STATE 6A FOOTBALL SEMIFINALS: Turnover bug bites Vikings

BOISE — The Coeur d’Alene Vikings have been terrific at causing turnovers all season. 

On Friday night, however, the Vikings were victimized by the turnover. 

Coeur d’Alene turned the ball over six times, but still had several chances to pull off the upset before falling 23-17 to the Timberline Wolves of Boise in the state 6A semifinals at Dona Larsen Park. 

“Very proud of this group,” said Shawn Amos, in his 29th season as Coeur d’Alene coach. “They were great teammates and fought to the end.”

Coeur d’Alene threw four interceptions and lost two fumbles, and finished 7-4. 

Timberline, in its first state semifinal since the school opened in 1998, played without quarterback Jack Brant, a UC Davis commit. 

The Wolves turned to wide receiver Hudson Lewis, a Utah commit, at quarterback. 

And in a game where neither team approached 200 yards of total offense, Lewis managed to throw a pair of touchdown passes to propel Timberline (10-1) will play defending champion Rigby (10-1) in the state championship game next week at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello. 

Rigby defeated Rocky Mountain of Meridian 40-21 at home. 

Brant came into the game with 26 passing touchdowns and 11 rushing TDs. Without him, the Wolves were pretty much one-dimensional. Coeur d’Alene held Timberline to seven first downs, 44 rushing yards and 160 yards total. 

But Timberline held the Vikings’ high-powered offense in check for most of the night. In addition to forcing the six turnovers, the Wolves registered three sacks in the first quarter and held Coeur d’Alene, which started six drives in Timberline territory, to nine first downs and 171 total yards on the night. 

“Our defense kept us in it,” Amos said. "But we just gave them too many opportunities.” 

Coeur d’Alene lost a fumble on its first possession and Timberline took over at the Viking 18. 

But Coeur d’Alene’s Daniel Shoup stopped the Wolves a yard short of the end zone on fourth and goal from the 2. 

Timberline forced a punt, took it over at the Vikings’ 22, and turned it into a field goal. 

Lewis, a strong safety on defense intercepted a pass and returned it to the Coeur d’Alene 23. Two plays later, he threw a 19-yard TD pass and the Wolves were up 10-0. 

Timberline started its first three drives at the Coeur d’Alene 18, 22 and 23 yard lines. 

Coeur d’Alene had the ball three times in Timberline territory in the second quarter, twice after fumble recoveries by Ty Paulin and Mateo Rhea. The Vikings failed to score on the first three possessions; the third drive getting as close as the Timberline 3 before losing a fumble. 

The Vikings finally got on the board after taking over at the Timberline 41 after a short punt. 

Tannar Stern hit Paulin out of the backfield to the left on a short pass, and Paulin took it in from 10 yards out with 10 seconds left in the half as the Vikings cut the Wolves’ lead to 10-7 at halftime. 

There were five turnovers in the first half, three by Coeur d’Alene. Timberline lost a pair of fumbles, and finished  

Stern was sacked three times in first quarter, and intercepted once. 

Timberline’s Austin Engroff returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown to boost Timberline’s lead to 16-7 with 7:48 left in the third quarter. 

Frankie Lopez booted a 32-yard field goal with 9:01 left to pull Coeur d’Alene within 16-10. 

With Timberline struggling to gain yards on the ground, Lewis rolled out and hit Hayden Hills on a 42-yard prayer. Then, on fourth and 10 from the Viking 20, Lewis connected with Idaho commit Nash O’Kelley down the middle for a touchdown and a 23-10 lead with 4:17 left.  

But Coeur d’Alene wasn’t finished. 

Hudson Gray broke a big kickoff return for the Vikings deep into Timberline territory. On the next play, Stern hit a wide-open Maddox Lindquist down the left sideline for a 24-yard touchdown to make it 23-17 with 3:58 left. 

Coeur d’Alene forced a punt, but Karl Fransen of Timberline intercepted a ball deep in Wolves territory. 

The Vikings got the ball back at the Timberline 49 with 1:28 remaining, but threw incomplete on four straight passes. 

Coeur d’Alene was bidding to reach the state title game for the first time since 2023, the fourth time in the last nine years, and eighth time in the last 16 years. 

“The seniors were great leaders and set a great example of how to treat each other,” Amos said. 

Coeur d’Alene     0    7     0    10    —    17 

Timberline    10    0    6     7    —    23 

First quarter 

TL — FG Hagen Clint 24, 2:14 

TL — Hayden Hills 19 pass from Hudson Lewis  

Second quarter 

Cd’A — Ty Paulin 10 pass from Tannar Stern (Frankie Lopez kick), :10 

Third quarter 

TL — Austin Engroff 25 interception return (PAT failed), 7:48 

Fourth quarter 

Cd’A — FG 32 Lopez, 9:01 

TL — Nash Okelly 20 pass from Lewis (Clint kick), 4:17 

Cd’A — Maddox Lindquist 24 pass from Stern (Lopez kick), 3:58 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

RUSHING — Cd’A, Paulin 6-13, Palmgren 5-15, Stern 14-18, Team 1-(minus 2). TL, B. Engroff 14-31, Scudder 5-22, Lewis 13-8, O'Kelley 1-(minus 2). 

PASSING — Cd’A, Stern 14-28-4-126. TL, Lewis 10-16-0-116. 

RECEIVING — Paulin 4-41, Dahlin 3-34, Lindquist 2-41, Hackett 2-5, Shoup 1-4, Jockheck 1-1, Palmgren 1-0. TL, Okelly 4-31, Hills 3-67, Scudder 2-11, Thompson 1-7. 

    DARIN OSWALD/The Idaho Statesman Hayden Hills of Timberline makes a catch as George Mitchell (4) and Bennett Jockheck (2) of Coeur d'Alene defend on Friday night at Dona Larsen Park in Boise.