The Cheney High football team wrapped up their nonleague schedule last Friday with a 28-14 win over 4A Columbia Basin Big Nine League’s Eisenhower, of Yakima.
Head coach Bobby Byrd said he was proud of how his team responded and performed one week after Cheney’s 21-0 loss to Post Falls.
“The kids did everything we asked them to do,” Byrd said. “It was nice to get after a bigger and tougher opponent and come out with a ‘W.’”
Andrew Witt got things going for the Blackhawks with an interception with 5:25 left in the second quarter. After a scoreless first quarter, Cheney got on the scoreboard on Cole Hinrichs’ 7-yard touchdown pass to Luke Martin, followed by a successful PAT at four minutes to left to play in the half. Hinrichs was 9 for 18 with 64 yards.
Cheney’s defense also made some big plays. Cam Hardt stripped the ball from an Eisenhower running back, picked it up and ran in for a touchdown to give the Blackhawks a 14-0 lead, heading into the halftime.
“Having the two interceptions and Cade VanWormer’s touchdown (in the fourth quarter) kept our energy high,” Byrd said.
Eisenhower prevented the shutout early in the third quarter on Drew Kornegay’s 3-yard scoring pass to Jesse Noah Ramirez.
Garrett Hagel gave Cheney its first points of the half after his 40-yard touchdown. Charles Johnson led the Blackhawks with 17 carries for 95 yards and Hagel had nine carries for 80 yards.
“I was happy we were able to establish our running game,” Byrd said. “Kids are believing in what they’re doing, and we’re doing better on both sides of the ball.”
VanWormer capped Cheney’s scoring in the fourth quarter after he made an interception and returned it for a touchdown. Eisnhower’s comeback attempt was limited to Kornegay’s scoring pass to Deltay Redick.
Byrd said his team had a “good week of preparation” and “working on the little things” before their trip to Yakima.
“The offense put things together and the defense was great,” Byrd said. “Our D-line was solid as was our secondary. I’m happy with the overall progression we’ve been making.”
Cheney (2-2) begins Great Northern League play Friday, Sept. 30 against East Valley (2-2) in their Homecoming game. The Knights come into the contest with a 40-30 win over Idaho’s Lake City. East Valley quarterback Christian Johnson was 15 of 23 for 262 passing yards and two touchdowns. Like the Blackhawks, the Knights played a tough pre-league schedule and Byrd expects they will be “battle-tested” like his squad.
“With our pre-league opponents, I feel very confident (going into GNL play), but East Valley is a well-coached and tough team,” Byrd said. “We’re looking forward to seeing how kids bounce into league play.”
Byrd noted that with it being Cheney High School’s Homecoming Week, he said his team will have their minds on other activities. Although he wants his players to have fun, he also wants them to be focused at game time.
“We can be successful if we play our game, which I think we’ll be able to do,” Byrd said.
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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