Schiller fuels EV romp
Skyler Schiller looked for his teammate’s wide hips.
Then he sought out the end zone.
Schiller returned the game’s opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown, and East Valley blew the game open early in a 45-7 rout of North Central Thursday night at Joe Albi Stadium.
“When I catch the ball, I look for No. 23 and that big, fat butt,” Schiller said, poking a little fun at 201-pound teammate Tanner Hamilton. “He hits harder than anyone I know. I just get behind him and go.”
Schiller’s return helped EV improve to 2-1. The Knights also prevented the Indians from securing their first win in three games.
EV rebounded from last week’s disappointing 24-17 overtime loss against Ferris in which the Knights wasted a 10-0 halftime advantage. There would be no such letdown this time, however, as EV imposed its dominance on both sides of the ball and special teams.
“Practice was a lot more intense, a lot more focused,” Schiller said. “Everybody had a sick feeling about that (Ferris) game.”
After the Indians were unable to counter Schiller’s touchdown on their first possession, NC punter Alex Van Zandt pinned EV at its 10-yard line with a favorable bounce. EV’s tandem of quarterback Russell Woodworth and receiver Sam Hale connected on a corner route on the first play, though, resulting in Hale sprinting past his jubilant teammates for a 90-yard TD and a 14-0 lead just 4 minutes into the game.
“Go big or go home,” said Hale, who reeled in three passes for 130 yards.
The Knights’ heralded running back, Ryan Campbell, punched into the end zone on a 3-yard run for a 22-0 lead in the first quarter.
EV’s second-string tailback, Ronnie Ridenbaugh, later added two TD runs and powered the Knights on the ground with 74 yards on 13 carries.
Last year’s GSL-leading rusher, Campbell played sparingly after the first quarter and finished with nine rushes for 54 yards.
EV’s Caleb Gillespie bruised his way to a bullish 56-yard TD romp in the third quarter for a 38-0 cushion. He fought through the arms of three would-be tacklers and raced the final 30 yards unimpeded to the end zone.
NC’s Nick Roark ended EV’s shutout bid with 3 minutes left when he scored on a 2-yard run. He led all rushers with 99 yards on 16 carries.
Both teams play next Friday – EV at home against Mead, and NC at Central Valley.
“Every game is a must win,” said Woodworth, who completed 8 of 10 passes for 168 yards. “We don’t play to beat 3A teams. We’re playing to win the GSL.”
•Nolan Koller threw a 24-yard TD pass to Greg Beale in the second quarter to give Pomeroy (2-0) a 7-0 win over Tekoa-Oakesdale/Rosalia (1-1) in non-league play at Tekoa. Alex Hovde and Josiah Tampien had two sacks apiece for T-O/R, which was limited to six offensive plays in the second half.