By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

COEUR d'ALENE - With his team's postseason hopes out of their hands for the night, Lake City football coach Van Troxel wanted to send his seniors out the best way he could think of.

Winning the final game of the season.

Lake City did exactly that on Thursday night, beating the Lewiston Bengals 43-19 in the 5A Inland Empire League and season finale for both schools.

"We just wanted the seniors to go out really strong," Troxel said. "It's a really good group of guys and they've worked extremely hard over the last four years. They're a fun group to be around. They're 6-3 and a really good football team."

Any other year, the Timberwolves (6-3, 2-1 5A IEL) likely would have moved on to the state playoffs, but not this year as the second-place team from the league does not advance. For Troxel, who had led Lake City to the playoffs for the last 16 years, it was bittersweet.

"It's like I told them before the game, for the last 20 years, a team as good as you has gone on to the playoffs," Troxel said. "But the state of Boise screwed us over because they don't think we should have two berths from the north. We've got at least two teams as good as their people down there."

Senior quarterback Tucker Louie-McGee threw for 125 yards and three touchdowns for Lake City, including two scores to his younger brother Jerry, and one to senior Jacob Dahl.

"I was real pleased with all the kids," Troxel said. "Lewiston came in and played hard. We played and competed hard, but I'm sorry the season ended the way it did."

Drew Melton ran for 147 yards for Lewiston (4-5, 0-3).

Hunter Damschen had a touchdown run in the second quarter and Gavan Rosteck ran for a TD in the fourth quarter for Lake City.

"It's a whole new feeling for us," Troxel said. "For the last 16 years, you play your last game and get ready for the playoffs, where it's do or die. They went out and did something they'll remember their entire life and had a good season. We've spent a lot of time together, so I think individually our seniors like Jake Hoss (quarterback sack) was flying around and Chris Baker were making plays and really played well. Tucker got the ball to all our seniors and made some plays, so it was a good way for them to go out."

Lewiston 0 7 0 12 - 19

Lake City 7 15 13 8 - 43

First quarter

LC - Tucker Louie-McGee 10 run (Casey Bourque kick), 8:15

Second quarter

LC - Hunter Damschen 6 run (T. Louie-McGee run), 9:16

Lew - Drew Melton 10 run (Andres Nunez kick), 1:22

LC - Jerry Louie-McGee 17 pass from T. Louie-McGee (Bourque kick), 30.1

Third quarter

LC - Jacob Dahl 10 pass from T. Louie-McGee (Bourque kick), 8:38

LC - J. Louie-McGee 37 pass from T. Louie-McGee (kick failed), 5:41

Fourth quarter

LC - Gavan Rosteck 1 run (Jared Turner pass from Michael Goggin), 7:40

Lew - Melton 63 run (kick failed), 7:16

Lew - Mason Ulrich 18 pass from Kade Woods (no attempt), 0:00.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Lew, Eberhardt 1-2, Ralstin 15-96, Melton 20-147, Reyes 1-0. LC, Rosteck 10-59, T. Louie-McGee 14-72, H. Damschen 8-54, Keilblock 2-3, J. Louie-McGee 7-23, Baker 1-4,

PASSING - Lew, Melton 6-12-0-72, Woods 1-2-0-18. LC, T. Louie-McGee 9-17-0-125, Goggin 1-2-0-13.

RECEIVING - Lew, Thrasher 2-12, Woods 1-0, Ulrich 3-50, Ralstin 2-28. LC, Newby 2-22, Turner 2-21, R. Damschen 2-14, J. Louie-McGee 3-73, Dahl 1-10.