Bad karma for South Hill
Don't know what it was at Albi Stadium, but anything that could go wrong did so for the South Hill Greater Spokane League football schools.
Maybe it simply was that things went right for Mead and Gonzaga Prep.
The Bullpups parlayed a steamroller running game coupled with Ferris mistakes into a 38-35 thriller to the delight of SWX's high school football scheduling. There was nearly 900 yards of offense in that game, which made up for a dearth of offense in the opener when the Panthers' defense scored three touchdowns capitalizing on Lewis and Clark penalties and turnovers for a 28-13 victory.
Two weeks in Prep and Central Valley, which survived rival University, are 2-0 atop the league. Mt. Spokane is 1-0 (2-0 overall) and Mead, University, Rogers and East Valley are 1-1. My story is below.
It was something old versus something new in a football game that had something for everyone when the venerable option offense of Gonzaga Prep went against the new age spread of Ferris.
For the Bullpups it was the blast from the past led by the Shane Schmidlkofer-Bishop Sankey rushing tandem, that upset the mistake-prone defending Greater Spokane League champions combining for nearly 400 yards rushing during a 38-35 victory in front of 6,057 fans.
The differing styles made for an electric and entertaining battle in the Friday nightcap of a GSL football doubleheader at Joe Albi stadium. But ultimately, the Saxons shot themselves too many times in the foot.
There were two missed field goal chances. They touched down on their own 5-yard-line after fumbling a punt snap that led to one Prep score and fumbled into the end zone denying themselves a TD later in the game.
That led to a 35-14 lead – when Sankey broke a 78-yard run late in the third quarter – and the Bullpups weathered a Connor Halliday fueled passing attack that accounted for nearly 400 yards.
The Bullpups operated with precision under junior quarterback Shane Schmidlkofer. Ferris had the dangerous Sankey to contend with and Schmidlkofer’s option reads led to his big first half. While Sankey powered away with 21 carries and 83 yards, Schmidlkofer sliced and dashed for 123 on five attempts. Ultimately, fullback Sankey would go over 200 yards for the second straight week.
“That’s the beauty of this offense,” said Bullpups coach Dave McKenna. “If the kids just trust this offense, great things will happen.”
But after each of the Bullpups’ first two first-half scores, the laser arm of Halliday answered in a hurry. Halliday threw for 154 first-half yards and a TD to knot the game at 14-14. But a late first-half fumble led to Schmidlkofer’s only pass, to Nick Lenoue and 21-14 halftime lead.
Prep scored to go up by two TDs early in the third quarter on the punt turnover and Sankey broke his big run after the Saxons, with second and goal at the 2-yard-line, lost a fumble in the end zone.
Ferris rallied to within a touchdown with 9:13 remaining in the game, but a time-consuming drive led to a field Prep field goal with 3:05 left.
“Bishop’s tough to stop,” said McKenna. “Shane’s a very good athlete. That’s a great team over there and it was a great fought battle.”
Mead 28, Lewis and Clark 13: Who needs offense?
In the opener, not the Panthers.
One of two teams with unproven quarterbacks who typically prefer to grind it out anyway and rely on stubborn defenses for field position won with defense alone.
Mead, scoreless for five and one-half quarters, got what it needed from an accommodating Lewis and Clark in the form of penalties and turnovers for two second quarter touchdowns 12 seconds apart.
Given that cushion, the defense played add-on courtesy of two Bo Tully interception returns to give the Panthers (1-1 in league) a four touchdown lead.
For all intents and purposes Mead had no offensive output of significance while much of LC’s came against the reserves late in the game.
Brendon Myers returned a fumble 16 yards for one Mead touchdow and Tully had interception returns for 12 and 37 yard scores to seal the deal.
“Luckily we were in a defensive call that brought me up,” said Tully. “My responsibility was to take the out and it worked out pretty well.”
Both teams slugged it out for a 1 ½ quarters, Mead’s defensive front containing Tigers back Levi Taylor. LC’s front, keyed by an overpowering effort by Gonzaga Prep transfer David Lee, was even more stingy.
“We had trouble with that guy,” said Mead coach Sean Carty.
But Aaron Dunn picked off a screen pass attempt and two major penalties put the Panthers down to the 10 where Mead scored its first points of the season.
A play later
Tully’s picks came three minutes apart for a 28-0 lead with 5:56 left in the third quarter.
LC’s Austin Ehlo had TD grabs of 26 and 35 yards in the game’s final 4:28.
“They gave us the opportunities with turnovers and penalties,” said Carty. “They’re a great football team. “I’m glad our defense was able to keep us in it.”