Written by: Lucas Gebhart
Finally – a breakthrough.
Prior to last season, Post Falls was – for the most part – a .500 football team, playing second, third, or sometimes, even fourth fiddle to the Inland Empire League’s (EIL) perennial power in Coeur d'Alene.
But 2022 was a different story as the Trojans burst onto the scene. The defense had the best player in the conference and the offense was efficient, scoring 28 points per game.
The result was an outright league title, the first in the Blaine Bennett era. Post Falls was finally first chair and now the crown is theirs to defend.
“We will have a large number of returners of a League Championship Team,” head coach Blaine Bennett said. “We will have a strong senior class.”
In all, nine starters return to the offense – a list that includes running back Tevin Burns, who is expected to become the lead back following Jake Bustamante’s 1,100-yard senior campaign. Burns himself racked up nearly 500 yards and found the end zone four times.
Receivers Alex Shields and Ayden Triana, tight end Asher Bowie, and offensive linemen Jackson George and Brent Ludiker are also back and help headline what should be one of the more experienced and efficient offenses in the league.
“We want to be more efficient throwing this ball this year,” Bennett said.
There are some good pieces coming back defensively too, but Post Falls will have to get back to the state playoffs without Trevor Miller. The defensive end was named the IEL Player of the Year, racking up nine sacks in 10 games during his senior campaign.
Post Falls does get back linebacker Cooper Craig and defensive backs Dylan Wolfe and Taycen Genatone. They’ll open their season at Sandpoint on August 25.