Fast start propels G-Prep win over Cheney
In a matter of a few minutes in the first quarter Sept. 2, the Cheney Blackhawks went from locking up in a dandy football duel with defending 2021 Greater Spokane League to shooting themselves in the foot.
Trailing 14-0 on a pair of Lilomaicua Mikaele touchdowns, Cheney forced a G-Prep turnover. It was not long before Jakeb Vallance found Cole Palmer over the middle for what appeared to be a long touchdown play but a holding call negated the score.
Then came the crusher.
As time expired in the opening quarter, Jo Jo Shortel found a streaking Bo Howell down the right sideline in stride for a 45-yard touchdown and that quickly it was 21-0 and G-Prep was headed to a 58-0 rout at Bullpups Stadium in Spokane.
“The touchdown called back was definitely a let down,” Blackhawks’ head coach Bobby Byrd wrote in an email. “When a play like that gets called back it is hard to bounce back.”
The Blackhawks’ defense had a notable goal line stand in the first quarter, too, which resulted in a missed Bullpup field goal. “The goal line stand is something our defense can build on,” Byrd said. “Against a very efficient G-Prep offense they held them out.”
Offensively, Vallance ended the evening completing 9-of-18 passes for 131 yards and had a pair of interceptions. Kordell Laher had three catches for 50 yards.
Cheney has its home opening game 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 at Tom Oswald Field vs. Ferris. The Saxons lost at home 38-6 to southside rival Lewis and Clark in their opener.
Priest River blanks Medical Lake
Nick Puzycki’s debut as the new head football coach at Medical Lake got off to a rough start as the visiting Priest River Spartans took away a 28-0 non-league win from Holliday Field, Sept. 2.
Isiah Giles ended 8-for-18 with 42 yards passing for the Cardinals while Dalton Witherrite added 65 yards rushing.
Trailing 21-0 at half, Puzycki liked the effort of his defense in the second half as it limited Priest River to a single touchdown. “In the second half the defense stood their ground,” he wrote in an email.
The Spartans won for the third time in four tries in the relatively new series which began in 2016. The Cardinals won last year by the same score in a game at Priest River.
Medical Lake stays at home this week and will host Greater Spokane League 2A school, Rogers, in a 7 p.m. non-league match up. Originally, this game was on the 2021 schedule but a COVID outbreak amongst the Pirates forced its postponement.
Paul Delaney is a retired Free Press Publishing reporter and can be reached at [email protected].
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