Bullpups batter away

Two proud defensive football teams, Gonzaga Prep and Lewis and Clark, turned in rock-ribbed efforts in their season finale Thursday.

But G-Prep’s offense proved to be its best weapon in the 26-7 victory that assured a perfect Greater Spokane League season championship.

G-Prep’s time-consuming drives produced few points until late in the game but kept the ball out of LC’s hands.

In the first half alone, the Bullpups (8-1, 8-0) had the ball three times as long as the Tigers and led 13-0. Ahead just 13-7 midway through the third quarter, G-Prep kept the ball for 15 of the game’s final 18 minutes.

“We’re just really a power offense,” said 205-pound G-Prep fullback Jeremy Condon. “That’s why we have such long drives.”

The game was filled with ferocious hitting that sidelined several players. Ball control was the Bullpups’ ally. Condon was the point man, carrying the ball 17 times for 129 of their 325 yards.

“It was just being able to figure out what their defensive plan was,” said G-Prep coach Dave Carson. “They give you something and we keep taking it until they take it away.”

If that happened, quarterback Max Manix was always able to find an option, including himself. He added 107 yards on the ground, including the final score with 3:39 left to play.

G-Prep ran off nearly 6 minutes of time to open the game before settling on a field goal.

Bullpups defenders then did their part, as defensive lineman Spencer Savage intercepted a batted screen pass near midfield. Condon gained 25 yards in two carries, and Manix and Joel Curry did the rest. Three minutes later, it was 10-0.

Not long afterward, LC’s Alex Gauper took a lick on a pass reception, the ball popped into the air and Bryan Karwacki came down with it. G-Prep added a field goal before intermission.

The Tigers (5-3) relied heavily on junior Alex Shaw at tailback and the junior responded as LC went 80 yards to cut G-Prep’s lead to 13-7.But LC failed to take advantage of good field position following a Bullpups muffed punt snap by turning the ball back over. G-Prep used up another 5 minutes and took a 19-7 lead to snuff out LC’s hopes.

LC’s playoff hopes depend on Central Valley defeating University tonight.

Shadle Park 34, NC 20: The Highlanders (2-7, 2-6) had too much Cameron Baker in their victory over the Indians (1-8, 1-7).

Baker was cooking. He gained 228 yards rushing on 29 carries and scored three times, including a 55-yarder just seconds after NC took a second-quarter 6-0 lead.

The teams, which had been scoreless until then, combined for three touchdowns in 3 minutes early in the quarter.

Shadle led 13-6 before the Indians got back into the game. Before halftime, quarterback Justin Materne, in for injured Aaron Robinson, completed three straight passes – 29 yards to David Simpson, 18 to Ryan Ettinger and the final 8 to Nick Roark.

Materne completed 4 of 5 passes for 62 yards after intermission to put NC ahead 20-13.

Shadle ran off touchdowns on three straight possessions, two by Baker, to pull away.