (Booth kick)

Cd’A — Roletto 46 pass from Chalich (Wilson kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — PF, Pfennigs 2-1, Johnson 12-49, Slater 1-0, Hensley 3-7, Colbert 1-2, Valente 4-39. Cd’A, Chalich 9-13, Martinez 19-135, Mahaffy 1-3, Duran 1-4, Johnson 1-(minus 3), Amos 3-(minus 2), Montee 4-46.

PASSING — PF, Pfennigs 9-23-0-113, Johnson 1-1-0-14, Valente 4-6-1-108. Cd’A, Chalich 32-43-0-457.

RECEIVING — PF, Haskew 8-80, Anderson 1-30, May 1-14, Crain 1-8, Colbert 3-103. Cd’A, Duran 7-112, Watson 7-140, Martinez 5-63, Johnson 5-33, Roletto 8-109.