Idaho Falls led to key road win by senior QB Will Thompson, huge defensive plays

POCATELLO — The Idaho Falls Tigers, looking to solidify their spot in the 5A state tournament race, got a heroic effort from senior quarterback Will Thompson to go with a solid team defensive performance to beat the Century Diamondbacks at Century High School Friday night.

Idaho Falls (4-4, 3-3) and Century (3-5, 2-4) came into the game with identical 3-4 records, with the winner staying in the playoff race and the loser likely falling from it. And both defenses played like their seasons depended on them.

The Tigers didn’t score the first points of the game until 33 minutes had ticked off the clock. Then, just when Thompson got his offense moving, Tito Villano and the Century offense answered, taking a second-half lead. But a pair of massive fourth-quarter takeaways from the Idaho Falls defense were the difference as the Tigers pulled off a 21-14 road win.

First-year head coach Dustin Medellin said after the game that his Tigers’ win means “everything.”

“When (the coaching staff) got this job, we were hoping to play meaningful games at this time of year,” Medellin told EastIdahoSports.com. “So to still be in it, still be alive, and watch (the players) get a gutsy win like that, it just shows how far these players have come.”

Through their first two possessions, the Tigers compiled negative-two yards of offense, due in large part to Century’s senior defensive end Carlos Urias’ two sacks.

Century, on the other hand, was moving the ball almost at will, but could not get out of their own way. Despite their 91 yards of total offense, the Diamondbacks’ first two possessions did not produce any points.

Their first drive came to an abrupt end inside the Idaho Falls 20-yard line, when quarterback Justus Mangum’s pitch to Villano on an option sailed past the running back and was recovered by the Tigers. Century’s second drive ended when the Diamondbacks were stopped on fourth down at the Idaho Falls 28, after penalties and bad snaps, both of which were an issue for Century all night, put them behind the chains.

Things looked to be going from bad to worse for the Tigers when their third drive started at their own 7. But Thompson orchestrated a 19-play, 93-yard drive, producing the game’s first points in spite of another sack from Urias.

Thompson, who spent much of the night under pressure from Urias, who finished with four sacks, and the Century defense, said that, as the quarterback, he cannot allow the opposing defense to dictate his offens.

“Just trying to keep my eyes downfield, trying to make something happen,” he said of his job facing immense pressure. “I’ve just got to go out there and compete.”

In the face of that relentless Century pass rush, Thompson was sacked seven times for 33 total yards lost. Including those sacks, he carried the ball 19 times for 14 yards and a touchdown. He also completed 19 of 24 pass attempts for 250 yards and two scores.

Medellin said that Thompson is the key to Idaho Falls’ offensive success, with his ability to maintain focus and keep his team from falling into second- and third-and-long situations.

Thompson hit senior Griffin Pearson for the first touchdown of the game with 1:01 left in the first half, but Century blocked the extra point, holding Idaho Falls’ lead to 6-0.

Then, Thompson and the Tigers got the ball to start the second half and marched 80 yards right back to the end zone, finishing on a Thompson two-yard scoring run. This time, the extra point was good, making it 13-0.

Century answered right back with a long drive of its own, capped by a three-yard touchdown run from Villano.

After forcing a punt on the ensuing Idaho Falls possession, the Diamondbacks took their first lead of the game when Villano appeared to bobble a handoff before recovering and scorching the Tiger defense for a 48-yard scoring run.

The senior tailback finished the game with 127 yards and two scores on 20 carries, and added 26 receiving yards on three catches.

Clinging to a 14-13 lead, Century got the ball back at its own 2-yard line with 8:10 left in the game, and that was when disaster struck for the home team.

Villano battled his way to the 10, but had the ball pulled from his arms as he fought for additional yardage. Idaho Falls recovered the fumble to take over possession at the Diamondback 10, and quickly cashed in when Thompson hit the 6-foot-6 tight end, Hudson Palmer, in the end zone.

The Tigers made it 21-14 on a successful 2-point try, a scramble from Thompson, with 6:38 left.

Using some of his own scrambling, Mangum helped move Century inside the Tiger 15-yard line, but his pass to the end zone was intercepted by Pearson.

Pearson, who, like Thompson, was part of the Tigers’ 1-17 record over the past two seasons, sealed the victory with the pick, to go with four catches for 52 yards and a touchdown.

He spoke after the game about what this playoff race means to the Idaho Falls football program, saying it’s “huge,” especially for the underclassmen, and has meant “everything.”

Thompson agreed with the sentiment, adding that Friday’s win, which likely improves the Tigers’ playoff chances, is “super-satisfying,” but hearkened back to a famous quote from Kobe Bryant.

“But job’s not finished — Kobe said that,” he said. “I think we need to go out there and get a win next week, carry momentum into the playoffs.”

Medellin, who admitted that he is an “overly emotional” coach, spoke glowingly of his teams and the senior leaders, saying they “kept their cool” and “did their job,” which he said is easy to overlook, especially from a group of players who have not been in this situation in their high school careers.

Pearson sent some praise the other way, though, saying Medellin has “been great for us” regarding the culture shift within the program.

Medellin also spoke about the new Idaho Falls football culture and the high standard he demands they hold themselves to, and how this year’s success “validates what we’re trying to do.”

“The teams that play up to that standard have a chance to play in November,” he said. “So, as long as we keep striving to hit that standard, I think we’ll have a chance to do that.”

Said Pearson:

“(Medellin’s) been great. He’s created a new passion and culture here, and we’re here to stay.”