U-Hi Wins Shootout With Ferris Titans Bounce Back From Loss To Ike; G-Prep Takes Doubleheader Opener
Clarence Hough was left to wonder how good Eisenhower must be, but the truth is University wasn’t as good a football team a week ago as they were Thursday night at Albi Stadium.
The Titans dominated the first half and then won the second-half track meet to defeat Hough’s Ferris team 38-27 in U-Hi’s Greater Spokane League opener.
“I’ll tell you what,” Hough said, “Eisenhower must be a pretty good football team.”
The Cadets thumped University 31-7 last Friday at U-Hi, and though the Titans couldn’t get a break in that game, coach Mike Ganey said, “We benefited tremendously from playing a high-caliber Big Nine football team. We put that experience to use.”
In the first game of the doubleheader, which drew 5,010, Gonzaga Prep dominated the second half to defeat Shadle Park 31-14. Tonight’s games are Rogers against Lewis and Clark at 5:45 and Central Valley meeting Mead at 8:30.
University did things in the first half against Ferris the Titans haven’t been able to do since they finished 5-3 in 1992, namely run the ball, pass the ball and dominate on defense to produce the highest scoring league game since they beat North Central 41-34 in 1992. Even in that game, though, the Titans’ total offense of 421 yards was 93 short of what they piled up against the Saxons.
Two years ago, they scored 58 points in eight league games and last year it was 62 as they went 3-13-1.
University’s defense held Tim Benton, who rushed for 257 yards a week earlier, to 29 yards in the first half while building a 10-0 lead. Benton added only 8 yards in the second half as Ferris was forced to pass and the game became a shootout. Saxons junior quarterback Justin Bursch had the 13th 300-yard game in league history, throwing for 303 yards, 227 in the second half and three touchdowns.
After Ferris punted to open the second half, the teams scored on three straight possessions. After several exchanges, they scored on five straight possessions until the clock dipped below the final minute.
“Give Mike Ganey credit,” Hough said. “He hung with those kids for three years and they took some hard knocks. They’ll be a factor in the league.”
, DataTimes