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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ev’s Turnaround Has Likely Answer

Three weeks ago East Valley suffered the humilation of a 41-3 scalding by defending Idaho state football champion Lewiston.

“It was their second game, our first,” said EV coach Jim Clements. “It was a poor matchup with our inexperienced secondary. We got schooled.”

The Knights were fast learners. Since then, they have won twice, heading into Friday’s first significant Frontier League game at Cheney.

Last weekend East Valley manhandled Sandpoint, a team that had won two of its first three games.

“We’ve had good offenses and defenses in the past,” said Clements. “I don’t remember a game where we were so dominant on both sides of the ball.”

Junior running back Adrian Likely, who sat out the Lewiston game, rushed for 162 yards and scored three touchdowns in EV’s 35-14 win over Sandpoint.

T.J. Horgan shifted back to defensive tackle, where he and fellow tackle Ryan Stengle were among the team’s defensive leaders.

“For a tackle to do that is remarkable,” said Clements.

Likely has totaled 273 yards and four scores in the two wins. Included was a TD as part of a three-touchdown second-half rally from a 20-7 deficit to beat Post Falls 27-20 a week earlier.

Rusty Ruchert rushed for 144 yards and two fourth-quarter scores to win that one.

In part, Clements credits an experienced line and better quickness in the backfield with EV’s turnaround. In part, it has been the improvement of EV’s defense.

“We got the bleeding stopped from the Lewiston fiasco,” said Clements. “We installed a new defense this year and it has taken some getting used to. Our secondary is especially better.”

Now EV faces Cheney in the first of two games between pre-season Frontier favorites.

Comparative scores don’t tell much. The Blackhawks tied Lewiston and lost to Post Falls.

Based on seasons past, expect a taut, physical game.

“We’re going to spread our attack around,” said Clements. “We have to be patient. They’re not a team you push around. We must be content moving the ball moderately.”

Early season showdown

There’s not much to the threeteam Northeast A League season, so every game counts.

Freeman’s home football test against unbeaten Colfax Friday night is as important as it gets.

Both the Scotties and Bulldogs are the playoff contenders.

“This is at home, so this is really, really important to us,” said Freeman coach John Custer.

The Scotties, a 28-8 winner over Selkirk last week, improved their record to 2-1. All three games came against area Class B schools.

“It’s hard to compare them to the NEA,” Custer admitted, “although we’ve won our share of NEA games and haven’t beaten Tekoa-Oakesdale.”

That was Freeman’s only loss this year, 22-21 on a late touchdown and two-point conversion.

“I gave it away,” Custer said. “It was poor time management or else I’d have given the kids a better chance to win.”

Colfax is 3-0 and has not allowed a point while scoring 104.

“They haven’t been tested and boy, they’re that good,” said Custer.

The Bulldogs are big, physical and senior dominated. Freeman gives away size and must attack with a combination of misdirection and outside speed.

Quarterback Matt Smith has completed more than 60 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and a 160-yard average per game.

Chris Miller is one of the state’s leading receivers. Against Selkirk he caught six passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. He’s also Freeman’s special teams leader as a kicker and returner.

“We’ve played big games before because they were big for us,” said Custer. “But from a standpoint that this is a playoff opportunity, and Colfax is a high-ranked team, this is our biggest game.”

Soccer game has impact

The University High girls soccer team’s second match against Ferris has substantially more impact this time than last.

The Titans are at Ferris Friday in a contest that counts in the Greater Spokane League standings.

When they met before, a 3-2 Titan triumph, it was a non-counting game.

U-Hi began its league season Monday with an 8-0 win over new league school Mt. Spokane.

Seven different Titan players scored, including Megan Owen, who got the team’s sixth and seventh scores.

Wednesday, University hosted Shadle Park.

Central Valley, a winner over Rogers in its opener as Corinne Gannon scored twice, played at Gonzaga Prep Wednesday in its first impact league game.

The Bears hosts North Central on Friday.

, DataTimes