Shadle Puts Bite On Rogers Highlanders Triumph, 14-10; Mcfarlane Goes 96 To Spark Cv

The gnarly dogs added a little bite to the bark. After vowing to “put the fun” back in Shadle Park football, the Highlanders ended a two-game losing streak with a 14-10 Greater Spokane League victory over Rogers at Albi Stadium on Friday night.

“There’s a lot more excitement,” linebacker/tight end Tom Mohr said.

“We’re having fun,” said Sam Glanzer, one of the Shadle linemen, who call themselves the Gnarly Dogs.

In the first game of the GSL doubleheader, Central Valley ran its winning streak to three with a 27-17 victory over Ferris. The night drew 4,568 fans for the Ferris and Shadle Park homecoming games.

“We were more worried about wins and losses,” Shadle Park coach Mark Hester said. “We had more fun in practice this week. We lost a little confidence on the offensive line. We told them to just go out and have fun.”

The Highlanders trailed 10-7 at halftime but in the third quarter an exchange of punts set them up at midfield. Nine running plays produced the winning touchdown with a little help from a crucial facemask penalty on the Pirates. Quarterback Kris Walters, who scored all 14 points for Shadle, went the final 6 yards.

Rogers marched back from its own 10 to Shadle territory. but on third-and-4 from the 39, Tim Snell stopped Mike Dorton for a loss, forcing Rogers to punt.

“Coach told me to keep outside containment,” Snell said. “I read the play, he bounced outside and I was able to run him down. He’s quick.”

CV and Ferris exchanged touchdowns with missed extra points in the first quarter. When the Saxons kicked off, Nate McFarlane fielded the ball on the right hashmark at the 4, went straight ahead through a big hole, then swept left, outrunning all the Ferris pursuit for a 96-yard TD.

“I just ran though the big hole. Nobody touched me. I just needed one move,” McFarlane said. “I just go as hard as I can and hope there is a hole. (The up men) did a good job of blocking.”

McFarlane, also a running back and cornerback, added, “It gets tiring toward the end of the first half, but in the second half you get going again.”

Surprisingly, the Saxons’ ground attack was more productive than CV’s, but big plays like McFarlane’s made the difference.

“I didn’t think people could run up the middle on us,” CV coach Rick Giampietri said. “Little three five (McFarlane, No. 35) came up big. (CV running back) Tyree Clowe came in and ran the ball well. The offensive line had to do something for us the last two drives.

“I’m disappointed with the way we played on defense, but that Ferris offense is as good as you’ll find.”

, DataTimes