Falls City aims to snap playoff drought

Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868

The football team will play at Triangle Lake in game one.

Sam Scott

FALLS CITY -- Falls City has hopes of making the football playoffs this season for the first time since 1982.

The Mountaineers will get an early indication of whether that's possible Sept. 3 when they open their 2010 campaign with a 7 p.m. matchup at Triangle Lake.

Falls City played non-league games against Triangle Lake in each of the past two seasons and did not fare well. The Mountaineers lost 80-40 two seasons ago at Triangle Lake. The Lakers beat the Mounts 50-6 last season in Falls City and went on to finish 4-6.

"They're a pretty good ball club," Falls City coach Art Houghtaling said. "I think they have a new coaching staff this year so we're not sure what they'll be running. They've been pretty successful the past few years. It'll be a great challenge for our guys."

Falls City finished 4-4 last season but lost its last four games and missed a postseason berth by one game.

"We're going to be young," Houghtaling said. "We'll found out where we are in the next week or so and be ready for the rest of the year. This is a good opportunity for us to get better. We're looking forward to going up against somebody else."