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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rath helps Ferris coaching trio go out in style

Ferris quarterback Caleb Rath ran for 94 yards and passed for another 118, setting the Greater Spokane League career total offense record and leading the Saxons past South Hill rival Lewis and Clark 16-6 Friday night before 1,745 at Albi Stadium.

In other GSL football games on the league’s final night, Mead became the first undefeated league titlist since LC in 1998, finishing a 9-0 campaign with a 6-0 win over Shadle Park at University. The Panthers (10-0 overall and ranked fourth in the 4A ranks) will be joined in Tuesday night’s state playoff play-in games by second seed Gonzaga Prep, a 36-9 home winner over University, and third-seed Central Valley, which walloped Rogers in the Valley 52-0.

East Valley cemented its spot in the 3A postseason with a 21-0 victory over Mt. Spokane at Albi; Clarkston earned the other 3A berth with a 21-14 win at Cheney; and West Valley stopped North Central 38-7 as Cameron Bowman ran for 333 yards, sixth-best in GSL history.

As a driving rainstorm pelted the Spokane area, most passing statistics suffered – including Rath’s. The senior, who has started every Ferris game since his sophomore year, threw just 12 times, completing seven.

But there was the one to Shawn Stockton with 8 minutes left in the third quarter and Ferris trailing 6-3.

“He’s just amazing,” Rath said of Stockton’s play. “He just got past the linebackers and in front of the safety and I hit him. The safety hit him so hard, but he kept his feet. It was just an amazing play.”

After bouncing off a Tiger, Stockton spun away and outraced the LC secondary down the right sideline for a 74-yard scoring pass.

Those yards got Rath within 20 of Mike Pfeifer’s GSL total offense (passing and rushing yards) mark set in the late 1980s, but it was Rath’s feet which took him over the top.

With the Saxons leading 10-6, Rath carried 14 times the rest of the way, but passed Pfeifer with 6:03 left on a 5-yard shuffle pass to Ryan Murphy.

“He belongs among the best in the league’s history,” said Clarence Hough, who announced to his Saxons Wednesday that he and top assistants Don Anderson and H.T. Higgins would not be back next year after 11 years and a 50-51 record. “He’s done it with his running, which makes him unique, because most of the guys on that list were pure passers. He’s actually better running the ball.”

Rath, who finishes his GSL career with 1,739 rushing yards, passed for 3,484 yards in his 30 games, the fifth-best mark in GSL history.

“It’s a goal I set when I was a sophomore,” Rath said of the record, “and to reach a goal like that is amazing, especially in a win over LC. That’s icing on the cake. I’ve had great teammates and great coaches. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

One of those teammates, University of Washington-bound Cameron Elisara, was overcome after the game, repeating how much he was going to miss this place.

“This was a great game to end on,” said Elisara, part of a Ferris defense that forced five turnovers and held LC to 209 yards, 58 coming on an Ethen Robinson run.

Mead 6, Shadle Park 0

Luke Hattrup’s 6-yard fourth-quarter scoring run proved to be the difference as the rain made it tough to move the ball for either team.

It was especially tough to throw, as Mead completed one pass for 19 yards and Shadle (3-7, 2-7 in the GSL) was shut out.

The Panthers, who host Wenatchee at Albi on Tuesday, played once again without the starting backfield of Skylar Jessen (hamstring injury) and Paul Senescall (knee). Both are hoping to play Tuesday.

In their place, Hattrup had 83 yards on 21 carries while Chris Jones added 73 on 15.

Gonzaga Prep 36, University 9

The Bullpups, who will travel to Pasco on Tuesday, used two early touchdowns by Michael Hovan and a punishing ground game to finish the regular season 9-1, 8-1 in the GSL.

Quarterback Max Manix keyed the ground game, rushing 15 times for 127 yards including a 45-yard scoring run. Conner Hare added 142 yards on 25 carries. The Bullpups completed just one pass, but it was a 28-yard scoring strike from Manix to Cory Piper.

Central Valley 52, Rogers 0

It was Zach Evans’ turn at center stage for the Tyler Demars-Evans show, sending the Bears (8-2, 7-2) to Southridge Tuesday for a State 4A play-in game.

Evans rushed for 216 yards and scored three times. Demars added two TDs and 62 more yards in CV’s seventh straight win. The Pirates (0-10, 0-9), netted 72 yards.

East Valley 21, Mt. Spokane 0

When it rains, it pours fumbles. At least that was the case in the first game at Albi.

The Knights (8-2, 8-1), coming in assured a second-place GSL finish – at worst – and the top 3A seed in Tuesday’s 3A play-in game, put the ball on the Albi turf eight times (losing three), threw an interception, yet still breezed.

Their defense limited Mt. Spokane (4-6, 3-6) to zero rushing yards in the first half (94 for the game, almost all in the final 10 minutes) and forced four turnovers, two that set up scores and one that was a score.

EV’s Ryan Campbell claimed the GSL rushing title despite playing just more than a half. He finished with 17 carries for 123 yards, giving him 1,301 yards for the year, the eighth-best mark in league history. He also finished with 158 points, No. 3 all-time.

West Valley 38, North Central 7

Bowman not only ran for the 333 yards (on 25 carries), he scored four touchdowns, kicked two extra points, ran in two conversions and added a 35-yard field goal. His 33 points are No. 5 on the all-time GSL list. The junior had 280 yards for the season coming into the night.

The Eagles finished the season 3-7, 3-6 while NC, in the first year under coach Grady Emmerson, finished 1-9, 1-8.