Lakeland runs over Post Falls

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

POST FALLS — The Lakeland Hawks put on a vintage performance — of sorts — in a dominating performance against the Post Falls Trojans on Friday. 

The Hawks churned out 212 rushing yards and scored on five straight possessions in a 35-7 victory on homecoming for Post Falls at Trojan Stadium. 

Junior Griffin Tamagni ran for 155 yards and four touchdowns on 27 carries, courtesy of an offensive line (led by seniors Will Peed, Aiden Huezo, Daemon Huddleston and Ernie Steele, and junior Kenal Munyer) that controlled the line of scrimmage. 

“They got a good push this game,” Tamagni said of his offensive line. “Coming into it, we watched some film and we thought we would dominate this game.” 

Tamagni scored on runs of 5, 2, 4 and 5 yards for Lakeland (5-0), which won at Post Falls for the first time since 2007. 

“They beat us on our homecoming (last year), so we beat them on their homecoming,” Tamagni said.  

Lakeland coach Mike Schroeder said the first three quarters might have been the best his team has played all year. But, he said, the Hawks have run it better in other games this year. 

“We have high expectations to be able to run the ball,” Schroeder said. “We really don’t have the athleticism that we need to have, so up front we have to be successful there.”  

Unlike your dad’s Lakeland Hawks, these guys also throw the ball a bit. Senior quarterback Peyton Hillman was 10 of 19 for 169 yards and a touchdown. 

“It was a game where it was the best I saw him do some things,” Schroeder said, “and also some things I had never seen before.” 

Lakeland’s first two touchdowns were helped set up by Hillman completions. 

On the final play of the first quarter, Hillman found senior Cyler Bauer wide open down the right sideline for 25 yards to the Post Falls 5. Tamagni ran it over the right side two plays later for six. 

Late in the second quarter, on fourth and 7 from the Post Falls 21, Hillman found senior Jace Taylor open in the seam for 16 yards. Tamagni went off left tackle and in four plays later. 

Taylor finished with four catches for 50 yards.

In the third quarter, Hillman was forced from the pocket, but rolled right and found a wide-open Broxton Lukey deep down the middle of the field for a 66-yard touchdown to make it 21-0. 

Post Falls (2-2) had a chance to make it a game late in the first half, trailing 14-0 but driving. The Trojans reached the Lakeland 31 before sacks by Hawks Jax Steinborn and Cash Lund ended that drive. 

The Trojans were outgained 381-220 in total yards. 

“We just couldn’t get anything going offensively tonight,” Post Falls coach Blaine Bennett said. “They (the Hawks) are big and physical up front; we knew it was going to be tough.” 

Post Falls junior quarterback Philip Schmitt, in his second start, left the game early in the third quarter with what the Trojans fear is a broken collarbone. Schmitt ran for 68 yards on 10 carries. 

Senior Caden Reese, who played quarterback on the JV last year, but was focusing on defense this year and hadn’t taken any snaps at QB this week, came on and led Post Falls to its only touchdown, a 4-yard run by Brandon Felix in the fourth quarter. 

Post Falls figures to be down to its third quarterback next week, as the Week 1 starter is no longer with the program. 

“They came in ready to go,” Bennett said of the Hawks. “They’re 5-0, He (Schroeder) has a really good team this year, and they took it to us tonight.” 

Next Friday, Lakeland plays host to Moscow, and Post Falls plays Glacier Peak of Snohomish, Wash., at Eastern Washington University’s Roos Field.

Lakeland     0    14    14    7     —    35 

Post Falls    0    0    0    7    —    7 

Second quarter 

LL — Griffin Tamagni 5 run (Parker Sterling kick), 11:11 

LL — Tamagni 2 run (Sterling kick), 1:00 

Third quarter 

LL — Broxton Lukey 66 pass from Hillman (Sterling kick), 9:21 

LL — Tamagni 4 run (Sterling kick), 5:36

Fourth quarter 

LL — Tamagni 5 run (Sterling kick), 11:00 

PF — Brandon Felix 4 run (Bradyn Singleton kick), 7:14 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

RUSHING — LL, Tamagni 27-155, Hillman 9-38, Adams 4-11, Sardinha 4-8. PF, Schmitt 10-68, Felix 14-59, Tomlinson 7-16, Reese 6-21, Zazuetta 2-5. 

PASSING — LL, Hillman 10-19-0-169. PF, Schmitt 4-12-0-46, Reese 1-7-0-5. 

RECEIVING — LL, Taylor 4-50, Yager 2-16, Lund 2-12, Lukey 1-66, Bauer 1-25. PF — Matthews 2-12, Tomlinson 1-5, Carver 1-30, Felix 1-6. 

    JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Lakeland senior Jace Taylor (3) tries to avoid the tackle of Post Falls sophomore Jackson Harvey after making a catch in Friday night's win in Post Falls.