POST FALLS - It started with four plays that didn't gain an inch.

In last year's season finale at Coeur d'Alene, the Post Falls Trojans had first and goal at the Viking 1-yard line in the second half, trying to make a game of it.

But four runs into the middle of the line gained nothing, Post Falls turned the ball over on downs, and Coeur d'Alene went on to win the game, ending the Trojans' season.

Four of Post Falls' starting offensive linemen in that game are back this year as seniors - center Justin Farnsworth (6-2, 270), right guard Elijah Bennett (6-2, 210), left guard Brandon Welstad (6-0, 260) and right tackle Josh Kennedy (6-4, 210). In a tearful locker room after the Viking game, they listened to their offensive coordinator, Sean Dorris.

"Remember this," Dorris told them. "Whenever you don't feel like working out, every time you don't want to get up, remember what that felt like, when you got stoned four plays in a row.

"That conversation came up a few times on Friday, for sure. They have been carrying that with them the whole offseason, and they really dedicated themselves and put in the work to become a lot stronger unit this year."

On Friday, against Coeur d'Alene, the Trojans rushed for 226 yards, and totaled 501 yards of offense in a wild 37-36 victory that put Post Falls back in the state playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

"That was one of our major points of emphasis in the offseason - to get that one yard when we really need it," Farnsworth said.

"We didn't want to relive that moment," Bennett said of last year's game.

"We weren't going to let that happen again," Welstad said. "I've been thinking about it in the weight room since June."

"It really helped drive us toward the next season, and what we wanted to do," Kennedy said.

Welstad said they thought about that one yard all summer - during every rep, during every sprint, waking up early in the summer to work out ("Who wants to wake up early in the summer?" he said), in an attempt to get bigger, faster, stronger.

At the Border League Camp in June, practicing against other area teams, the Trojan linemen had a feeling good things were about to come. Farnsworth, a starter since his sophomore year, noted that one team "tapped out; they didn't want to compete with us. That gave us confidence," he said.

Welstad remembered a quote Dorris gave them - something to the effect of, "without effort, talent is just potential."

"The thing I like most about this group is, they hold themselves accountable," Dorris said. "At the end of each game, if we had any penalties, they run for them. And they make each other run for them. I don't say a word to them, they just know what they're supposed to do."

So after the team went through its regular conditioning on Monday at the end of practice, the linemen would do extra conditioning - five sprints from sideline to sideline, and back - for each penalty, missed assignment, etc. Sometimes players from other positions would join them, if they messed up.

"We've been holding ourselves accountable, even for turnovers," Kennedy said. "It's everyone's responsibility to protect the football, not just the runners."

Truth be told, Post Falls has been able to move the ball all season. Even against Lake City, the Trojans moved the ball in chunks on the ground, but turnovers - a problem in most of their losses - killed Post Falls in an eventual 47-15 loss.

"They are a super physical group,""said Dorris, who was running backs coach last year, and moved to offensive line coach this year. "Farnsworth, we keep track of flatbacks (pancake blocks), and he has 63 flatbacks. So they play physical football. They take a lot of pride in taking care of the line of scrimmage."

The fifth starter on the offensive line is junior left tackle Dylan Haag (6-3, 270).

"Dylan Haag has definitely stepped up and played the blind side well," Farnsworth said. "He's definitely protected (quarterback) Dalton (Thompson) really well. He's put in the time with us."

Farnsworth and Bennett are also wrestlers. Farnsworth was a state runner-up last year; Bennett placed sixth. They noted some similarities between the two sports.

"The No. 1 thing that I have translated from my wrestling to the football field is just finishing," Farnsworth said. "If I'm in a one-on-one, I'm going to finish my guy to the ground at all costs. That can spring a 5-yard gain to an 80-yard touchdown.

"I've been trying to get Dorris to make it (flatbacks) a school record."

Added Bennett: "No matter how tired you are, you have to finish your block; you have to keep going."

Farnsworth and Welstad throw the shot put and discus during track season. Kennedy tried tennis last spring.

"I had no idea how tennis worked," he said. "I'd like to say it helped me with my footwork, but I get shut down by the coaches on that."

Farnsworth and Kennedy played on the same Junior Tackle team. Bennett played against them in Junior Tackle. Welstad moved to Post Falls from Gig Harbor, Wash., as a sophomore. His brother, Danny, played at Peninsula High and is now a junior defensive end at Whitworth.

Farnsworth, Bennett and Welstad all hope to play football in college.

So Farnsworth, Kennedy and Bennett in particular are well aware of Post Falls' playoff drought. Kennedy's brother, Jerod, was a senior three years ago when Post Falls lost in a Kansas tiebreaker to go to the state playoffs.

"It was kind of devastating," Josh recalled, "and I wanted redemption from that."

So all that motivation paid off in Post Falls' first playoff appearance since 2004. The Trojans (5-4), who play at Eagle (8-1) on Friday, aren't satisfied with just making the playoffs.

"I'm definitely looking to shock the world," Farnsworth said.