Lakes blanks Mt. Spokane

An expected game between high-powered football offenses instead became one that hinged on defense. Visiting Lakes showed its mettle in a 24-0 victory over Mt. Spokane Saturday afternoon at Joe Albi Stadium to advance to the State 3A football semifinals. The Lancers (12-0) shut down the Wildcats (10-2), most conspicuously when they stopped Colten Williams short of the goal on the final play of the half, a run up the middle from the 3-yard line. That play defined the day for Mt. Spokane whose offense abetted the Lancer defensive caused by misfiring game long. Wildcats quarterback Travis Ward overthrew his targets often completing just 12 of 31 passes. He was intercepted twice. When Williams fumbled on the second play following intermission at his 17, the first of two in the game, the die was cast. Division I recruite Sione Potoa’e, who later would be ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct, recovered the football and Teddy Cotton scored on fourth down of a game Mt. Spokane defensive stand. With the passing game sputtering, the Wildcats were relegated to the run and while it had its moments thanks to good field position and a number of major Lancers penalties, it wasn’t nearly enough.