PR Sports

Idaho Falls quarterback Devin Munk (4) tries to power through Highland defenders Paul Baker (54) and Gaylen Edmo (68) during their 5A playoff game at Holt Arena in Pocatello on Friday. Joe Kline/Idaho State Journal

POCATELLO – Idaho Falls rallied to score 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, but it fell eight points short as Highland took a 34-26 win Friday in the 5A quarterfinals.

“We just waited too long,” Idaho Falls coach Chuck Johnson said. “This is a very special group of kids and I think something woke up inside and they said, ‘We’re not done playing.’ And if we are, we’re not going out this way.”

The loss ends Idaho Falls’ season at 4-5. Second-ranked Highland (8-2) advances to the semifinals and will travel to face No. 1 Capital (10-0) in Boise next week.

Highland looked to make it a rout Friday night when Jace Hansen hauled in his second consecutive touchdown pass from Tanner Nielson, building a 34-7 lead with 10:44 left in the third quarter. Nielson had his way with Idaho Falls early, completing 15 passes in a row at one point.

But that’s when Idaho Falls and senior quarterback Devan Munk got started.

Three straight incompletions brought up fourth down at the Highland 30. Just when the game looked to be over, Munk rolled right, couldn’t find an open receiver and ran 27 yards for the first down.

On the next play, he took a sneak in for six points from three yards out. The comeback was on.

A Highland three-and-out on the ensuing possession and seven plays later, Brandon Coronado stood in the end zone with a 13-yard touchdown catch and it was 34-20.

Munk got the cherry hop on the following onside kick, allowing Jackson Walker to recover the ball at the Highland 29. Two plays later, it was Munk to Derek Despot for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Suddenly, Idaho Falls had scored 13 points in 13 seconds to pull within eight points with 5:34 left in the fourth quarter.

“I tell you what, I don’t think anybody left,” Johnson said. “They were ready to leave. But we gave the crowd a show.”

While Highland could only pick up one first down on the next possession, a Joseph Rasmussen punt pinned Idaho Falls at its own 2-yard line with 4:40 left.

That was no problem for Munk, who then proceeded to complete 9 of 12 passes for 78 yards trying to engineer a game-tying drive. But Idaho Falls’ comeback dreams came to an end when, on 4th-and-4 from the Highland 20 with 1:05 left, Chad Pitcher knocked the ball from Munk’s hand. Highland’s Dillon Evans recovered the ball and only a couple of kneel downs separated Highland from a nail-biting win.

“That was big,” Highland coach Gino Mariani said. “(Evans) made a play when he had to. I really thought we were going to overtime.”

Munk finished the night 23 of 42 for 283 yards with three touchdowns and three picks. But as Idaho Falls clawed its way back into the game, he completed 12 of his final 16 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns.

Highland 34, Idaho Falls 26
Idaho Falls 7 0 0 19 - 26
Highland 7 13 7 7 - 34

First quarter
IF – Derek Despot 9-yard catch from Devan Munk (Munk kick)
H – Joseph Rasmussen 14-yard catch from Tanner Nielson (Paul Muzzo kick)

Second quarter
H – Kai Campbell 9-yard catch from Nielson (Muzzo kick)
H – Campbell 6-yard run (Muzzo kick failed)

Third quarter
H – Jace Hansen 16-yard catch from Nielson (Muzzo kick)

Fourth quarter
H – Hansen 2-yard catch from Nielson (Muzzo kick)
IF – Munk 3-yard run (Munk kick blocked)
IF – Brandon Coronado 13-yard catch from Munk (Marcus Poling pass failed)
IF – Despot 29-yard catch from Munk (Munk kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Idaho Falls: Devan Munk 16-61, James Erickson 2-1, Marcus Poling 3-4. Highland: Kai Campbell 10-30, Tanner Nielson 13-87, Ean Filiaga 3-22, Joseph Rasmussen 1-(-16).

PASSING – Idaho Falls: Munk 23-42 283, 3 TD, 3 INT; Jackson Walker 0-1 0, 0 TD, 0 INT. Highland: Nielson 18-26 189, 4 TD, 2 INT.

RECEIVING – Idaho Falls: Drew Tingey 9-78, Derek Despot 3-48, Poling 4-87, Alex Baker 3-57, Brandon Coronado 1-13, James Erickson 2-22. Highland: Jace Hansen 6-55, Brenn Schiess 2-21, Campbell 3-18, Rasmussen 3-74, Filiaga 4-21.