Cv’s Usai Scores Six Tds In Record-Setting Outburst

Six weeks after surprising himself and everyone else with a 285-yard rushing game, Giorgio Usai isn’t surprised anymore.

Usai broke two Greater Spokane League records in scoring six touchdowns to lead No. 6 Central Valley to a 56-3 win over North Central at Albi Stadium Friday night.

Usai became the first player to score six touchdowns in a game. Earlier this year, Usai became one of 11 players to score five touchdowns in a game. The first was Mentor Dahlen of North Central in 1928 and the last was Mead’s Adam Morris last weekend.

The game pushed Usai’s season total to a record 22 touchdowns. And, with an earlier two-point conversion, he has 132 points, a singleseason record. He has one TD and six points more than Robert Barlow amassed at Lewis and Clark in 1993.

“It’s setting in more,” Usai said of his accomplishments. “It’s a reflection of how the team has played.”

The Bears ran their record to 7-0 and clinched the GSL’s No. 1 seed for the State AAA playoffs.

In the second game of the doubleheader, which drew 3,043, University beat Shadle Park 38-28 despite 221 yards rushing by Shawn Kingsbury on just 11 carries.

Rogers lost a non-league game at Pullman, 27-0.

Usai helped CV dominate. The Bears scored on all six of their first-half drives for a 42-0 lead. The longest drive: 70 yards, 2:28 and six plays.

Fullback Luke Stavros had 72 yards on four carries and quarterback R.J. DelMese was 6 of 6 passing for 121 yards and a 48-yard TD to Ryan Millar.

Usai took the second-half kickoff 47 yards to the NC 43. He had an 8-yard run and Stavros went for 21 before Usai had runs of 7, 0 and 7 for his final touchdown, ending the game for the first-team offense with 9:25 to play in the third quarter. Usai finished with 142 yards on 21 carries.

“Boy, that was fun. I had a good time,” Usai said. “All I want to do is give credit to my line and lead blocker. I was hardly touched.”

It took a field goal with :51 left to ensure U-Hi’s win.

The Titans had 17 points in the fourth quarter and needed them to hold off the determined Highlanders.

“We were confident we could score every time,” Titans quarterback Casey Cornelius said. “We got good field position and a couple of long drives (that) ate up the clock helped out.

“It seemed like as soon as we walked off the field, oooh, it’s offense again. But I don’t mind. Give credit to Shadle - they played hard. We just got the breaks.”

Kingsbury had a 52-yard scoring run on the second play of the third quarter to make it 21-14. His 65-yard run made it 28-21 three plays after U-Hi scored. Finally, he had a 52-yarder just two plays after a Titans score to make it 35-28 with 4:01 left.

, DataTimes