East Valley Helps Cheney Claim Title

Frontier football

East Valley faltered for one play on Friday.

Cheney will no doubt forgive EV for the mix-up.

Fill-in running back Rusty Ruchert rushed for 78 yards on 11 carries, and Nick Hanson supplied the defensive pressure as visiting EV (4-4, 2-3) defeated Clarkston 31-6 in a Frontier League game.

The loss knocked Clarkston (4-4, 3-2) out of title contention and handed the league title to Cheney. Clarkston had defeated EV 28-27 two weeks ago.

Clarkston began with high hopes when Josh Landrus returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown.

After that, East Valley’s defense clamped down, holding the Bantams to 120 yards, with only 43 on the ground.

Hanson led the way with nine tackles, one sack, one blocked kick and an interception return for a TD.

Ruchert stepped in for an injured regular. EV’s Chris Allen passed for 102 yards with seven completions in 18 tries.

East Valley 31, Clarkston 6

East Valley 7 2 9 13 -31

Clarkston 6 0 0 0 -6

C-Landrus 80 kickoff return (kick failed) EV-Ruchert 37 run (Sitton kick) EV-Safety EV-Sitton 23 FG EV-Ruchert 6 run (kick failed) EV-Crockett 29 interception return (kick failed) EV-Hanson 47 interception return (Sitton kick)

Cheney 28, West Valley 9

Matt Fox rushed for 102 yards on 13 carries as the visiting Blackhawks (5-2-1, 5-0) defeated the Eagles (2-6, 0-5).

Cheney’s Pat Stiffler rushed for 49 yards and completed 4 of 8 passes for 32 yards with no interceptions. WV’s Chris Hilsaback had nine carries for 61 yards.

Cheney will open the State 3A playoffs Nov. 21 or 22 against the No. 2 team from the Mid-Valley League. West Valley (Yakima) or Moses Lake are the most likely candidates.

Cheney 0 12 16 0 -28

West Valley 3 0 0 6 -9

WV-Roberts 24 FG C-Fox 6 run (kick failed) C-Fox 5 run (run failed) C-Stiffler 12 run (Stiffler run) C-Stiffler 25 run (34 run) WV-Allen 32 pass from Brumback (no attempt)

, DataTimes