G-Prep sinks Saxons

It was something old versus something new in a football game that had something for everyone when the venerable option offense of Gonzaga Prep went against the new-age spread of Ferris.

For the G-Prep Bullpups, it was a blast from the past, led by the Shane Schmidlkofer-Bishop Sankey rushing tandem, that upset the mistake-prone defending Greater Spokane League champions, combining for nearly 400 yards rushing in a 38-35 victory in front of 6,057 fans.

The differing styles made for an electric and entertaining battle in the Friday nightcap of a GSL football doubleheader at Joe Albi Stadium. But ultimately, the Saxons shot themselves too many times in the foot.

There were two missed field goal chances. They touched down on their 5-yard-line after fumbling a punt snap that led to one G-Prep score and fumbled into the end zone denying themselves a TD later in the game.

That led to a 35-14 lead – when Sankey broke a 79-yard run late in the third quarter – and the Bullpups weathered a Connor Halliday-fueled passing attack that accounted for nearly 400 yards.

The Bullpups operated with precision under junior quarterback Schmidlkofer. Ferris had the dangerous Sankey to contend with and Schmidlkofer’s option reads led to his big first half. While Sankey powered away with 21 carries and 83 yards, Schmidlkofer sliced and dashed for 123 on five attempts. Ultimately, fullback Sankey, with 222 yards, eclipsed 200 yards for the second straight week.

“That’s the beauty of this offense,” Bullpups coach Dave McKenna said. “If the kids just trust this offense, great things will happen.”

But after each of the Bullpups’ first two first-half scores, the laser arm of Halliday answered in a hurry. Halliday threw for 154 first-half yards and a TD to knot the game at 14. But a late first-half fumble led to Schmidlkofer’s only pass of the half, to Nick Lenoue, and a 21-14 halftime lead.

G-Prep scored to go up by two TDs early in the third quarter on the punt turnover, and Sankey broke his big run after the Saxons, with second-and-goal at the 2-yard-line, lost a fumble in the end zone.

Ferris rallied to within a touchdown with 9:13 remaining in the game, but a time-consuming drive led to a G-Prep field goal with 3:05 left.

“Bishop’s tough to stop,” McKenna said. “Shane’s a very good athlete. That’s a great team over there and it was a great fought battle.”

Mead 28, Lewis and Clark 13: Who needs offense?

In the opener at Albi, not the Panthers.

One of two teams with unproven quarterbacks – that typically prefers to grind it out anyway and rely on stubborn defenses for field position – won with defense alone.

Mead, scoreless for 51/2 quarters, got what it needed from accommodating LC in the form of penalties and turnovers for two second-quarter touchdowns 12 seconds apart.

Given that cushion, the defense played add-on courtesy of two Bo Tully interception returns to give the Panthers (1-1 in league) a four-touchdown lead.

For all intents and purposes, Mead had no offensive output of significance while much of LC’s came against Panthers reserves late in the game.

Brendon Myers returned a fumble 16 yards for one Mead touchdown and Tully had interception returns for 12- and 37-yard scores to seal the deal.

“Luckily, we were in a defensive call that brought me up,” Tully said. “My responsibility was to take the out and it worked out pretty well.”

Both teams slugged it out for 11/2 quarters as Mead’s defensive front contained Tigers back Levi Taylor. LC’s front, keyed by an overpowering effort by G-Prep transfer David Lee, was even more stingy.

“We had trouble with that guy,” Mead coach Sean Carty said.

But Aaron Dunn picked off a screen pass attempt and two major penalties put the Panthers down to the 10, where Mead scored its first points of the season.

A play later Taylor dropped the football, Myers picked it up on the bounce and it was 14-0 with less than 5 minutes remaining in the half.

Tully’s picks came 3 minutes apart for a 28-0 lead with 5:56 left in the third quarter.

LC’s Austin Ehlo had TD grabs of 26 and 35 yards in the game’s final 4:28.