Knights secure playoff berth
The horse caught up with the carrot Thursday night.
Aaron Awbery rushed for 212 yards and two touchdowns, and East Valley secured the Greater Spokane League’s second 3A seed in the upcoming state football playoffs with a 34-14 victory over Rogers at Albi Stadium.
The Knights concluded their GSL campaign at 3-5 and will finish second among the league’s 3A teams behind Mt. Spokane. Rogers could have muddled the GSL’s postseason picture with a victory but instead slipped to 1-6 in league and 1-7 overall.
EV has endured its share of lopsided defeats against the league’s bigger schools this season, but Knights coach Adam Fisher at least could offer his players each week the possibility of another trip to state. Now his players can enjoy a bye week and look forward to the school’s sixth consecutive playoff berth.
“Our goal this summer was to make it six,” Fisher said. “We knew Mt. Spokane had a bunch of guys back, and with only two spots (available for the postseason), it was a huge goal for us. … I’m proud of the kids. We’ve taken our lumps in four of our five losses, but they kept working and kept battling.”
The Knights capitalized on a Rogers turnover to put the game away with Awbery’s 1-yard scoring run for a 28-14 cushion late in the third quarter. Awbery added another 1-yard plunge in the fourth quarter.
Awbery entered the game as the seventh-leading rusher in the GSL, and he quickly added to his season haul. Awbery rushed for 118 yards on 15 carries in the first half, and his effectiveness led to the Knights’ success with the play-action pass.
“Aaron has been a hoss for us,” said EV quarterback Jackson Romney, who threw for two touchdowns. “When we can run the ball, it gives us a double threat. If we can run effectively, we can move around the defense. We run at them, they bring up their defense and we pass over them.”
Pirates quarterback Tyler Lehman orchestrated a 12-play, 67-yard drive that culminated with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Robert VanGundy to tie the game at 14-all.
EV drove 63 yards on the ensuing possession, and quarterback Jackson Romney gave EV a 21-14 lead with an 8-yard TD run. Awbery ran for 54 yards on three carries during the drive.
Romney located receiver Ronnie Jarvis a step ahead of his defenders for an 11-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. Romney connected with Joey Strehlou on a 15-yard scoring pass 2 minutes before halftime to give the Knights a 14-7 edge.
Lehman responded to EV’s opening score with a 68-yard touchdown run to even the score at 7-7. Lehman rushed for 84 of his team-high 101 yards in the first half.
EV played without two-way starter Joey Meade, who broke his left hand earlier in the day.