The Eureka Lions, the two-time defending State B champions, have a habit of winning football games. The visiting Lions were true to form Friday night at Previs Field, fighting through a tough first quarter to go on to defeat the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks 51-6.

Coach Jared Koskela’s Hawks played well in the first part of the game, but concussion injuries to starting center Brad Lantz and running back Nate Wilhite in the first half thinned the ranks of available players and eventually led to Eureka pulling away and winning.

“We went all in in the first quarter and it worked well for us early,” Koskela said. “We were down only 14-0 deep into the second quarter and no one else has managed to stay with them that long, so we were happy about that.”

The Hawks were able to move the ball against the powerful Lions.

Trey Fisher completed 9 of 24 passes for 129 yards and added 18 yards rushing. Kade Pardee caught three passes for 64 yards and Roman Sparks caught five more passes for 53 yards and scored Thompson Falls’ only touchdown of the night on a 28-yard pass from Fisher.

Wilhite picked 37 yards rushing before being injured, Dakota Irvine added five yards on the ground and Sparks three. Trae Thilmony had a pass catch for the Hawks.

Fisher made 10 solo tackles and added three assists to lead the Hawk defense, Sparks had five unassisted tackles, Irvine and Thilmony had five tackles each with two of those unassisted, and Pardee made two unassisted tackles and added two assists.

Trevor Harris recovered a fumble for the Hawks.

On the other side of the line of scrimmage, Hank Dunn ran for one touchdown and passed for three more to lead Eureka, and Cory Chaney and Terell Helgert scored two touchdowns apiece for the Lions.

Koskela said Eureka, now 3-0, is very good, maybe not as good as the past two years, but still very good. The winning thing they have been doing seems to have become a habit.

“They are not quite the team they were the last two seasons but they are still good,” he said. “They do all the little things right though, they are accustomed to winning and play that way.”

Taking a break from Western B play this week, the 0-3 Blue Hawks will travel to Bonners Ferry Saturday. The Badgers are also looking for their first win of the season.

“This game is about two teams looking for a win,” Koskela said, “but I am concerned about going into it without some key starters.”

Koskela said Lantz and Wilhite will be re-evaluated by a doctor this week but is not hopeful that either one will be able to play in Bonners Ferry.