STATE 6A QUARTERFINALS: Pick-6, then pick-3 — Lindquist takes first of his three interceptions the distance as Coeur d’Alene routs Madison, sets up semifinal date with Timberline

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

COEUR d’ALENE — Coeur d’Alene Viking junior Maddox Lindquist knew it was coming, made the interception, and spun his way up the sidelines for an 80-yard touchdown that quelled any momentum Madison of Rexburg may have had Friday night. 

"I don’t know, it was pretty long. I was out of breath after that one,” said Lindquist, who finished with three interceptions as the Vikings rolled to a 42-14 victory over the Bobcats in a state 6A quarterfinal game at Viking Field. 

Coeur d’Alene (7-3) will play Timberline (9-1) of Boise next week at Dona Larsen Park in Boise in the state semifinals. Timberline defeated Middleton 21-7 in a quarterfinal game Friday night at Dona Larsen Park in Boise.

Madison trailed 21-0, but was driving late in the first half. On first and 10 at the Coeur d’Alene 24, Bobcat sophomore quarterback Micah Dougherty threw to his left — right to Lindquist, who dashed up the sideline in front of the Viking bench, seemingly stopped a few times, but spinning out of trouble and continuing until he reached the end zone. 

“We had saw that one on film a couple of plays earlier,” said Lindquist, sporting the team’s turnover chain. “I picked it, and then I had my boys escort me to the end zone. It was definitely an awesome moment.” 

"That was one heckuva return,” Amos said. “That was impressive. A lot of guys stepped up, and obviously Maddox had a heckuva game. That was an impressive return.  

“He doesn’t have his dad’s athletic ability — he has his mom’s,” Amos joked, referring to Mike Lindquist, who coaches the Vikings’ defensive backs and is a former Coeur d’Alene High athletic director. 

Lindquist’s heroics aside, Amos made it a point to praise the Coeur d’Alene defensive line — Mateo Rhea, Rylan Peterson and Anthony Gillie, all seniors — who held the Madison rushing game to 47 yards on 27 carries. 

"They showed why they are the strength of our team,” Amos. “They stepped up against that big front, and did a heckuva job. They set the tone up front.” 

All told, Coeur d’Alene forced Madison into six turnovers — four interceptions and two lost fumbles. 

Coeur d’Alene scored first, after being backed up to its 1-yard line by a Madison punt. 

Senior Priest Palmgren, who finished with 117 yards on just five carries, broke a 69-yard run to the Bobcat 19. 

Two plays later, Daniel Shoup took a short pass from Tannar Stern and ran it in from 10 yards out. 

Junior Hudson Gray recovered a Madison fumble at the Bobcat 34. On third-and-7 from the 31, Stern escaped the pressure and lofted a pass over the defender to senior George Mitchell in the end zone for a touchdown. 

On the next series senior Bennett Jockheck ran a deep route and made a terrific over-the-shoulder catch for 46 yards to the Madison 7. Two plays later, Stern connected with Ian Dahlin in the right flat for a 10-yard catch-and-run. 

Stern finished 10 of 27 for 241 yards and four touchdowns, and he also rushed for 90 yards, including a 68-yarder late in the game when the Vikings were trying to run out the clock. 

Lindquist normally wears No. 6 but wore No. 3 on this night because the No. 6 in that particular set of Viking uniforms was missing. No. 3 had been worn by senior quarterback Caden Symons, who is out for the season after suffering a broken collarbone earlier in the year. Lindquist also finished with a team-high five catches for 71 yards, as nine different Vikings caught passes.  

Coeur d’Alene out-gained Madison 485-344, including 244 yards on the ground. The Bobcats had just 89 yards in the first half. 

“Whenever you win games like that, it always comes from up front,” Amos said. “Our offensive line set the tone as well. If they do that, we have enough athletes that we have a chance.” 

Madison     0    0    7    7    —    14 

Coeur d’Alene    7    21    7    7    —    42 

First quarter 

Cd’A — Daniel Shoup 10 pass from Tannar Stern (Frankie Lopez kick), 1:00 

Second quarter 

Cd’A — George Mitchell 31 pass from Stern (Lopez kick), 10:21 

Cd’A — Ian Dahlin 10 pass from Stern (Lopez kick), 6:01 

Cd’A — Maddox Lindquist 80 interception return (Lopez kick), 1:35 

Third quarter 

Cd’A — Jackson Hackett 31 pass from Stern (Lopez kick), 7:00 

Mad — Micah Dougherty 1 run (Braysen Stoddard kick), 5:17 

Fourth quarter 

Cd’A — Priest Palmgren 13 run (Lopez kick), 8:59 

Mad — Baden Wheeler 10 pass from Dougherty (Stoddard kick), 3:50 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

RUSHING — Mad, Hammond 17-42, Dougherty 8-6, Summers 2-(minus 1). Cd’A, Palmgren 5-117, Stern 14-90, Paulin 8-37. 

PASSING — Mad, Dougherty 22-40-4-297. Cd’A, Stern 20-27-1-241. 

RECEIVING — Mad, Wheeler 6-57, Thompson 6-95, Dredge 5-64, Hodges 3-51, Phillips 1-5, Hammond 1-24. Cd’A, Lindquist 5-71, Dahlin 3-22, Paulin 2-(minus 1), Hackett 2-36, Mitchell 2-45, Jockheck 2-51, Shoup 2-11, Gray 1-6, Whitaker 1-0.  

    MARK NELKE/Press Coeur d'Alene senior Mateo Rhea, right, pursues Madison sophomore quarterback Micah Dougherty (10) in the first half Friday at Viking Field.