COEUR d’ALENE — The Coeur d’Alene Vikings played close to error-free football on Friday night, which was bad news for the Lake City Timberwolves.

And the Vikings’ coach said there is still room for improvement, which is bad news for the rest of the 5A teams in Idaho.

Coeur d’Alene racked up 417 yards on the first half, 463 for the game, and the Viking defense mauled Lake City, holding the T-Wolves to 50 total yards in a 45-0 victory in 5A Inland Empire League football at Lake City.

“We played a better four quarters,” Coeur d’Alene coach Shawn Amos said. “That’s what we were looking for, a little better effort for four entire quarters. We still have a lot more work to do ... it’s good to win games and know you still have a lot of stuff that you can get better at. We have not reached our capabilities yet; we’re hoping to keep climbing.

“This was a big step. Our kids came out ready to play in the second half and played hard the whole time.”

Jack Prka threw for 315 yards in the first half for Coeur d’Alene (6-2, 2-0 5A IEL). He was 21 of 28 in the first half, and finished 25 of 33 for 343 yards and three touchdowns. Jake Brown caught eight passes for 145 yards and two scores for the Vikings.

Lake City (3-5, 0-2) managed just two first downs in the first half, the first one coming on the final play of the first quarter. Even the scoreboard clock wasn’t working properly, and the fourth quarter was played with a running clock with the Vikings leading by 40 or more points. But the score was plain to see.

“I’m disappointed, and it starts with me,” Lake City coach Brian Fulp said. “I’m disappointed in our effort ... that wasn’t us, is the most disappointing thing. I did not see that one coming. I thought we were ready.”

Colbey Nosworthy caught a TD pass for Coeur d’Alene, and jumped a slant route for a 5-yard pick-six in the third quarter. Gunner Giulio ran just three times, but two of them were for scores, and Prka ran for an 8-yard TD in the second quarter for the Vikings, who led 32-0 at halftime.

“They came out in a three-man front, which we hadn’t seen them do much, so it took us a little while to adjust to that,” Amos said. “But we’re fortunate we have a lot of kids that we can get the ball to, and can make plays.”

Amos said his defense played well for a second straight week, praising the play of sophomore defensive end Cameren Cope.

Lake City, by contrast, missed tackle after tackle, and was generally overpowered by the Vikings in what Fulp termed an “awful” offensive performance.

“It sounds cheesy, but it comes down to blocking and tackling, and we did neither of those things very well. I’ll give it to them — they played hard, they played physical, they beat us up. Plain and simple.”

Coeur d’Alene muffed the opening kickoff, and Lake City’s Ayden Vosburgh recovered at the Viking 35. But the Timberwolves couldn’t get a first down, and the Viks came up with a sack on fourth down.

On the Vikings’ second drive, a bad snap on first and goal from the Lake City 4 pushed the ball back to the 20, and Coeur d’Alene eventually missed a field goal.

“They tried to repeatedly give us the ball,” Fulp said of the early going. “And we wouldn’t do anything with it. And it was so frustrating.”

Coeur d’Alene then scored touchdowns on its next three drives, and five of its final six of the first half.

Next Friday, Coeur d’Alene plays host to Post Falls (6-2, 2-0) for the league title and a first-round bye in the state playoffs. Lake City is home vs. Lewiston (3-5, 0-2), with the winner still holding out slim playoff hopes.

Coeur d’Alene 12 20 13 0 — 45

Lake City 0 0 0 0 — 0

First quarter

Cd’A — Jake Brown 5 pass from Jack Prka (kick failed), 5:07

Cd’A — Gunner Giulio 8 run (pass failed), 1:03

Second quarter

Cd’A — Prka 8 run (pass failed), 10:08

Cd’A — Brown 26 pass from Prka (Eli Jolly kick), 3:00

Cd’A — Giulio 1 run (Jolly kick), :22

Third quarter

Cd’A — Colbey Nosworthy 3 pass from Prka (kick failed), 8:57

Cd’A — Nosworthy 5 interception return (Jolly kick), 3:02

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Cd’A, Elstad 5-35, Prka 4-28, Crawford 5-61, Giulio 3-19, Langley 1-(minus 4), Brett 2-12. LC, Nutting 10-35, Weaver 13-(minus 5), Webb 9-17.

PASSING — Cd’A, Prka 25-33-0-343, Elstad 0-1-0-0. LC, Weaver 6-14-1-29.

RECEIVING — Cd’A, Elstad 3-34, Giulio 3-20, Crawford 2-21, Brown 8-145, Pottenger 1-11, Schueller 1-18, Nosworthy 4-59, Johnson 3-35. LC, Nutting 1-2, Webb 1-3, Whitcomb 1-15, Jeanselme 2-4, Rosenau 1-5.