LEWISTON — Faced with some adversity after its first series, the Post Falls defense answered the challenge on Friday night.

Post Falls scored 28 straight points to close the first half, then held on late thanks to a key goaline stand as the Trojans beat the Lewiston Bengals 28-12 in a 5A Inland Empire League game at Bengal Field.

“We got behind early and they went down the field right away,” Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett said. “Lewiston’s a good football team, and played really well tonight. We were fortunate to score 28 points in the first half. They did a great job and slowed us down.”

Post Falls (8-0, 2-0 5A IEL) travels to Coeur d’Alene next Friday in a game to determine the 5A IEL championship.

Post Falls, which had scored over 40 points in all but one game, was held to a season-low 28 points. Defensively, the Trojans allowed the second-lowest total of the season.

“Our defense really slowed them down in the second half,” Bennett said. “They played really well and got a couple of turnovers.”

Taylor Ryan gave Post Falls the lead on a 78-yard touchdown pass from Nate Buer, who also connected with Cody Barber in the first quarter on a 43-yard touchdown to take a 14-6 lead.

Braden Vaughan had a 4-yard touchdown run midway into the second quarter and Jake Pfennigs caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Buer late in the half to build a 28-6 halftime lead.

Lewiston drove inside the Trojans’ 5-yard line late, but a defensive stop kept the Bengals off the scoreboard in the final minutes.

“It was a huge defensive stop,” Bennett said. “Our boys had a couple of big stops and held them off the scoreboard. It was exciting to see our boys rise to the occasion and win the game for us.”

Lewiston (4-4, 0-2) visits Lake City next Friday.

Post Falls 14 14 0 0 — 28

Lewiston 6 0 6 0 — 12

First quarter

Lew — Troy Hanes 46 pass from Tyson Wallace (pass failed), 10:35

PF — Taylor Ryan 78 pass from Nate Buer (Braden Vaughan kick), 8:40

PF — Cody Barber 43 pass from Buer (Vaughan kick), 5:52

Second quarter

PF — Vaughan 4 run (Vaughan kick), 7:38

PF — Jake Pfennigs 5 pass from Buer (Vaughan kick), 4:29

Third quarter

Lew — Donaven Santana 3 yard pass from Wallace (pass failed), 7:25