POST FALLS — A fast start on defense plus an even faster tempo on offense equaled the perfect tribute on Friday night at Trojan Stadium.

A forced fumble recovered by junior cornerback Junior Williams on the second play from scrimmage. A pair of deep touchdown passes from Nate Buer to Jayden Gering, as well as a blocked punt for a touchdown, led to the Post Falls Trojans rolling to a 49-7 win over the University Titans in the Trojans’ home opener.

“It always starts on the defensive side of the ball,” Post Falls interim coach Blaine Bennett said. “Our defense, (defensive coordinator) Adam Shamion does an awesome job with the coaches on that side of the ball. We’ve got excellent players on that side of the ball and they really made a statement early in the game. The big turnover got the ball in scoring position for our offense and really got the momentum rolling our way. I thought our special teams played well. We missed a 40-yard field goal, and that’s something he can make and we really covered the ball well (on punts and kickoffs). Offense, we’re coming along.

Junior quarterback Nate Buer completed 8 of 13 for 144 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for another score in the third quarter.

“I just came out and played loose,” Buer said. “The line was blocking really, really well and gave me time to do my thing and get the ball down the field. There was definitely a lot of energy and we played with a lot more intensity tonight.”

Buer also accounted for 38 yards rushing for Post Falls.

“Nate’s doing a good job of distributing the football and we’re doing a good job up front,” Bennett said. “All in all, I thought it was a good, solid football game.”

Post Falls broke the game open after a blocked punt that was recovered by Nate DeGraw in the end zone to give Post Falls a 28-7 lead with 9:49 remaining in the half.

The game was the program’s first at home since the death of coach Jeff Hinz, who coached the Trojans for 11 seasons before passing away in July after a nearly three-year battle with non-smoker’s lung cancer.

“There’s a lot that we’re dedicating to Jeff this year,” Bennett said. “Every time we come on this field, and soon we’ll even have a scoreboard named after Jeff Hinz. So he’s got a piece of this at all times. When we play in front of the home crowd, it’s always important to get a win.”

Senior running back Kaden Nelson finished the game with 90 yards rushing, including a 40-yard run to set up a 3-yard score of his own in the second quarter.

“It was a big night, especially after last week,” Nelson said. “It was great to get back out here and get the win with my guys. Last week, we gave up some points early on and we really wanted to change that.”

On Nelson’s athletic tape had the message “For You Hinz” as a tribute to his coach from the previous two years on the varsity level.

“He’d be in the locker room as excited as anyone else right now,” Nelson said. “He’d be just as happy.”

Last week, Post Falls turned the ball over eight times in a 41-3 loss to Mead at Roos Field in Cheney.

“Certainly after last week’s game, we didn’t think we played really well against Mead,” Bennett said. “And you certainly cannot turn the ball over eight times and win a high school football game against anybody. I thought we played a cleaner game and were on the positive side of the turnover battle tonight.”

Post Falls (2-1) travels to Cheney next Friday. University is 1-1.

University 7 0 0 0 — 7

Post Falls 15 19 15 0 — 49

First quarter

PF — Mark Haines 3 pass from Nate Buer (Braden Vaughan kick), 11:09

Uni — Hunter Gregerson 7 run (Bailey Van Slyke kick), 4:13

PF — Jayden Gering 65 pass from Buer (Quin Bennett pass from Buer), 2:57

Second quarter

PF — Kaden Nelson 3 run (pass failed), 11:27

PF — Nate DeGraw blocked punt recovery in endzone (Vaughan kick), 9:49

PF — Gering 33 pass from Buer (run failed), 3:26

Third quarter

PF — Buer 12 run (Nelson run), 3:48

PF — Vaughan 2 run (Vaughan kick), 24.1

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Uni, Gregerson 4-12, Duplessis 1-3, May 6-16, Braley 3-6, Sherick 4-(-3), Welch 11-49. PF, Nelson 10-90, Buer 10-38, Vaughan 10-34, Mills 1-(-2), Weeks 3-6.

PASSING — Univ, Sherick, 10-23-0-107. PF, Buer, 8-13-0-144.

RECEIVING — Uni, Brantley 5-83, May 1-143, Larson 1-5, Van Slyke 1-0, Duplessis 1-4, Braley 1-2. PF, Haines 1-3, Gering 4-119, Gosney 2-23, Walton 1-(-1).